The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-06
BRITISH
Lt g tiODs in China Reported 10
Be Destroyed.

kin We're murdered on June 80 or Ju.y
1, appears TO be circulating s.multan-
eously at Che-Foo, shanghai and Tien
Tsin. Yet, as it is not confirmed by Of
fetal dispatches, and is not tracable to
the southern viceroys, who are stil in
certain communication with Pekin. and
there is some basis for hope that it is
untrue.
Cautious observers at Shanghai recog-
nize that, even though these reports are
rejected, events in Pekin must be gall
oping to a tragic end.
Correspondents of the Express at
Shanghai gather details from Chinese
sources, which pieced together, relate
that when the foreigners ammunition was
exhausted the boxers and imperial troops
rushed the British legation and poured
into the court yard with fanatical fury.
The foreign troops were so hopele ssly
outnumbered that their fate was certain.
The moment the mob broke the wall the
courtyard was converted into shambles.
Other invaders spread into the interior of
the building. One correspondent adds:
"It is only left to hope that in the final
rush of the murderous horde, the men
of the legations had time to slay with
their own hands their woman kind and
children. The Chinese are whispering the
terrible story under their breath. Their
attitude toward foreigners in the
streets has undergone a strange change.
The demeanor Of the better class Of Chi
ese is one of pity rather than of tri-
umph Even the rabble in the native
quarters is silent
Something of this eliminating tragedy
in CHASTITY history Of recent events in
Pekin seems to pervade the very atmos-
phere here and to compel the belief
against the wish of all our people. The
consuls fear that the report Is too true
and the Chinese officials do not attempt
to seek reasons for denial
Two Manchus who have arrived at
Shanghai certify to the truth of the
statement that Prince Tuain visited the
palace and offered the emperor and dow
ager empress the alternative of poison
or the sword.
The emperor. they say, took poison,
and died within an hour The dowager
empress also chose poison but craftily
swallowed only a portion of what was
offered her and survived On the same
day the Chinese customs bureau was de-
toms ,and hs staff escaping to the lega-
tions.
Intense Indignation is felt in Shang-
hal against the supposed action of the
powers in restraining Japan from sending
an army to Pekin Immediately. The ow-
ers are accused of being as guilty of mur-
der as are Prince Tuans fanatics, and Sir
Robert Hart is blamed for not having in
formed the foreigners of the immense
imports of arms, especially a few weeks
ago
The Chinese commanders are preparing
for long. severe campaign and are put
ting into operations the plans drawn up
by German officers last year for resisting
an invasion from Russia.
The correspondent of the Daily Mail,
a Shanghai telegraphed under date Of
July 5, 1905 p. m. says he believes that
when the official information comes re-
gardng Pekin 1t may include news of the
outraging of English women and the tor
ture of children. 1t may almost be taxi
en- for granted he asserts, that all for
eigners in Pekin have been wiped out.
There are whisperings of startling ruplors
in native quarters it must no be for
gotten that telegraph lines on which news
can come are solely in the hands of the
Chinese. The native rumors are likely
to have their source in a solid basis and
the native officials are believed to be pre-
pairing the way for the reception of news
of the greatest crime of the century.
Tatoi Yu admitted to a correspondent
that the case of the Europeans in Pekin
is utterly hopeless, in his opinion. He
believes that If they have not yet been
massacred it is merely a matter of time
before they will be.
A etter brought by courier from Pekin.
received in Shanghai on July 4, said the
boxers are gathering huge forces about
Pekin, Endorsements arriving from all
directions This is taken to Indicate a
concert of action among the mobiles, who
are believed to have thrown in their lot
with the boxers. The emperor and dow
ager empress, the letter reads, are COM
pletely under the thumb and Prince Tdain
and Yang XII
Dispatches from Hong-Kong say the
"Triads'' a secret society, are assuming
threatening demeanor on the mainland,
Ii Hung Chang has sent $500 men to oe-
cupy both forts at the mouth OF the
Canton river.
Ihe Shanghai correspond mt or the
Daily Telegraph wires under date of July
4: Yuan Shikai, governor of Shang Tung
telegraphs the French consul here that
Prince Tuain is preparing an edict order
ing the determination of all foreigners.
This is probably intended to prepare the
public for the worst news.
Chinese reports which are generally be-
lieved here, dclare all foreigners in Pc
kin have been massacred.