The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-21

| cycled up to the legation Office and passed
in dispatch. This is not unusual. so the
message was taken in hand by secretary
while the minister proceeded with his
| breakfast
The message proved to be quite long
and a considerable part of it was in an
unintelhgible cipher code. But it was not
until the eye fen upon the name Con
ger" written in English, that the full
purport Of the message became evident.
Then there was a stir throughout the es-
adjustment. The minister was entirely
/ in the dark as to the meaning of the
/ strange group of Arabic figures, but it
was evident 10 him that this vas a reply
/ direct from Minister Conger to Secretary
Hays cipher telegram of July Il.
Mr. Wa went upstairs TO his private
office, where he was joined BY his secre-
tary Mr.. Chung Word was sent for the
minister's automobile to take him to the
state department. A few minutes later
ne appeared with Mr. Chung on the stone
balcony Of the legation In his hand he
carried a document, carefully wrapped up
wreathed in smiles He stepped into the
vehicle and his American attendant,
Charles Lee. who accompanies him on
these trips, turned the lever and they sped
down Connect cut avenue toward the state
department.
Handed II to Secretary Hay.
1t was 9:45 o'clock when Mr. WI handed
the document to Secretary Hay and then.
after brief congratulations over what the
M ssage was believed to contain he re-
tired in order that the translation of the
cipher might begin.
Minister Wus personal feeling over the
receipt of the message are those Of in
tense relief, following a long period Of
extreme depression. He had little to say
over the message as it speaks for itself
and his views could add nothing to il.
Above all he is rejoicing that the reports
as to the massacre of Minister Coneer
and all other foreigners is dissipated, and
TINS he regards as the supreme fact, not
withstanding the grave statement in the
message that bombardment is going on
and massacre is imminent The frank
ness with which this statement was made
is taken as conclusive evidence of the
genuineness of the dispatch Moreover,
Mr.. WI is personally acquainted with the
tao tai of Shanghai who forwarded the
message for him and got back the an
swer, and the minister regards him as
one of the most irreproachable and high
minded men in all China
Aside from having been able to get
through the message itself Minister WI
is chiefly gratifed at the opportunity he
has had to serve the American govern
ment and in this way to establish the
good faith which the Chinese authorities
as represented by him are seeking to deal
with the situation. Throughout the le-
cation staff, among the secretaries at
taches. Interpreters and American attend
ants, the great load which has hung over
them of late has now been largely dissi-
pated, and on all hands to-day there
are signs of joy and relief. 1t is appre-
ciated that the crisis is still acute. but
at least the mystery as to Minister Con-
ger has been penetrated.
The various other foreign embassies and
legations learned of the Conger dispatch
early in the day and took prompt steps
to notify the foreign officers. Some of
ment and got the exact terms of the mes
sages, learning also from Mr. Hay the
ia. tn he placed in the reply.