Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-22


Drills, Uniform and Exercises of
the Boxers.
EyewitneSseS of the first raid by
Boxers on Tien-tsin and the lombard
ment of the Taku forts by the foreign
gunboats arrived at San Francisco on
the steamer Coptic the other day from
Shanghai. The most vivid story of
the Chinese uprising is told by the
Rev. Robert Coltman, pastor of the
Presbyterian church at La Junta,
Colo, says the New York Sun. With
his wife he escaped from Tien-tsn on
June 16 by military train to Taku, 60
ing thence on the Chinese steamer Fie
Chan to Shanghai. While in Peking
early in May the Rev. Mr.. Coltman
dined with Minister Conger and talked
over the situation with him.
I'VE went to China to visit my
daughter, wife of Professor Clifford Of
the Imperial university at Tien-tsin,"
said Mr.. Coltman.. "rhen we went to
Peking to visit my son, Robert Colt
man, Jr., physician resident there. He
is a professor of medicine in the I'M
peral university. We were in Peking
early in May, leaving there on the Sth
to go to Pei-Tai-IIos a seaside resort,
which we never reached. While in Pc
king Minister Conger dined with my
son, and we had n talk over the situa-
tion as it then presented itself. The
ct hat 1pil riplf
in the streets of Peking, and was very
apprehensive. Minister Conger con-
sidered the danger not particularly
threatening and seemed to place great
credit in the assurance of the tsung-li-
yamen. / told him did not agree with
him. and he assured me that there was
no danger.
"Over Il month was spent by us at
Tien-tsin. The Boxers We're more
threatening and native Christians from
all parts of the country began to flock
to the mission compounds at Tien-tsin.
They were in mortal terror of the Box
ers, and with all their worldly posses
sons tied in small bundles went from
gate to gate imploring the foreigners
to protect them. 1t was a pitiful sight
as they asked us with tears in their
eyes: What shall we do when you so
away? We shall all be killed.
ION either side of the Taku road lie
the compounds of the foreign missions.
Each compound is a rectangle, sur
rounded by n brick wall about ten
feet high. Gates are cut through these
walls so that persons in an extremity
can run from one to another and reach
the British or French concessions,
which adioin the compounds. The
British concession Is laid out like any
ordinary British or American city, with
excellent buildings and good streets.
early in June American marines to
the number of 107 came to the Ameri
can board of foreign missions COM
pound and encamped Captain Nc
Gala was in general charge of the
forces on land, and the marines in the
compound were in command of En-
sign Daniel w. Wurtzbaugh. On the
night of Saturday, June o, word hay
ing been received from the legations at
Peking that help must be had at once,
meeting of consuls and commanders
was held at Tien-tsin. Captain Nc
Gala was spokesman for the Ameri-
cans. The Russian consul must have
had the most adequate conception Of
the troubles ahead, for he declared that
he would not undertake to reach Pc
king with less than $1,000 men. The
British officers We're silent. When Cap
tain McCalla was called on for advice,
he said that he had advices that the
lives of Americans were in jeopardy In
Picking and that he intended to start
next morning to their relief, whether
the other forces went or not. Then
British commanders and others agreed
TO go. and the result was the i'll fated
expedition under Admiral Seymour. l
thought until today that this expedi-
tion got through to Peking without
trouble.
after the departure of Captain Nc
Gala and the forces matters became
rapidly worse at Tien-tsin. The air
was filed with sinister rumor and bust
ness came to n standstill. Ensign
WurtZbaugh kept his American ma
rines ready for any emergency. Final
ly, ON the night of June ID, soon after
iHlunlSHl, tlit t'cAtlS IQst tll lluSSt
and set fire To the native chapels, the
French cathedral and many other
buildings. There was a terrific uproar
among the Chinese and foreigners-a
reign of terror. The American marines
were reused to arms and all night
stood ready to defend the foreigners in
the compounds. The fire was con,
fined TO the native city, to the west
ward, and the line of flame seemed to
be about n mile long. We could hear
musketry and shouting In the distance,
and fire after fire sprang up until we
thought the whole native city was go,
ing up in smoke.
"Detachments of foreign forces hur
ried here and there during the night
protecting lives and property. The
Boxers attacked the railroad and tried
to burn 1t and the station, but were
driven off by the Russians Nothing