Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
KOREAN SITUATION.
II Goes from Bad 10 Worse, and Is Be.
coming InSuppOrtable.
THE KINGS IREDICAMENT.
Pfs Majesty Is Held 10 HIVE
Quilted HIS Domains When He
Sought Refuge In the Russian
legation.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, March 2S.-
Special Correspondence Of the United
Press per steamer Coptic:
TOXIC. March 1S.--The state of affairs
in Korea goes from bad TO worse. The
politicians in Seoul insist that by taking
refuge in the Russian Legation and re-
naming there. the King has virtually
quilted his own domains, since the pre-
cincts Of a legation are extra-territorial.
A similar view is held by the leading citi-
zens of the capital, who naturally see
that very little power OF governing can
be accredited 20 n sovereign and his
Cabinet so long as they dare not VEN
ture beyond the shadow OF a foreign
flag. The insurgents in the provinces
have adopted new tone, dictated, OF
course, by adherents OF the prince re-
gents party. They say the men by whom
the King was persuaded to seek asy-
lum in the Russian Legation are traitors
10 the country, and must be exter-
minated. But they also proclaim that
all foreigners must be expelled from the
kingdom-an announcement probably in
tended as a blind. They have pushed TO
a point not more than ten miles from
Seoul, and the government have no
troops to cope with them. The raising
of several new battalions OF royal guards
has been ordered by edict. but money to
pay them is not forthcoming even IL
they could be organized so speedily as
to meet the emergency.
The whole situation, however, Is IA
pidly growing insupportable. and a
general idea gains ground that the de-
parture OF the King from the Russian
Legation will be the signal for the
downfall OF the present Cabinet II has
been pretended by the pro-Russian party
that the Kings residence In the palace
is out OF the question so long as ia
panese troops have their barracks in
the immediate vicinity The troops were
located there originally by desire OF the
Korean Government, but, as the ia
panese authorities have neither need nor
occasion to keep them there, they are
about to be removed.
The United States representative IN
Seoul is winning golden opinions among
the japanese at this crisis. His influence
they report, is steadily exerted In the
cause OF right and justice. Strong, and
In great part successful, efforts are said
to have been made by him TO mitigate
the cruelties practced by the Cabinet
against its political opponents, and tc
lessen the brutalities resorted 10 by the
legal tribunals in their. examination OF
prisoners.
Detailed accounts from Klang Yin
which lies midway between the mouth OF
the Yangtse and Ching Kiang-show that
a mutiny on large scale among the sol
diers there was only prevented by the
explosion OF a magazine. The insurrec-
ton was planned. the programme beine
TO kill the general In command, get pos.
session OF the magazines and rifles, and
then master the city. Already the work
had commenced. Rides had begun 10
crack, and the mutineers were removing
the contents OF the magazines when thl
principal one OF the three, containing
about seven tons Of gunpowder, blew up
The cause OF the explosion Is not known
since all I'm or near the magazine-to the
number OF about three hundred-wert
shattered to pieces. The catastrophe was
SO terrible that It completely cowed tbs
soldiers, and they desisted from further
acts OF violence.