The National tribune., 1900-08-23

The other four are in the Government
Hospital. A good many of them were
armed with firearms and some were very
well mounted. Some people think these
were Chinese soldiers.
We have heard a good deal from re-
liable Chinese of certain magic red lights
which the Boxers make to go up and down
in the air: not like rockets, but lights go-
ing up to heaven, as one of them expressed
it, and slowly coming and going again and
again without going out. The lights are
made to perform by Boxer magic. Last
night Mr.. Martin, myself, Mildred, Agnes
and Edith all climbed up on to the ridge
of the house to see the lights. / was the
first to see them. They turned red and
green and jumped around and danced a
good deal. One was intensely red. There
We're five or six of them.
Edward Lowry, who went up on Sun
day with the armOred train, as they called
it, came back to-day, as one and half
| miles of track were pulled up and they
were stuck. He brought a lot of news,
some of which may not be true. The prop
| erty of the British Legation at the West
ern Hill has been burned and time has
| been set for ours. The Russians have
| landed 700 more men at Taku. There is
great danger of the Russians joining the
Chinese. The Americans and the British
have been doing all the work so far.
Even the English say that Capt. Nc
Gala, the officer in command of the Amer
leans, Is the best man in the expedition.
In Pekin they have the gates shut and
guns on the wall pointed at the Legations.
The Italians, who were standing on guard
near the armored train, got q great scare
near midnight The whole party on guard
ran pell nell for the train and fairly tum-
bled into their car, so frightened were
they, and, as it afterward proved, at moth
ing at all, as no Boxers were in sight.
sbIhnrcIay Vttnn
have landed 1,S00 more men and are send
ing 1000 up the line. 1t looks like bust
ness, though we can't be sure how they
are going to act. A tremendOus~amount
of noise and the firing of guns in the city
woke Mr.. Martin up during the night. 1t
looks as if the Boxers meant business, too.
They are growing all the time. The guns
in the forts here, one just opposite Gordon
Hall. on the right bank of the river, and
another up toward the city, are trained
on the settlement. They are good ones and
of the latest pattern. 1t has been sug-
geStcd that in case of an attack it would
be wisest to capture the fort across the
river Immediately and move into that in
stead of Gordon Hall, which would be soon
demolished by the guns of the fort.
The missionaries on our mission prem
ises in Pekin have fortified the chapel.
provisioned it with food and water, taken
precautionary measures against fire and
are living in the chapel. The property Of
all the foreign Powers at the Western Hill
has been destroyed. The French are bar
rlcadlng their streets with bags of earth.
The British have rapid-fre guns on the
bund' and sentinels all around. 1t is be-
ginning to look more serious. The Boxers
are spreading rapidly south again. There
are So war vessels at Taku. Men are be-
ing landed almost every hour. Our Pekin
missionaries have sent cablegram appeal
to President Mckinley; long may he live.
We don't forget our beloved country even
out here. On the contrary, we are the
more patriotic. l have two Old Glories
flying high above the tallest tree in the
yard. News has just been received that
the German Legation is burned and the
German Minister, Baron Won Ketteler, has
been murdered.
There are 500 Russians here with big
guns. They boast that they will be the
first in Pekin yet. Prince Tuan, a very
anti-foreign official, has been placed at the
head of affairs. They say that Tung-fu-
hsaiang has just been begging 10 turn the
Chinese SOldiery on the foreigners. Tung
is an anti-foreign General. With Prince
Tuan placed at the head of affairs he may
get permission to fulfill his petition. If so,
we're almost sure to be massacred. The
Boxers paraded the streets in the native
city to-day, and we are to be attacked by
them tonight.
FRIDAY, June 15.-I was up this morn
ing at 3 o'clock. / had been in bed about
four hours when l was awakened by q
light tapping at my window. 1t was a
Christian from the native city who had
promised father to tell him when the Box
ers were going to make their grand descent
upon us. He brought the news of the
burning of three chapels in the city. The
Chinaman who came to tell us slipped
through the water gate as the big gates
were closed.
Yesterday there was no train down
from the allied forces up the line. TEey
had been attacked again, and considerable
anxiety is felt on their account. They
haven't enough men to perform the task
set for them. There were nine fires burn
ing to the east of us this morning Our
chapel, just south in the native city, is in
the hands of the Boxers, who are trying to
burn it. Two hundred Russians have been
lost Nobody knows where they are:
There are three boats on the river armed
with quick-hring guns, prepared to cap
ture the fort east of us on moments no.
tice. There are two quick-fring guns at
the Temperance Hall and several on the
'bund.' Twenty-One more Americans, with
another rapid-tire gun, arrived here this
morning. They are at the American Board
just above us.
Saturday, June 1G.-A thousand sikhs
'dilic III dGe JdpS
at Taku and four transports Of Americans |
from Manila are expected very soon. We
divided last night into three watches. II
had been asleep just an hour and a half |
when Wa were all awakened by Mr.. Mar |
tin. He had been startled by the fight OF |
the shells. The crackle Of small arms fol- |
lowed quickly. We got up and dressed |
and went on to the hOusetops. Three fires |
were burning and every now and then we |
would hear vOlley.
''The station was in the hands Of the /
Russians. The Boxers, to the number Of |
900, attacked it with blazing torches. |
The telegraph wires were cut, and they /
endeavSred to burn the depot buildings. |
The Russians were prepared, however, and |
shot down large numbers Of them North
and west of here good many Boxers were
killed By the Americans and Germans. At
Dne time six fires were burning. A great
majority Of the slain were boys. The
streets are deserted. All the shops are
closed. Everything points to an attack
soon. We anticipate lively time tonight.
Things began to quiet down after the fight
and about 2:30 a. m. we turned in. We
were all up again by 6. The alarm was
sounded several times during the night.
The Americans were greatly incensed
against Mr.. BrysOn and DIR. Smith for
outing the whole Of them out every time
hey got scared. AT last orders were is.
sued to arrest DR.. Smith if he again dis