The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-21

OF hostile DEMONSTRATION IN Manchuria
from the Chinese who were by that time
innamcd against all foreigners. he set one
hastily for the Russian border. only TO
find himself In tho midst Of warfare. HIS
account Of the bordorland war recently
received from him g. the first adequate re
port OF events on the Chinese Russian
boundary.
Biagovessc hcnsk. July 2i-When two
weeks ago We had fairly escaped from
Manchuria and we're under the FUN pro
lection Of Russia. la her own territory. We
thought our periis ended. But this was
far from being the case To our aston
ishmcnt. and that OF everyone else. We
have run into the very center OF che Chi
nose war on tho borders Of far-on 81
IBERIA The general confidence prevailing
was indicated by the fact that week ago
to-day. while coming up the Amoor on a
steamer from Ravarosk We met elk
steamers with nine barges loaded with
troops and their equipments. who were hur-
rying from this place 60 Hardin. on the
Sungau river Tor the protection OF the
new railway These had left Blagovest-
chcnsk Saturday. the 18th.
FIRST Taste of warfare.
No sooner we're these troops well away
than the Chinese on the opposite eide Of
tho river began firing upon Blagovest-
chensk while from their forts al Aigun.
twenty miles below. they fired upon pass
ing steamers and sent soldiers over to
destroy the Russian villages along the
bank. All UNCONSCIOUS Of these events.
we left our steamer. which wac hope
Na4nsF 40
miles below. and drove on by tarantasses.
But after having covered little more
than hair tho distance fn the regular
way We reached the village OF Guivena
about shutdown 90 md the people alarmed
though not panic stricken by the news
which was just reaching them. There
was nothing Cor US TO do. however, but
camp down IN the common room OF the
Posthouse and await developments. The
excitement continued 10 increase especially
upon the arrival OF refugees from the
up-rivor villages which had been sca
ahre.
Gulvena s. settlement OF religious
dissenters called Aiolokites (Mllk
Eatersl who drink no spirits and eat no
meat. A. we entered the village. large
droves OF cattle which had been henied
during the day in the luxurious green
fields OF this vicinity. came ieisureiy into
tho broad street and were distributed TO
the various households TO which they
belonged Nothing could be more peace
ful and idyllc. The village contained
about 900 people. and trim. well-painted
log houses gave evidence Of the thrift
naturally accompanying such settle
ment But at midnight everything was in
confusion. Hundreds OF carts loaded with
the most necessary household utensils
and covered with excited women and
sleeping babies. allied ihe street or stood
az the gateways ready 70 Join the process
sion few armed Cossacks remained
TO direct the company 20 places OF greater
security In the interior. while the most
or them were stationed nearer the river
for general defense of their homes We
remand in our quarters until morning.
Tho danger was principally from night
attack by the Chinese with she appear
ance Of daylight the fleeing inhabitants
all came back TO their houses. They did
nOt, however. unpnck their carriages. but
kept them In readiness for instantaneous
movement upon further approach OF dang
er. Their fears as well as ours were deep
cned by frequent reports Of cannon In the
direction OF tho Chinese fort az AiFun on
the opposite side OF the river about ten
miles away. The puffs Of smoke from
these guns could be clearly seen as they
rose In the still air some time in advance
or the sound. vague fumOrs were atlOat
that Blagovcatchensk was hcslcgcd hy the
Chinese. stlll we Thought u possible 10
reach the city by a roundabout road
through che back country 10 station
seventeen miles on our way. For large
sum sixty doilarsl we were able to per
suade three Transfers 70 carry US.
Through "a Wasted Country.
Our party consisted OF i've. Capt.
Hartford. che English Consul at Manila.
with his travelling companion. Capt.
Smith Darrian commander OF the English
gunboat Bonaventura. Mr.. Wcttekind
member OF the great mercantile frm OF
Runtz a. Albert. from Viadivostok. my
son and myself. Capt Hartford had seen
service In the English army In many
places. having been az the siege OF Sebas-
tapol. and had lived many years in the
Crimoa was very fond OF the Russian and
had a great confidence IN their manage
mcnt OF a campaign. Capt. Darrian was
younger and more deliberate IN his cal
culatlons and with me hesitated about
running tho risk But the impetuousness
OF Cars Hartford and Of our German com
pani0n. prevailed We set out with two
tarantasscs and "A drolga to carry our lug
gage. The two Englishmen were IN the
rear and the rest Of Us IN the fore. We
soon found ourselves driving along az
broak-nock speed over she low rolling
prairie which constitutes the country back
from tho food regions OF the great river.
L.