Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-06-19
REPORTS NOT BELIEVED.
Officials at Washington Inclined to
Doubt the News from China.


Washington. d. c., June 16-Nothing
has been heard here from any official
source to confirm the alarming reports of
The destruction of the embassies and lega-
tons in Pekin and in view of the fact
that the government itself IS not bic to
open communication with the scene of the
troubles. the officials are inclined to doubt
whether private enterprise could do more.
In other words, they do not believe the
report Minister WI of the Chinese le-
cation here called at the state depart
ment this forenoon, but he declared that
he was without any advice from his own
government and said that his visit to
Secretary HAY had reference TO a person
al matter.
Detroit, Mich. June 16.-Baron Won
Ketteler the German minister to China,
who is reported to have been killed III the
Boxer riots in Pekin. was a son-ln-laW
of Henry B. Ledyard. president of the
Michigan Central railroad The baron
was married to Miss Ledyard i'll 1897.
When the news was conveyed to the
Ledyard home it was their first lntlma-
ton of what is said to have occurred.
Members of the family stated that the
baron's wife was with him in Pekin and
that a cablegram had been received from
her week ago saying all was well.
Conference at the White House.
Unless Geographic communication with
fast vessel will be ordered to proceed
from Manila to Taku for news. Secre-
taries Hay and Root are now III confer
ence with the President regarding the
sending of troops to China.
The conclusion reached at the confer
ence was that if communication with
Kempff is not re-esta blished within a
reasonable time forces will be dispatched
from Manila to reinforce the American
contingent. Preliminary inquiries are
being made to see what can be done in
the way of preparing an expedition.
An inquiry as to what constituted a
reasonable time failed to secure def
mite arrangement, but the impression
was conveyed that unless KamDff is
heard from by Monday troops or naval
contingent will be dispatched from Ma
Mia.
Secretaries Hay and Root left the
white house at j 90 p. m. They said
they had received no official confirmation
Of the burning Of the legations in Pekin
They were getting together all the data
possible. they stated, and would do what
ever the situation seemed to require
Both gentlemen refused to make a fur
Their statement.
Incendiary Fires.
Shanghai, June fO-Last nights ad-
vices from Tien Tsin report that large in
cendiary fires have occurred in the east
ern part Of the city, where three Eng
lish and American churches We're burned.
besides the residences of many foreign
ers. Telegraphic communication is inter
rupted, the poles having been burned and
there is no hope of immediate repairs be-
ing made.
The train conveying the relieving party
with food and ammunition was obliged
to return, being unable to reach Lang
Fang, where detachments Of foreign
troops, dispatched on Sunday last are
now 2OIG1yCrinp a rpnair tho limo
Relief Column in Need of Relief.
London, June 16.-Admiral Seymour.
with 1900 marines. is not more than
three-ffths of the distance between Tien
Tsin and Pekin. and the Boxers are de-
stroying the railway in front Of his force
and burning bridges behind it. The ex~
element at Shanghai and Tien Tsn is
increasing. and it is rumOred that the re-
lief column is itself in need of rescue.
The foreign admirals may have Eliscalcu-
lated the strength of the Boxers, and it
may be necessary to send a Russian
military force to support the marines.
The Russian reserve of 100 men is al
ready OH shore with guns and horses
and this can be increased by 1000 men
from Port Arthur. Englishmen, who
have a confirmed habit of seeing a deep
intrigue in everything Russian are CON
WINGED that the bridges are burned and
the marines isolated in order to provide
text for sending an army to Pekin. In
this Chinese affair it is difficult enough
to find out what is on the carpet with
out trying TO look under it.
Refugees Swarm into Pelsin.
Dispatches received here before mid
night were mainly from the coast towns
and there was little trustworthy intelli-
gence from the capital. Christian refu-
gees had swarmed into Pekin from the
mission stations, and the embassies and
Protestant churches and buildings were
harricaded The China inland mission
at Yunnanfu had been attacked and the
discretionary movement was spreading
from province to province. There were
rumors of hard fighting, but these were
not confirmed with authority.
Lead to Russian Occupation.
The British policy is not understood,
but there is a general impression among
members OF parliament that a European
concert will lead to Russian occupation,
and that Lord Salisbury will not offer
objections. Russia, by making a settle