The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-17
ALARMS ~ TIEN-TSIN IN JUNE.
Legations blamed Then for Not Taking the
1nsurrection Seriously.

Legations blamed Then for Not Taking the
1nsurrection Seriously.
William II. Stevens, the treasurer Of the Flint,
Eddy 4 American Trading Company, received
a letter yesterday from Z. S. Emens. the COM
pany's agent at Tien-Tsin. The letter was
dated from Tien-Tsin, June 9. and contains news
Of the troubles in North China up to that time.
Mr.. Emens says that the foreign Ministers were
being severely blamed for their Discrimination TO
treat the troubles seriously. He also cautions
Mr.. Stevens against news sent from china in
sensational dispatches. At the time the letter
was written. Mr.. Emens said. foreigners were
quite safe In Tien-Tsin. although il was well
known that the Chinese Government was giving
Encouragement to the Boxers. In part the let
ter follows:
NJ DEAR STEVENS: Since writing you a
few days ago. there have been a series Of riots
In North China tn II have caused us some alarm
In Tien-Tsin. For many months there have
been disturbances in Shantung and In this
province. Chilli. The peasantry have been en-
couraged by the Pekin Government to drill and
10 arm themselves. There Is some sort of a
vague organization called Boxers. thar being
an approximate meaning OF the Chinese term
for them. Their depredations have been
e"'' 7o'o voc IA I III urlldtS an
English missionary was killed in sha ntuns
some months ago. Many natives, principally
Catholics, have been killed during the past year.
Representations have been made time and
again to the various Ministers in Pekin, who
are generally blamed for not giving credence
to the reports made by the missionaries in the
interior, and, at any rate, for neglecung TO give
the matter the serious attention II deserves.
" in Tien-Tsin have heard so much about
the Boxers that We got Indifferent. but about
ten days ago word came that the railway
station and shops at Feng-tai had been looted
and burned by a mob. The foreigners here had
timely warning and all escaped. From Feng-
tai there is a railroad line to Pao-ting-fu and
thence the Lu-hau line is being constructed by
the Belgians, Some thirty men, women and
children were left at the Pao-ting-fu end Of the
line in great danger. and started to Tien-Tsin
in boats. Word came here on Friday
night that they had been attacked. that there
were killed and wounded and missing. only sig
teen being left. A volunteer PARTY started on
Saturday TO relieve them. About twenty went
ahead mounted and armed and twenty more In
cart followed on with food. The latter party
met the refugees a sho I distance from here in
a fearful state-half naked. wounded, sick
women and little children. The MOUNTED force
went on and later a band of Russians Cossacks)
went TO their RELIEF. but in the meantime the
volunteers had returned by another route.
The Cossacks met a body If the Boxers and
a still fight ensued. I believe the Cossacks did
not fire. but engaged them in a hand to- hand
encounter and were surprised at the pluck Of
the Cinnamon. However, they killed a large
number of them. The next day a large mob
attacked another station on the Pekin line.
Native soldiers had been stationed there to de-
fend the place. but the mob were too many for
them. All the time the Tent in residents have
been getting more apprehensive. The Chimes,
officials are next to powerleSs. and, besides.
they scarcely disguise IA sympathy for the
alleged plan for discriminating foreigners. About
$50 marines and sailors OF various nationsIities
have been landed and we have a volunteer force
Of about 100 men. Part of the marines have
gone TO Pekin. which. as you know, il eighty
miles away. Last night l must confess I was
afraid there might be trouble. | had a revolver
and a Mauser rife loaded. but We are but q
handful. all told. against millions, should the
uprising be general. Attwenty minutes to an
alarm was given, About 100 wards from here a
squad Of American bluejackets are chartered,
and a bugle rounded to horse / heard q
Calling rattle along the road. but nothing came
OF IL all. There was a fire in an adjoining VII
lage. but the mob put In no appearance. As
write. $50 fresh marines have marched past, the
town band playing In front and escorting them
to barracks. 80
You need have no fear as to our ultimate
safety. We may have a riot. but there will BE-
only one result. The Boxers have killed two
more missionaries a few mi es from here. and
there are fears for Others In the interior. They
are fierce enough when the resistance Ia weak.
but II Ia doubtful If they will take the risk of
meeting a few hundred white men who would
kill them with less compunction than shooting
q dog, am only afraid that you will get SEN
sational kilograms regarding the situation. Wa
are working in The Office as serenely a. though
nothing was the matter. II IL only AZ night that
We begin TO realize danger. Yours very truly,
~. 8. EMENs."