The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-18
TALES OF THE TIMES.
q Story OF II Hung Chang. Who Is Soon
20 visit Our shores.

~
have been received mt the European courts
with greater marks of respect, none could
have been moreSumptuously entertained
than this yellow faced, almond eyed Rich
elieu.
Still, even il has had his trotfblesl And-
when say this am not only referring to
the temporary withdrawal Of his yellow
Jacket or his peacock feather during the
war with japan two years ago.
In the year 1850 there broke out In the
south of China q formidable insurrection
against imperial authority headed by
schoolmastcr named Hung -tsue- Schucn Of
TAPPING. This individual declared him
self to be an emissary from the gods sent
to remove the Mantchoo, dynasty and TO oc-
cupy the throne of China. He styled him.
self the heavenly king" gathered around
his banners many thousands of followers,
and by n bold dash captured the important
and popuIous city Of Nankin. With this
place as base OF operations he organized
a systematic campaign against the govern
ment forces, and being uniformly yictori-
Gus began in 1860 TO threaten Shanghai
and tho other ports IL was at this juno
ture that the Chinese authorities be-
thought themselves of turning to the Eu-
ropeans for aid, and two American adven-
turers named Ward and Burgevine wcrc
commissioned by the governor of Shanghai
to raise troops for the defense of the city.
Wards first military operation-an at
tack on point called Sung -Kiang-wns q
failure, half his men, American and for
eign sailors, being killed and tho rest driv-
EN- off. A second attack, however, support
ed by several thousand well drilled i'm
NJ tAA Ia 10. A.
place and the conferring on Wards forces
of the bombastic title Of the Ever victori-
ous Army" For q time fortune continued
to smile on the imperialists' cause, Ward
leading his men from victory 70 victory.
The aggressiveness Of the rebels was but
temporarily curbed, however Two years
later the "heavenly king made fresh
move on Shanghai, only TO be defeated
once mores In September Of the same
year, I'm tho heat of the campaign, the in
defatigable Ward received his death wound,
and the command of the imperial army
devolved upon his second. Burgevine
proved unequal to the task, and besides
this was caught plundering the Chinese
treasury at Shanghai. Accordingly, In
January, 1868, he received his walking pa
pers, and the Chinese government made
formal application to the English for the
loan of an experienced officer from tho
ranks of her majesty's army. And thus IL
came to pass that Charles Gordon, an OFF,
Ger of the royal engineers, received the
appointment as commander of the imperial
forces in the campaign against the Tai
pings.
The strong personality Of this remark
able man is familiar TO the general reader,
combining as IL did the practical sense OF
the modern Anglo Saxon with the chiyalry
and mysticism of the crusader of old.
With nothing but his powerful walking
stick, which he used with the effect of u
magician's wand, Gordon inspired his men
with an almost superstitious awe and led
them on TO victory He received full charge
Of the military operations proper, but
stood nominally under tho orders OF Ia
Hung Chang governor general of the prov
ince, who accompanied the army as tho
personal representative Of the emperor.
Gordon's first success OF Importance was
his capture of the fortified town OF Taitsan.
The event also became the occasion Of his
first disagreement with Ii Among the pris-
oners were seven leaders who had aroused
the special enmity of the mandarins,
and orders were issued for their execution
in vehement protest, declaring that no
such acts of barbarity should occur while
he was commander. Lis authority, how
ever, being paramount tho cruel decree
was carried out TO the letter, and the VIC
Tins were martyrcd many long hours pre-
vious TO dccapitation.
The capture of Taitsan was quickly fol-
lowed by the reduction of the fortifcations
of Quinsan and the capture Of the forts OF
Leekux and Wauti, which achievements
completed the investment of Soo-Chow, tho
rebel capital The siogo of the place WAS
fraught with dangers Of the most serious
nature. Its Notifications were exceeding
ly strong, and 1t contained numerous
and we'll disciplined garrison, well provid-
cd with provisions and munitions of war.
A first attack was beaten of triumphant
ly, and IL looked as If the place would only
fall after protracted siege. Now, how
ever an unexpected opportunity presented
itself to the besiegers. Several Of the
TAPPING generals, weuried Of fighting in
hopeless cause, secretly approached Cor
don with proposition 20 admit his troops
into the city on given date, provided
their lives and liberties should be spared
The matter was referred 10 Ii Hung
Chang, and solemn compact TO that effect
was Mt once entered into between the two
parties, both Gordon and Ii stalking their
honor on It's faithful fulfllment The
consequence Of this was that when the i'm
perialists next approached the city gates
they found no opposition, and entering the
town planted the imperial standard on the
citadel
The honorable and chivalrous soldier
that he was, Gordon's first thought after
the occupation Of the town was for the
TAPPING leaders, who had rendered the
Achievement possible But what was his
disinay when he learned that they already
had been placed In n row and decapitated
behind the city gate by Lis special ordcrf
Tears of poignant grief wcllod into his
eyes, but they soon gave place TO savage
rage and an outbreak Of vindictiye feeling,
boding little good TO his treacherous col.
league.
Aiming himself with revolver, Gordon
rushed from his tent I'm search Of him. Ii,
10 is said, got wind Of his danger In the
nick of time, and being fleet of foot succeed