The National tribune., 1900-11-29

City, and the British Legation, and re
ceive the wildly-joyous and hysterica
greeting of tAose who had been shut, fol
eight weeks. between gray walls. endur
ing the most of that time the sheliing ant
rifle fusillading of the Imperial Chinese
troops
The outside walls of the old city looked
much as of old, except for the different
flags flying from every gate visible. 1nC
great bulk of wall had been pierced by
fed in beggar dress, her mobiles We're fugi
tives, and all her boosted pride and glory
were humblcd in the dust.
A TEDIOUS RIDE.
On We went, soon leaving the rough
stone road and winding over an old stone
bridge and around canal, where placid
waters held green slime, water lilies and
many bodies of dead Chinese. This, how
ever, we soon passed and struck into the
country. We passed trees on one side and
great fields of green corn intergrown with
| the useful bean on the other.
Suddenly Il rifie-shot rang out. We start
cd. for as yet the Chinese had not laid
down an arm, and ''snipers" (sharp-shoot-
ersl were reported all around us.
Who fired that shot?' angrily cried out
an officer, riding hastily up from the rear
and pushing on to the front.
Once there he was informed that an
OiileT OHICtI Hdu HIpu al sun 10 Ciedu luG
| barrel, but the cleaning process was not
repeated. Now and then the soldiers and
| Chinese coolies ran into the fields along
the way and brought back melons and
green COTE; the latter they ate greedily
and in its raw state.
1t was near noon when we thought to
lunch. We heard an officer calling loudly
for food to give the sick soldiers in the
ambulance. No food was forthcoming
from the army, for the officers in charge
had either not seen fit or had forgotten
to bring any refreshments or nourishment
for their 17-mile journey in the slOw-go-
ing army wagon. Thereupon we who had
lunches divided them and received hearty
thanks from the sick and wounded, who
were already faint and worn with their
long ride.
Occasionally we paused to rest. Our
little red-hared driver invariably in the
very short interval climbed down and lay
down between the rows of corn and COM
posed himself to sleep.
How are you gittin' along" another
asked him.
We'll, don't know just how. Can't
keep from goin' TO sleep, so | climb every
bank and hit every stone that's goin'.
We'll, you were pretty musical last
night. That must be your trouble"
Musical, was IL Now jest tell me
was | quarrelsome or hilari0us|
.Oh, no, guess not; when | seen you you
jest had enough to be musical, but you
was pretty musical, sure
This conyersation was not reasSurinS, |
and less so when in 4 few moments after |
We started again we were run upon the |
left bank, and the wagon hung in Pc
sition of delightful uncertainty as to
whether she would keep to her wheels OF
turn ON her side.
Jump Out"' yelled the one who had
been only musical" So jump we did
After that / refused to re-enter our cara
van and clambered up on the high spring
seat of another wagon back Of US.
INTERESTING TUNG CHOW.
Would we ever get to Tung Chow?
Well, yes, for we were passing the ruins
of the American Board of Missions and
the first college for native students i'll
north China Not whole brick was left
in the roomy compound. The walls had
even been dug up and out for sentiments
sake. There Were fugitives in Picking who
had given 40 years TO building up the
work, and it was sad to see the material
ruin of the property and to recall the
wholesale slaughter of native converts in
the Tung Chow district.
Passing this we drove by an ancestral
mound, very old, for parts were crumbling
away, leaving exposed the bare white
bones of those who died long before China
otliOuSis LII AOAN'7'
ar out.
We were here in sight of the walls of
Tung Chow, and could see the foreign
guards doing sentry duty upon them, and
rarious flags flying. After pausing a mo-
nent for a fresh, cool drink from a road
tide well, we passed, not through the city,
Is we wished, but southwest around one
burned and demolished end to the east,
hen down little decliyity, and followed
narrow road that curved about dirty
fragment of tiny canal to the Pei Ho,
where u guard of American soldiers were
encamped, who received the army sup
Ilies as they came up the river from lien
rsin to that point.
The river at this point is not broad as
'ivers go, but, STILL of considerable cx-
ent. Its surface was covered with huge
ice boats, small house-boats and other
liver craft The British press-boat, that
ollows the army for the accommodation
# British journalists, was perhaps the
argest and best-fitted boat ON the river.
The other boats carried flags of all ma
ions, but from the topmost of this one
ioated great white flag, with the one
word, Press" inscribed upon II, signIh-
ant of the great world of journalism
through whose medium mightier works are
lone than can be accomplished by the al
led forces of the world at war.
1t was with difficulty that we dismount-
I'd, for our joints and muscles had stiff
Tened with the eight-hours' ride, but we
,rawIed down from our high perches and
)ut from the wagons, and looked around
for one of the officers. Our train was
ong and imposing. Even we felt impos-
ng-hats knocked in on one side, hair
-umbled about, clothes almost torn off.
We were the beSieged for
whom nations had forgotten their jeal-
1usies to rescue, for whom our own sol
iiers had died.
No officer appeared, and Maj. Foote
disappeared. The place was in
confusion. Turbaned Sikhs sguatted in
groups over gay-colored silks and Chinese
that they had looted. Transfers
yelled and swore as they unhitched their
mules. There were immense stores of
boxed provisions on every side. A few
Russian soldiers wandered stolidly about,
and japanese were there, alert and smil-
ng and always kindly.
COLD RECEPTION.
We heard a stentorian voice call out:
Say, got any grub for the refugees|
1t really seemed that they were going
o offer the refugees" some refreshments;
out, no. With Minister Conger's guests
We found our way up to the officers quar-
ers. They were then outside their coy
ents, on the green grass under the trees, .
smoking, chatting, having what seemed TO /
is a most delightful time. No one rose
o speak 10 us, but private-God bless !
lim!-gave us some cold boiled water and
Ome watermelon. He said too, that he l
vas sorry that their meal was just over,
or they could have given us some pota- I
Oes and beef. (