The record-union., 1895-07-13
Wild Scenes at the Capital of
FOrmOsa.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS BURNED AFTER
BEING PLUNDERED
Flight of the President and His OIL
ciaIs-EverythIng of Value Taken
by tho Turbulent Mob-Murder and
Rapine Stopped by Small Body of
Japanese Soldiers.

Correspondence of the United Press.
TOXIC. June 29.-On the 5th of June,
just two days after the capture of kelung.
the President of the Formosan Republic
bid farewell to that ephemeral affair and
abscondeG to rejoin his family in China.
He covered his flight by the usual in
fallible expedient-a shower of silver.
Fifty thousand dollars distributed
among his body-guard purchased these
gentlemen's connivance, aud st l A. NJ.
the President ana Ex-Governor was non
est i0Ue9lt3ts. His example was speedily
followed by all the other high officials Of
the republic.
Very soon it became known that these
magnates had departed, leaving their fell
low republicans to shift for themselves.
Immediately the latter arose to the oc-
casion. They invaded the Presidents
Yaneu, looted the treasury, smashed
everything not worth carrying away and
set fire TO the buildings. These things
happened at Taipeh, the chief town OF
Northern Formosa, some seventeen miles
by rail from Kelung, which the Japanese
had captured on the Sd OF June.
4 days reflection had sutficed to con-
vince the republicans that their case was
hopeless, and at ) o'clock on the 9TH a
burning Yamen and turbulentmob con-
stituted the sole remnant of an adm1nis-
tratiye structure that was to have detied
all assaults.
The looting of the arsenal followed, and
presently streams of Cinnamon were
seen carrying parcels of dollars. bars of
lead, tln copper or brass, Gatiing guns,
rifles, packets of cartridges, feld-pieces,
chairs, tables, pieces OF machinery, etc.
a brand new Gatling could be purchased
for from 50 TO $40, and a Winchester
magazine carbine for 81.
The streets were strewn with dollars
dropped by the looters in their mad haste,
for il the yelling mob detected fugitive
laden with silver plumber they made
nothing OF kicking him into insensibility
or death to get at his booty. In this way
l50 tons of copper ingots, several hun
dred thousand dollars, twenty tons Of
tin, 100 tons Of spelter. vast quantities of
copper and iron pipes, brass sheeting and
machinery were carried Oft by the busy
thieves, the monotony of robbery being
relieved by shooting and clubbing, in
sometimes the victims.
Presently a powder magazine, situated
about a mile outside the city, exploded,
and the crowd sUrging thither, found
fresh diversion, such as only Chinese can
thoroughly enjoy, in watching the death
! that had been blown hither and thither
by the shock.
| AS the day grew older, the range Of
| looting and destruction widened, and it
| became evident that the whole city was
| in danger of fire and sack.
| English and German marines guarded
| the foreign houses, but their numbers
being small they could do nothing to save
| the Chinese residents from the fate that
| threatened them. 1t was known that the
| Japanese advance guard was within ten
miles OF the place, and everyone prayed
for its coming, but how to reach it across
belt of free shooting was the question.
Finally three young Englishmen, heav-
lily armed, rode out of Taipeh at noon
and reached the Japanese lines in cou-
pie OF hours.
They were stopped by sentry, who, to
their surprise, asked them in excellent
English whittier they were going. Very
soon they found themselves at the quar-
ters OF the officer III command, at Chi
nese temple, which, like the camp around
IL, showed striking signs OF the orderly
cleanliness which the Japanese love, even
when campaigning. Cordially welcomed,
they stated their case, and after hos
pitable reception and a good meal even
ing saw them again en- route for Iaipeh
accompanied by 800 Japanese soldiers.
Considering that Taipeh held several
thousands of Chinese braves, the force
sent to save it from destruction seemed
insignificant. But the Japanese knew
the value of their foe. The mere intelli-
gence of the five hundreds s approach suf-
feed to scatter the looting and burning
mob. Fearing. however, that if he en-
| tered the city in the dead of night panic
might ensue, the Japanese Colonel halted
his men three miles outside and did not
march in until the dawn of day. The re-
spectacle Chinese gave hearty welcome
to the newcomers, and Taipeh was saved.