Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-24
couRAaE ous rnrsoxERs.
Brutal Treatment of British Prisoners /
the Chinese 10 Years Ago.

Brutal Treatment of British Prisoners by
the Chinese 10 Years Ago.
The most thrilling chapter in the re-
cent Life of Sir Harry Parkes" is that
narrating his captivity among the
Chinese, who treacherously seized and
kept him prisoner, with his companions,
when the party bore a,tlag of truce and
were negotiating for peace before Pekin.
lie was Immediately hurled to his
knees before the Chinese commander-in-
chief, who put him through long ex-
animation concerning the English forces
and their intentions, and threatened
him with death upon his refusal to
write letter to Lord Elgin beseeching
him not TO attack the city.
AT midnight he was again examined,
and was held upon his knees during the
interview by four men, who at sign
from his questioners repeatedly struck
and kicked him, pulled his hair, and
twitched his ears, as hint to be more
compliant. But he remained stcadfast,
and was consequently loaded with
chains and placed in a foul cell with so
or 20 Chinese felons. Here he was fast
ened to beam overhead by a long,
heavy chain, to which his neck, hands
and feet were linked by an iron collar,
handouts and letters.
After eleven days of misery he was
relieved OF his irons and told that he
would he taken from the prison; but he
replied loyalty:
mot unless Mr.. Loeb goes out, too"
Mr.. Loeb was o gallant companion
who, with an opportunity to escape, had
ridden back to warn Parkes. Parkes
had lost his own chance in the same
manner, i'll IN attempt to save the
others. lie had had glimpse of Loeb
on entering the prison, and once during
their confinement the two had tried to
communicate by singing "God Save the
Queen" from their different cells, but
their voices had broken with emotion at
the first notes, and they could not 90 on.
They were now given room together,
and supplied with reasonable comforts.
Many conferences took place, and
Parkes wrote Il letter to Lord Elgin, say
ing that they were well treated, and that
he hoped hostilties would be replaced
by negotiations. But Loeb, who under.
stood IIindAstani, added postscript in
that tongue TO the effect that the letter
was written at their captofs' command.
They were allowed to receive bundle
Of clothes from their friends, and finding
in this an elaborate embroidered shirt
and handkerchief, they examined the
articles, which seemed scarcely suited to
their situation, and found llindustaui
sentence worked in minute stitches, tell
ing them when the British bombardmcnt
would begin, and asking for the location
of their prison, that it might be spared.
Meanwhile, they had been informed
by their jailcrs that the first cannon
| fired would be the signal for their eX.
ecution. The English, on their part
had declared that should the captives be
murdered, Pekin would be burned tc
the ground.
Most of the Chinese did not believe
this threat, but fortunately one higl
commissioner, Hnng-ki, who had oh
served that the English had "a curiou!
habit Of speaking the truth, did believe
il, and set to work to save them.
| Through spy whom he kept a
court, he learned that mandate foI
their immediate death was on its way
from the Emperor. This news he KEEP
to himself, and with infinite difficult,
obtained from the authorities who were
on the spot an order for the surrende
of the prisoners.
The last interview between captor
and captives was curious indeed. Hang
XII and several mandarins called at thu
prisoners quarters, and sat drinking &c;
and discussing upon indiilerent'subjects
mainly upon the question whether tn
earth reVolyed about the sun, or the SUI
about the earth.
Parkes Joined in the discussion a
cody US il his life were not at stake
whilo Loeb, who did not understand
Chinese, had TO play the still harde
part of appearing indifferent will
burning with anxiety to know wlia
was going on.
At length Il messenger appeared an
spoke to llangki, who presently an
nounccd that the prisoners should b
released that afternoon. Parics merel
, bowed and translated the message t
; his friend, with warning to show n
emotion.
Loeb, keeping all expression out c
his countCnance, suggested that as tn
sun and earth must have been prett
well talked out, it might be well to cor
Slder whether or not the moon rotate
! on her axis, which was a doubtful poir
in Europe.
Parkes, rcsuming his Chinese, actual
opened this subject and talked unit
liang-kis patience gave out, and he e,
claimed that the Englishmen did n,
seem to care whether they lived or die,
Parkes replied that after their eXper
ence of the Chinese, they should not b
lieve in their release until it was a
complished; to which EIang.ki respondt
feyerishly, rising and pacing up al
5 down, that they could not be in an
! greater hurry for it than lie was.
This was doubtless true, for they afte
ward learned that they left the gates
: Pekin for the British lines Just - mi
utes before the arrival Of decree fl
their execution.