Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-30
Fear of a Great Famine
Valley Of the Pei Ro.

did 1t thoroughly, for many of the
beautiful residences in the foreign
concession, few escaped, while the
native city was stripped.
The big shells from the forts swept
down the Victoria Road, flew over the
rlver and left devastation in their path.
Grim, desolate, backened walls are all
that is left Of this once beautiful sec
ticn. They stand in ruined gardens
and blasted trees keep guard over
shapeless piles of debris.
1t is impossible to convey an idea of
the ruins in the native city. The
thatched roofs burned fiercely and the
mud walls shivered at the impact of the
shells. Probably no accurate estimate
of the loss Of life in this densely popu-
lated section will ever be made. A
curious fact is that a native child or
wCman is seldom seen even yet The
Chinese say they were killed, but the
resident foreigners believe that they
are either hidden in the native city or
have been sent tc the country.
OF cooley labor there is no scarcity.
The word has gone forth that the for
eigners will employ them and the sup
ply far exceeds the demand. The wag-
es range from 10 cents (MeXican) to
39 1-3 cents (MeXican) per day, the
latter price being paid by the Ameri-
cans. who also give each cooley two
pounds of rice a day. All ordinary &C.
equations are suspended, of course,
and beyond what the natives derive
from their labor for the forces of oc-
cupation, they hae no means of sub
sistence.
NATURALLY food of all kinds is scarce.
A little produce is finding its way into
the city, scme sheep have arrived and
poultry can be occasionally had, but
the fare at best is hard and everything
is at wartime prices. The troops,
however, are faring well on camp ra-
tions of which the Americans have an
abundance. A splendidly stocked
commissary depot is being established
here under command of Major Hugh
Gallagher, Chief Commissary officer,
and the river is lined with lighters
bringing provisions up from Taku.
1t is understood that the American
base is to be established for the winter
at Tong-Ku, which has fairly deep
water. Major Gallagher has also es-
tablshed a sales store, where luxuries
of all kinds are purchasable, including
timed fruits, mineral waters, canned
meats and vegetables and tobacco
The store is literally patronized by the
officers and men. There is absolutely
no suffering among the troops except
from the heat, and this is now some
what relieved by the cool nights. The
forces are enjoying exceptionally good
health, and hospitals are not over
crowded, and with systematic commu-
nicatiCn with Talu and Tong-Ku, and
constantly arriving supplies, the ply
sical situation at Tien Tsn is excel
lent.
Strenuous efforts have been made tc
put the city in a sanitary condition
and they have partially succeeded
However, it is more than the work Of
a month to undo the work of days
Lime by the ton is being used in courts
alleys and cutters, and the surface
drains which line the curbs are being
kept cleaned out and free Neverthe
less, European residents agree that tht
nearness of frost is a thing to bt
thankful for. Huge stacks of rottint
rice and tons of burned and decom
posing sugar fill the river front witt
an unhealthy and terrible stencil
while the ruins of the Chinese city ar
almost impossible because of vile Cd
ors in the heat of the day. A Chimes
provisional government has been es
tablished over the native city, admin
istered by Americans and Europeans
, A police force, native and foreign, /
in working order, and system is beini
, gradually evolved out of the chaos
The foreign city is efficiently policeu
by troops, and perfect order is main
tanned At every corner is sentry
while guards and patrols are constant
ly afoot night and day. The foreig
residents are gradually returning t
find their homes either destroyed o
, occupied by the allied forces, and it
, expected that an attempt soon will b
, made to fix compensation for occupa
, tiOn and use of property. The resi-
dents accept the situation philosophi
cally and there is apparently no con
flict with the military authorities.
That it will be many months befor
the rehabilitation of Tien Tsin is be
o gun is certainty. That it will eve
, be restored to its once beautiful pre-
=, portions Is doubtful. The slow wor
of years was destroyed in a weel
o Beautiful villas, superb residence
once handsome grounds are but wrec
and ruin and the hot breath of wa
4 has blasted the Pie-Ho valley frol