The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-08-07
DETAILS FROM PEKIN
OF SIEGE OF THE MINISTER'S

London, Aug. 2.-Dr. George Ernest
Morrison, the Pekin correspondent of
the Times has been heard from direct.
The Times this morning prints the fol-
lowing dispatch from him, dated July
21st:
"There has been cessation of hostil-
tiles here (Pekin) since July 10th, but
for fear of treachery there has been no
relaxation of vigilance. The Chinese
soldiers continue to strengthen the bar
ricades around the besieged area and
also batteries on top of the imperial
city wall, but in the meantime they
have discontinued firing, probably be-
cause they are short of ammunition.
"The main bodies of the imperial SOL
diers have left PeSin in order to meet
the relief forces. Supplies are begin
ming to come in and the condition of
the besieged is improving. The wound
ed are doing well. Our hospital ar
rangements are admirable and 100
cases have passed through the hospital.
1.-The tsung Ii yamen forwarded to
Sir Claude Mcdonald copy of dis
patch telegraphed by the emperor to
Queen Victoria attributing all deeds of
violence to bandits, and requesting her
majesty's assistance to eXtricate the
Chinese government out of the diff
Guilty. The Queens reply is not stated,
but the Chinese minister at Washing
ton telegraphs that the United States
government would gladly assist the
Chinese authorities. The dispatch to
the Queen was sent to the tsung II va
men by the grand council on July 3rd !;
yet the day before an imperial edict
had been issued calling on the Boxers
to continue to render loyal and patriot
ic services in eXterminating the Chris
tians. The edict also commended vice
roys and governors to expel all mis-
sionaries from China, and to arrest all
Christians and compel them to re-
nounce their faith. Other DEGREES ap-
plauding the Boxers speak approvingly
of their burning out and Staying con-
verts. Their leaders are stated in n
decree to be princes and ministers.
"On July 18th another decree made n
complete volte face, due to the victories
OF the foreign troops at Tien Tsin. In
this decree for the first time, and one
month after the occurrence, an allusion
was made to the death of Baron Won
Ketteler. the German minister, which
was attributed to the action of local
brigands, although there is no doubt
that it was premeditated and that the
assassination was committed by an i'm
perlal officer, as the survivor, Herr
Cordes, can testify.
"The forces besieging the legation
consists of the imperial troops under
General Tung Lu and General Tung
F'uh Slang, whose gallantry is applaud
ed in imperial DEGREES, although it has
consisted in bombarding for one month
defenceless women and children cooped
up in the legation compound, using
shell, shrapnel, round shot and expend-
ing bullets
The dispatch ends as follows:
1.-The greatest peril we suffered dur
ing the siege was from fire. the Chi
nese, in their determination to destroy
the British legation, burning the adjoin-
ing Han, Lin Yuen (national college,,
one of the most sacred buildings in
China, sacrificing the unique library.
"They have posted proclamations, as
suring us of protection, and on the
same night they made general attack
in the hope of surprising us.
"rhere Is still no news of Pei Tang
cathedral The wounded include the
American surgeon, Lippitt, severely
wounded, and Captain Meyers, who is
doing well. Seven Americans have
been killed.
"All the ministers and members of le-
cations and their families are in good
health. The general health of the COM