The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-31
there arose a great continuous cheer on

both sides.
Generals. soldiers and correspondents
scrambled up the banks through the
NTH. elbowing to be first Men and WO-
men surrounded the rescuers and shook
hands with the Sikhs. Everybody was
hustled excitedly along into the lega-
tlon grounds, where the colors We're
planted The soldiers surrounded the
wall which had been the salvation of
the besieged.
Thc ministers and officers demanded
the latest news on both sides.
chaffee is Disappointed.
An hour afterward General Chaffee,
riding at the head of the Fourteenth U.
. infantry, marched to the Tartar wall.
An American marine, who was on top
OF the wall, shouted: You are Just in
time. We need you in our business"
Where can we get in?" said General
Chaffee.
Through the canal. The British en-
tered there two hours ago." was the
response. The American general looked
disappointed
Although the Americans entered be-
hind the last of the British forces, their
reception was just as enthusiastic as if
they had been first. When the Stars
and Stripes emerged into view Mr..
Tewksburv. the missionary, cried
Americans, cheer your fiagi"
Ladies waved their handkerchiefs and
soldiers cheered the ladies.
On entering the grounds of the Brit
ish legation the American troops stared
in amazement and inquired if there was
lawn party in progress. They had ex-
pected to find the relieved in a worse
condition than themselves. whereas the
contrast between the appearance of the
rescued and the rescuerS was SurDriS-
ingly in favor of the former. The Brit
ish minister. Sir Claude Macdonald,
was shaver and dressed in Immaculate
tennis fiannels. Mr.. COnger, the Unit
ed States minister. was equally pre-
Sentable. The aSsemblage of ladies was
fresh and bright in summer clothing.
Only a few civilians were carrying
arms.
On the other hand the rescuers were
haggard and rough bearded. They
dragged themselves along as if ready
to drop. their khaki uniforms dripping
with perspiration and black with mud.
Legationers Like Invalids.
A second glance showed that the res
cued were pale and thin. They looked
like company of invalids. Every
part of the enclosure testified to their
tragic experiences. There was a plot
of new graves headed with wooden
crosses, including the graves of five
children. At the second secretary's
house was the hospital filed with in
valids. At enc time all but four men
Of the Japanese contingent had been
in the hospital. wounded.
There were several caves rooted with
timbers, heaped over with earth, which
served as bomb-proofs.
The bulletin board wdS covered with
significant notices. For instance:
las there is likely to be a severe
dropping fire today, women and chill
dren are forbidden to walk about the
grounds"
Here is another:
Owing to the small supply Of veget-
ables and eggs, the market will be open
only from to 10 hereafter. All horse
meat is inspected by a physician"
Mr.. COnger has the first secretaTy's
house. Seventy American missionaries
occupied the chapel. The French con-
tingent had the pavilion on the lawn.
The bravery of the women was note
worthy. They became so accustomed
to fire that it is difficult to restrain
them from walking about Tie grounds
at all times.
China Declares It Is War.
When a proposal was made to petit
ton the tsung Ii yamen for vegetables,
than take help from that quarter. The
yamen's food supply was a farce, only
sufficient for one day. When meat was
asked for. the reply was that this could
not be furnished, because a state of
war existed in Pekin.
The tsung Ii yamen posted a proclaim
alton asking the people to kill all for
eigners, as the latter had made war on
China in attacking the forts at Tal1u.
= 7
from July II to July 25. At the latter
date a nominal truce was agreed to
and extended to Aug. 3, although the
Chinese repeatedly violated it, There
was considerable rifle fire from Aug.
3 to Aug. II, 2nd then the Chinese
mounted smOoCh-bores. The mainstay
of the foreigners was an old gun used
by the British in 1860, which was found
in a junk shop by Mitchell, the Amer
lean gunner. This was mounted on
Russian carriage found by an Ital-
ian. Ammunition was fitted to it and
it was christened the international
Gun"
The foreigners remarked that relief
had been long delayed, but they in
sisted that they had never despaf ed
of the outcome. The Chinese are said
10 admit that they lost 5000 killed dur
ing the siege. The foreigners did not
waste their ammunition, shooting only
when target was in evidence. The
Chinese method, on the other hand.
was continuous heavy and indiscrim-
mate fire. The enemy would advance
10 the barricades at night, creeping
up with their arms filled with brick.
and in the morning the foreigners
would find a new wall few feet clos
er. Finally, the barricades came so
close that talking could be distinctly
heard.
Chinese Afraid of Bayonets.
During the last two nights the Chi
nese officers urged their men to charge
the foreigners and exterminate them
before the international force. could
arrive. The Chinese soldiers replied
that they could not stand the bayo-
nets The night before the relief, they
fired several thousand rounds. the for
eigners replying with two shots ONLY
The Chinese artillery and soldiers in
Pelxin were apparently much inferior
TO those encountered in the fighting at
Tien Tsin.
Tie relief of Pekin was a notable
achievement, chiefly for the forced
march OF four independent armies
over a single difficult road aid in sick
ening weather.
The opposition offered by the Chi
nese dwindled steadily each day until
the relieving columns were in front
Of Pekin. The defense of the city.
considering the possibilities of the case,
was accordingly weak. The Japanese
are stu hammering away at the wall
of the northeast section, which has
not yet been entered. Probably the
Chinese concentrated their forces there.
thus giving the Americans and Eng
lish comparatively easy possession.
They advanced along the left canal
under cover, the Fourteenth infantry
leading, with the Ninth infantry and
the marines following. From a hill
f-crrtai In 2oillr- cnnliod na.-..l.. -