The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-25
IN SIEGE,
OF PEK|NG
The Only Horse That
Came Out Alive.
HEROIC CHAMOTS HERE.
Man and Wife Who Fought, Suffered
and Helped the Suffering
in China.


king alive after the terrible siege,
when the foreigner-hating Celestials
were doing their best to annihilate the
white people and native Christians
within the walls of the great Chinese
city, compelling them, as they lay
waiting and fighting in their fortifica-
cations, to subsist on the flesh of
horses, is now a passenger aboard the
Pacific Mail steamship City of Pc
king, lying in this port, en- route to
San Francisco.
"Pepper-box" is the name of this IA
nous pony and he occupies a special
ly constructed stall on the deck of the
big liner.
He has seen many of his comrades
eaten, and over the favored head OF
this particular animal no shining
sword of cruel fate hung by a treach-
erous thread. The word of one high
in authority among the defenders in
the City of Peking had been given
that the life OF 'Pepper-box" would
not be sacrificed to the appetites of
the besieged ones until it was abso-
lutely necessary, which meant that
"Pepper-box' would be the last horse
TO be slaughtered for food.
And the little pony proved himself
a great deal more useful alive than he
would have been as steaks and chops.
He is a Mongolian horse and has
nasty temper; he bites and kicks most
ferociously, although he means well.
But he Is faithful to those who know
him and treat him we'll
A. F. Chamot and his wife are pas.
sengers aboard the City OF Peking.
They conducted a hotel and a store in
; Pekin and were in the city all through
, the siege, and can tell of many excit-
, ing and interesting incidents of that
time OF terror and suspense.
They are the owners of the famous
"Pepper-box" Mrs. Chamot, as
, brave and fearless a woman as her
husband Is a man, boasts Pepper
z box as her own particular property
4 She is an expert rider. as we'll as 4
? sharpshooter of no small reputation.
i While the shells of the Chinese
!. were flying thick and furious. while
the savage hordes peppered away at
the walls which protected the foreign
ers from death and torture, Mr.. and
Mrs. Chamot stayed in their hotel
: nor did they retreat Their hotel
was situated between the inner and
outer walls Of the fortifications which
sheltered the legations. Many a shell
Y went through their hotel and many a
!, ball entered their store. Chamot was
d shot in several places. French ma
= rines were stationed at the hotel and
J. they. together with others. were able
IS to put up something OF formidable
II defense.
n Chamot brought death to many :
= Boxer through his unerring aim. He
was careful of his ammunition anC
hardly ever wasted a shot. Nearly al
ways would his bullet hit its mark
Y and one of the enemy would be laiC
l. low in the agonies of death.
l., Mrs. Chamot. riding the faithful
D 'Pepper-box," would move hither an,
II thither. with her rife on her arm. ev
n erysnow and then bringing it to he
shoulder to let fly at some one Of tn
enemy.
The Char kts have had all they wan
- OF China. The experiences throug
which they have gone will last then
for excitement, for the remainder @
their lives.
They witnessed a great deal of sui
and did everything in their power {
help the sick and wounded and afflici
a ed. Mrs. Chamot did noble wor
D among the wounded and the sicl
er often at the risk of her life Passen
a gers on board the City of Pekin
ne speak in the highest terms of the couI
lie age OF the Chamots, and those aboar
g. have whiled away many an hour o
the voyage from the Orient listenin
to the stories OF Mr.. and Mrs Chamo
Everybody has taken a look q
'' 'Pepper-box," petted him at a di:
tance, for he bites wheI he happen
TO feel like II, and admired him b,
cause he was fortunate enough to com
through the awful siege with Who'll
,n hide.
hs Mr.. and Mrs. Chamot now are goin
:. to San Francisco. where they wi
.,c make their home, and where "Peppel
rs box" will not be troubled in his slee
any more by shrieking shrapnel an
, Kissing shells.
The Chamot Hotel was in ruiz
when its owners left il. Fortunatel
for Pepper box" Peking was relie'
ed in time so that the forfeit OF h
life was not necessary for the physi
al maintenance of the people.
Mrs. Chamot's mother and broth,
- are aboard the City of Peking. havir
gone to Hongkong to meet the Char
OTIS.
There are a couple OF newspap
men on the Peking. George Lyme
I'm representing the London Sphere al
the Graphic. and II. II. Morrell. WI
- writes for the Sydney Herald.
+. Hartmann was the only passe
ger on the Peking for Honolulu.
Other through passengers on the We
sci are: q. T.. Petts. DR.. A. Beva
Mr.. and Mrs. A. +. Chamot and val'
Howard Fallon. 5. o. Friede. J. Goo
now. Mrs. J. Goodnow. Z. Hartman
AL Miss VI. Henshall. George Lynch.
as Mailhot. Mr.. Smith. n. Cromers. j.
OF Stronquest. Mrs. II. Mccarthy. Euge
- Mccarthy. H. III. Morrell, Lieutena
C-r.,rf nsnrfor II NJ;