The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11
Horrors of the Battle as Told
by a Participant.
CARNAGE WAS SIMPLY FEARFUL
Pei-he Full Of Behcaded Cbinamcn as the
Transports Assembled TO Taku-Advanee
on Walled City OF Tirntsin-Detachmenf
of unised States Troops Separated fren
Allies Through Mistake In Orders-Iess
of 0ue-feurth During the Advance.

this city, has written most graphic and
interesting account OF the battle of Tien-
tsin 10 relatives in this country. Lieut..
Loeb, after describing his arrival I'm the
country which just now Is attracting the
attention of all the civilized nations. says;
I'VE arrived at Taku and anchored about
seven miles from shore. All around were
warships OF every nation-the English, the
french, the German, the Japanese, and
the Russian. II was one of the grandest
sights imaginable-one that never as long
as memory lasts will be forgotten by those
who witnessed the sight. Our arrival was
signal for the American families. most
~ or missionaries. to seek our ships for
safety. They were from Tientsin. The
city had become too dangerous for them
10 remain longer, and they came to US for
protection
After caring for them. the next day two
battalions started for Tientsin. stopping
at Tangku, where we camped for the
night On the way we passed Taku, and I
CONT see why the Cinnamon deserted that
city for ii had some of the finest forts
nave ever seen. 1t was very hot passing
up the river, and the iron decks of the
vessels attracted and held the heat. All
day long the bodies of dead and beheaded
Cinnamon f1oated past the ships. Some of
the headless trunks had found lodgment
along the banks. and the town dogs
tought over the bodies and tore them to
pieces.
Dead in Heaps in the City.
This is July q. On the 18th we re-
ceived orders for an attack on the walled
city OF Tientsin. We were to start AFT 2:2O
a. m. July l3. Some of us tried to get
some sleep, and at O'Clock in the MORN
ing we got up and formed outside Of our
own barracks and awaited orders. In an
hour after receiving our orders We ar
rived al our first position. Here we de-
ployed and were ordered TO lie down in
the grass. while the Japanese advanced,
but before the order could be obeyed the
nrlng became general, and many of our
men were wounded by the bullets and
shells which hailed about US. | shall never
forget the death song the leaden dea III
messages sang that morning as they
passed over our heads. Under the orders
or the English admiral, and only about 400
strong, We were directed TO support the
japanese, so we had to stick to our first
position while they passed on. We lost
quite a number of men. Reaching the
canal. we crossed the bridge and got
under the protection of the high walls a
position some distance northwest from our
first position.
After some desperate fighting the forts
were captured and the order to advance
came again. All of the troops were un-
able to get through the gates. and those
who were unable to do so clambered over
the walls. Once at the forts the sights
which confronted us beggar description
here pile of Japanese there a still greet
er pile OF Chinese, all killed some stlll
locked in deadly embrace, while Just be-
yond them were countless fires. Anil
these fearful sights we rested a moment.
formed companies, and then the Japs
pushed on toward the city. Now our or
ders were to follow>the Japs and support
them. but the orders were received wrong
Dy our gallant colonel so when we started
out or the fort We went to the right in
stead of following the Japs to the left
and there before us was a half mile Of
open country covered with bitches. mud.
water, and mounds, with a terrific and
deadly hre coming from the city.
Through Hail Of Death.
1--WE were ordered forward 10 stop the
fire. II was a terrific undertaking and
each man counted the cost, but not one
flinched, so on We went, and that advance
1
We lost one-fourth of our men and one
third of our brave officers. l cannot re-
call my thoughts as we went forward
through that hell Of leaden hail. The one
feverish thought was to get some men
! forward and stop that death-deallng fire.
About half way across the open country
the companies were all mingled together.
and /, with one-half the company. was
separated from the lieutenant with the
other half. The men were about played
out from the hard running and some Of
the soldiers could go no farther. but | saw
most of the others dashing forward. so
jumped out Of the ditch and motioned the
men forward, there being so much shoot
ing that one could not be heard. / was In
advance of the men, with four of them 10
my right. screaming shell struck in
front of US and TO the right OF me. IL
burst and a part of ii hit three men on
the right, killing them instantly, knocking
lown the fourth man and covering me
completely with dirt and dust. II was
horrible, but TO stop meant death. The
bullets fell so thickly that their patter
sounded like hail Many OF The men wno
were struck fell headlong into the ditch
and those who were not Killed outright
were drowned.
4
still on again. Death was everywhere.
Suddenly we came TO a riyer We knew
nothing about. We were then within
seventy yards Of the enemy. We stopped
behind an earth wall. with the Chinese on
the other side. The river ar this point
was fifty yards wide, Of an unknown
depth, and we could not cross. Each man
had 80 rounds OF ammunition, and We
tried 10 drive the Chinese out OF the huts
from which they were firing. but II SEEM
ed when we killed one two would take ais
place. so ge dropped down 10 await deYei-
opEnentg The Chinese were quickly re-
enforced and they covered the ground 50
completely that TO expose ourselves
meant death Several men tried. In an
instant they we're riddied. Lieut. L.awtOu
was the only one who got back for help
and then came back 70 US In doing so he
vas wounded three times, one bullet pass
ing through his breast and arm. making
four wounds Another hit him on the
foot. while still another swept away his
hat and carried away part Of hts hair.
He still lives. and has been sent home. to-
gsther with the rest Of the wounded ON
GERS.
1T was impossible TO get troops 10 US.
and We lay al that hot day In salt water
and mud up 10 our waists Water gave
out. and the men In their fTenzied at
tenlpts 70 quench their burning thTOais
would drink that dirty salt water. supping
IL in short mouthfuls as II eddied about
their forms. Never 20 long as ! live shall
I forget that day. Every moment each OF
US thought would be our last. for the one
pound shells with sinister and fearful de-
termination kent Clipping away o4tr fe