The sun., 1900-07-24
A LETTER FROM PEK1NG.
Describes Situation just Before the
Crisis Became Acute.

CrtstS became Acute,
New York. July 23.-The following let
ter, which strongly indicates the alarm.
'ng situation in and around Peking early
iast month, has been received in New
York. The letter was written by one Of
The ladies Of the beleaguercd legations to
q sister in Japan, w.Io in turn, forward
I'd the letter 10 another sister in this city.
1t is dated Peking, June ., 1900, and
says:
Here ! am still in Peking, and the
probabilities are that will soon be en-
route for Japan. IN English woman
who has lived quite long time in Yollo-
hama, ! believe, is to chaper6n me there,
rs She goes direct to that metropolis.
But, ANA this but is quite big under the
circumstances, she may be afraid to
start down, as we might get detained at
rien-tsin or Taku or Tonga.
THE condition of Peking is pretty bad,
and Sir Robert Hart says that in all the
years he has been here and in all the
coups d'etat that he has watched he has
never seen Peking OF foreigners in
more critical condition than now. But
suppose you have been reading tele-
grams from Pekng and have kept au
courant, so | won't bother you with facts.
1--WE were at the temple in the hills,
and the servants were constantly bring
ing us wild tales of what the Boxers
were going to do and saying that 100
had left the small villages near our tenn
pie to go to Yang-ti and burn it. 1t is
station with quite a small collection of
houses of foreigners and having bridge.
The foreigners heard of the intention and
escaped in the early morning.
"We thought the servants were draw
ing the long bow but about o'clock in
the afternoon we were called to watch
the fire from our balcony. 1t was near
enough for us to see all the smoke, and
the flames too. There were thousands of
Boxers about, and we were frightened
lest the Boxers on returning to Peking
might stop and loot our dwelling and incl
dentally kill us. There was not foreign
man on the place. The tsung-li-yamen
had sent Chinese guard of II soldiers
to protect us, and they staid at the tenn
pie until they became afraid of the Box
ers coming that way, so they deliberately
ran away. You can imagine our feel
ings-three babies to protect and lot
Of frightened Chinese servants.
"Mr. s. was in Pekng, and we did not
know if he would hear of the burning of
Yang-ti i'll time to get out to us that night.
Mr.. S. had, however, learned of the
burning of the town and had ridden out
at great speed to the temple, borrowing
on the way one of the four Russian Cos
sacks that were quartered in the Russian
legation.
I'VE were ready for anything all night
and at 4 o'clock We're up packing. At
6:30 our caravan had started for Peking.
| INT, In, ,+ 1n.On ,,tnlooIS
Mr., Pcttue, Ii Hung Chang's private
secretary, said he feared for our safety
and was on the point of sending Chi
ncsc regiment for us. So for the last
four days we have been in the legation,
ana no one is allowed to go out. Rumors
are flying broadcast, and there is excite
mcnt to know il the marines would ar
rive in time. The missionaries are terri
fed half to death, and Mr.. S. has present
ed a good many of them with rifles and
ammunition.
1.-The marines of the English, the Rus
sian, the Japanese and the French all
came up the day before yesterday from
Tien-tsin and when they finally landed
at Peking there was great excitement as
to which body of marines should lead
Captain McCalla, who had come up with
our 80 marines hurried his men double
quick to get the lead, and our troops were
the first to march up Legation street
There was an enormous mob at the sta
ton, and they were frightened and did
nothing as the troops were passing
However, they yelled and howled and
swore curses on all the soldiers ances
tors. We have rented quarters for the
marines just back of the legations. Cap
tain McCalla of the Newark, that is al
Taku, came up with the marines and
discussed the situation with Mr.. Conger
The poor legations that had no troops are
terrified. The Spanish and the Belgian
have none. The Belgian secretary hac
tea yesterday with us and could only be
gone one hour. as he had been told he
must come back and help guard the lega
ton. should like to see good harrow
ing climax that would give the marines
chance to use their Maxims and heal
: the cannon go off"
The writer of the above letter did no
leave for Japan and is, so far as known
N =