Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-26
GRAVE DANGER OF A
GENERAL MASSACRE
So Said a Dispatch Which Minister
COnseF Sent From Pekin July 4th.
WAS RECEIVED AT WASHINGTON
Was Forwarded Via Chefoo by
Ia VI Capt. Thomas.
ANOTHER URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP

Associated Press Dispatches by Special Wires.
Washington, July %. The following
cahlegrain has been received at the
Navy Department:
,'Chefoo, July "a. - Navigation
Bureau, Washington: Written message,
signed 'ConRer,' dated July 4th, re-
ceived at Tientsin July 21st. 1t says:
Been besieged two weeks in British
Legation. Grave danger OF general
massacre by Chinese soldiers, who are
Smelling legation daily. Relief soon, il
at all. City without government, ex-
oept by Chinese army. Determined
massacre of all foreigners in Pekin.
Entry of relief forces into city probably
be hotly contested. Thomas.
The message comes from Capt Charles
N. Thomas, commander Of the Brook
lyn.
The message from Minister Conger,
which came over ths wires from Capt.
Thomas this morning, was the first
communication of unJuestionable
authenticity which has been received
from the American minister at Pekin
since his urgent appeal for help Of June
18th. 1t establishes clearly the fact
that the American minister, and prob
ably the other legationers, were alive
| on July 4th. though in sore straits.
| Therefore, it completely and finally
disposes Of the first stories that were
published from Shanghai of the massa-
| ere of June 9th. 1t is true that ii
does not In itself negative the subse
quent report of the massacre on July
| 9Th, two days later than the day CT the
| dispatch, but the officials here feel that
| there is quite as much reason to be.
| lieye that the second report was MS false
| as in the case OF the first report, new
| shown to have been erroneous. A nota.
BILE omission in Mr.. Conger's dispatch
| is the failure to mention the assassna-
tion of the German minister at Pekin,
which surely occurred many days before
he wrote his message. 1t is also
noticed that this mornings dispatch is
| dated two weeks before the famous
cipher message from Mr.. Conger pro.
duced here by MiEister WI.
An encouraging feature of the mess
age today is the indication that direct
Geographic communication has beer
restored between the cable end al
Shanghai and Cheioo The news dis
patches have been delayed full week
| lately between Chefoo and Tientsin,
and this relief is very gratefully re.
oeived. This Conger message was ap
parently regarded as SO important by
our nsval. commander as to warrant the
use of torpedohoat or some ether ex.
tremely rapid means of locomotion, fol
but three days were consumed in get
ting the message from Tientsin, via
raKu and Chefoo.
The State Department has received q
cable dispatch from Consul Genera
Goodnow, but it is stated that it con
tains nothing to clear up the situation
at Pekin. Mr.. Goodnow says that L
Hung Chang will remain in Shanghai
for the present, and will conduct his
negotiations from that city.
No information has been received
from the Chinese Legation or CHINESE
government in response to President
McKinley's reply to he Emperor.
| Adjutant General Corbiu received {
cable dispatch today from Gen. Chaffee,
announcing his arrival on the transort
Grant at Nagasaki. He cables all we'll
As soon as the Grant is ooaled, she will
proceed 80 Taku. Gen. Cbaffee, on hi!
arrival, received the cable dispatch an
nouncing his appointment as major
general of volunteers.