Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-30

London, Aug. 25.-Five hundred
American troops participated in a sig
nal defeat of the boxers outside lien
tSin Aug. 10. The fact is briefly re-
ported from Vienna, and details OF the
engagement come from a Reuter- agent
at Tientsin. In addition to the Amerl-
can force there were 375 British and
200 Japanese, all under the British
general, Dorward. The fight took
place at a village six miles southwest
Of Tientsin where the allied forces
found a considerable number of box
ers whom they engaged, killing over
800 and, taking Ga wounded and prison
ers, who were sent to the hospitals Of
the allies. The village was burned
The Americans had five wounded, the
Japanese 6, the British none.
Hundreds of boxers, flags, spears
and swords were captured,
From Shanghai comes the
report that the empress dowager, after
proceeding one days journey from
Pekin, became terrified at the looting
by Gen. Tung Fuh Siangs troops and
went back to Pel1in. A Chinese teIe-
gram from Sinanfu SAYS Prince Tuan
has been captured by a detachment Of
allies. Other Chinese messages record
the formation Of a provisional govern
ment in Pekln by the allies; but this
appears to be purely military meas
ure merely for dividing the city into
sections for police purposes. Accord
ing to a Shanghai correspondent, Earl
Ii, recognizing the fUtility of any at
tempt to drive the foreigners from
China, now processes conversion
to reform principles.
Generals Are at Odds.
London, Aug. 25-Fires. fighting
and dissension are apparently follow
ing in the wake of the relief of Pekin
The Daily Mail publishes dispatches
| from the Chinese capital, dated as late
| as Aug. II, declaring that a great fire
was then raging in the imperial city.
| The Russian commander had declined
to accept the decision of the other gen.
erals, not to violate the imperial pre-
cincts and street fighting was going on.
Gen. Chaffee-so it is asserted
| maintained that the Chinese had been
adequately punished already and that
| it would be unWise to take the i'm
perial palace. This explains the with
drawal of the Americans alter breach
ing three gates. The Russian general,
however, maintained that his govern
ment had declared war against China
and that, therefore, there was no rea-
son to prevent him carrying bostilities
| into the sacred precincts The foreign
residents appear to have been sent to
Tientsin. Neither the commanders
nor the diplomats were in communica-
ton with the Chinese government on
Aug. II. They were then searching
for Prince Tuan.
Praise for Admiral Seymour
London, Aug 25.-Capt. McCalla, in
his report to the navy department,
pays a high tribute to Admiral Sey-
mour's tact and ability and to the
honor he conferred on the American
navy by placing the marines in charge
of the first train and afterwards Of the
construction train putting men from
his own feet under Capt McCalla. He
adds:
1T would be q service Of unqualified
| qualification to the officers and the men
| Of the Newark who were associated
with Vice Admiral Seymours COM
mand, if our own government would
offer this distinguished officer some
| appropriate and tangible recognition
| Of his services to our nation"
| Capt. Reilly of battery F, fifth
| United States artillery who was killed
| before the imperial palace, was buried
in the legation grounds. Gen. Chaffee
the British and Japanese generals and
| many civilians were present at the
| intermenc.
The America troops are encamped IN
the groun S OF the Temple Of Heaven.
The Chinese are supposed to have fed
northWard. During the attack on
Pekin the Americans preached three
gates before the imperial palace and
occupied the approaches to the last
wall. Capt. Henry J. Reilly, battery
F, fifth United States artillery, and five
privates were killed and sixteen were
wounded Capt. Reilly was standing
an the wall and directing his battery
when bullet struck him in the mouth
killing him instantly. The battery
hammered at the gates until they fell.
In the meantime the infantry cleared
the street and walls where the Chinese
soldiers, with a fine cover stubbornly
resisted. The fighting was close ami
sharp A French battery, while she'll
ing the approaches to the palace, mar
rowly missed the Americans.
During the afternoon the Americans
returned to camp, pending a confer
ence between the generals. Thereupon
the Russians occupied the approaches
to the palace. The Pei Tsang cathe-
dral, north Of the city, which was gar
risoned by thirty French and ten al
ian blue jackets and which had no
communication with the other foreign
ers during the progress Of the siege,
has been relieved by the Japanese and
British. The defense Of this church