New-York tribune., 1900-08-14
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN CHINA.
STATEMENT BY ENGINEER WHO WAS ON
THE TRAIN WHICH STARTED
FOR PEKING

San Francisco. Aug 13 (speciaD.-Among the
passengers on the steamer Gaelic, which arrived
from the Orient Saturday was W B. Field Of
New-York, mining engineer who had many
thrilling experiences in China Mr. Field in
company with August l. Mathez and W s
Ireland, started for China last February in the
employ Of p New-York syndicate 10 examine
and pass upon valuable mines there. They
sailed from Vancouver direct to Shanghai,
thence to Tien-Tsin, and from there went 70
Peking, where they spent several weeks. After
inspecting the mines they returned 10 Tien-
Tsin. Mr.. Field said:
Captain McCalla OF the Newark and the other
commanders were Just contemplating the at
tempt TO force their way TO Peking. This
about June 10 and that very night they re-
ce1Ved an urgent appeal from Minister Conger
Tor aid This message inspired Admiral Sey
mour and Captain McCalla 10 advance. and with
a force made up Of Americans. Brirons. Italians.
Germans and Russians. armOred train
manned, and the start for Peking was made I
mad managed TO smuSSle myself aboard, as
had business in Peking. which considered OF
the utmost Importance. and everything I
possessed was there. We all expected to reach
Peking that night, not without a fight, but we
expected that one fight would end it We pro-
ceeded all right for about sixteen miles before
we had any trouble: then the track was torn
up and we had TO begin to rebuild it.
The second day we had our first fight. A hand
car was ahead mending the track. and the train
had been stopped where there was considerable
brush on both sides OF the track From ahead
the alarm was suddenly given, and a band OF
sixty-siX Chinese rushed in between the men
with the hand car and the train and cut them
on The Chinese did not know what they had
caught They supposed the train an ordi-
nary one, and that all the men in charge OF Il
were with the hand car. I with the skirnish
line. lying hidden in the brush on both sides OF
the track ana a little IN advance OF the train
The expression on the faces Of those Chinese
was a sight to behold. They came down the
track on a trot in single file. and when within
ABOUT twenty PAGES the order TO IRE given
The Chinese, seeing US. stopped suddenly. and
together in a bunch There was a vouey that
sounded like a single shot. and the whole mass
quivered ara fell
The mending Of tracks and fighting continued
until the column had to leave the train and
tried 70 make dash for Peking on foot Here
where we arrived safely.
Field took passage for Shanghai and was
present at the bombardment and destruction Of
the Taku forts. He starts East tomorrow.
". Toritsch formerly Russian Consul at Port
Arthur, was also passenger on the Gaelic He
said:
The detachment Of cavalry sent TO Taku are
not real Cossacks. but are native troops from
the country around the Baikal Sea, where the
people hate the Chinese like poison, and a man
thinks he has had poor day when he has not
killed more than two Chinese.
Russia has territory enough and. IN my
opinion, she merely seeks TO strengthen her hold
on Manchuria. Which way or how, I don't
know, but Russia is now moving between $50
600 and 100000 men and IS getting ready for q.
square, honest war with China. She can easily
spare that many men from her standing army.
Toritsch said further that It did not seem
likely that China would be partittoned