The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-23

round with the suddenness bred OF
imminent danger, while the Cossacks
unslung their rifles. Covering each a
man as they rode they went back on
their tracks some two hundred and
fifty yards before the Chinese fired.
Suddenly Watts pony stumbled-only
strong hand held him up. He had
been shot in the leg, and it was but the
work Of a moment to dismount, change
the saddle to the led pony, and hey!
again, for the open country.
Conceive the position. Four men lid
ing for life in black night, with the
country about them alive, for aught
they knew. with hostile villagers alarm
ed by their passage. Over fields and
bare country they passed swiftly, TAX
ing wide sweep in their course Then
they halted. to find themselves again
on the spot at which their perils be
gan-about two miles between the Race
Course and Tientsin. For some tine
Watts considered the apparent hone
lessness of his attempt and the adyis-
ability of a return to Tientsin. But the
Cossacks settled this. He made know n
TO them roughly but clearly his haif-
decision. They shook their heads ana
srinned, as they passed significant
hands across their throats. The mean
ing was plain. Did they dare to re-
turn, their errand unaccomplished,
their heads would pay the penalty.
Watts no longer hesitated-they must
go through with it. Once again they
set out. leaving the Taku road five or
seven miles on their left Thus they
came upon the big creek which runs
| near Peitangkou. They forded swiftly
and set their course on the other side
| for the village itself. A stone bridge
| met them, over which they clattered
| noisily. The unwatchful sentries. rous-
| ed by the ring of hoofs upon the stone,
rose and fired. Again the riders struck
| off at right angle from their course,
| and raced on till the trees which fringe
| the Taku road We're dimly seen. With
| these trees as mark Watts knew his
| position again, and they held on as far
as the village of Shensikou, which is
half way between Tientsin and Taku.
| Once again they were met by sentries
posted at a bridge, once again these
sentries fired, and once again the course
was changed. This time they followed
| the banks of the canal which leads
4 ~ the CAMP. All
| even greater peril was to be expected
there. Alert and vigilant they rode
keenly awaiting the first alarm. But
| the usual sentry post was deserted.
| thick fog had fallen, and they passed
shrouded in this, through Hsiaochan
| village. The merciful white folds OF
the fog hid them from sight of the sol
diers there, and they galloped swiftly
and safely through. Still on they went
until the new city of Hsinchang was
| reached. One shot was fired at them
but they won past the city to the forts
at the head of the creek which is above
the Taku Custom House. 1t was oil
high Importance to know whether oil
not these forts were occupied. They
halted, dismounted, and crept cautious
Ily among tall reeds till they founC
themselves right underneath the forts
There were three of them-one for
guarded each side of the head of tn
creek, and the third lay about half /;
mile away from it's fellows. They CAV
no sign of life or occupation. Seem.
this the party pushed on through tn
reeds, swan a canal, and came again
upon the road. Ahead they saw an
other party of Chinese, but as they ap
preached, to their surprise these stoo
by. and saluted them as they passed
The bombardment and taking of TAX
forts had taught lesson in manners
this was education by cannon.
Danger was over. By $3.50 that morn
ing they had reached Taku. lively
perilous hours it had taken to accom-
plish a ride usually done in thr e
Watts arrival and news was the sigma
for busy preparation. A force of 1,50
men of all nationalities was prepared
How they fought their way to Tientsir
how they took their share in the awfu
work in the Settlements there, is al
ready an oft-told tale. But when tn
history of this war comes to be writ
ten, the gallant ride of Jim Watts an
those three Cossacks should be wr
, large as an example and for encourage
ment. To save his fellows Watts ac
Iventured his own life-unselflshly, an
with quiet pluck. Tientsin was
peril, could have held out but littl
, longer. A desperate measure was I'll
, only hope, and he was found as ii
| man ready to take his life in his HAND
always without ostenration, rattle
with a feeling that duty must be don
| Surely his exploit is one of the brigh
\ est spots in an otherwise miserab
!, business. Those in Tientsin look on hi
as the means by which their lives We
saved and rightly so. He knew II
perils before him, may even have col
!, sidered his life as forfeit, but he WEI
: on undeterred. Britons should be prot
|, of the story of how he saved Tientsi
a Golfers and coughers: Our Golfers
" exclaimed the treasurer of the car