The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-31
The SIEGE OF PEKIN
PLUCKY FIGHT OF FOREIGNERS
AGAINST HEAVY ODDS.
MEDAL TO COMMEMORATE 1T
WILL BEAR THE LEGEND OMEN, NOT
WALLS, MAKE A CITY,"

munity From Bullets Marines
Held Fort Myers Back of United
States Legation - Celebration in
Honor of the Arrival of the Relief
FOrce-Casualties of the Siege.
Copyright 1900, the Associated Press.
Pekin, Arg. H. by post via Tien Tsin.-
A medal will be struck commemorating
the siege of Pekin. II will bear the leg
end Men, not walls, make a city"
In the grounds of the British legations,
where handful of men withstood the
millions of the Chinese capital for fifty
six days, a memorable celebration is in
progress tonight in vindication of that
principle. Missionaries, assembled about
Bell Tower, are singing the doxology.
Rockets are blazing. Soldiers and civilians
of all nationalties are fraternizing. The
women are applauding the sound of the
cannon that are smashing the yellow roofs
OF the Forbidden City.
The tired Sikhs are planting their tents
on the lawn; and the American and Rus
sian contingents are lighting camp fires
along the stretch of turf extending be-
yond the Tartar wall
New scenes in Pekin.
Through the ruins of the foreign set
tlement an eager, cosmopolitan crowd is
jostling, Indians Cossacks, legation la
dies, diplomats, Americans from the Phil
ippines and French disciplinarians from
Saigon, who dept discreetly 20 the rear
while the fighting was in progress, but
looting began Only the Japanese, who
have earned first place, are absent.
Resident foreigners welcome the luxury
of walking about and immunity from bul-
lets. The newcomers are anxious to in
spect the evidences of an historic defense.
These barrcades are, after all, the most
wonderful sight in Pekin. The barriers
hedging the British legation are a marvel
of stone and brick walls and earthworks.
Sand bags shield every foot of space. The
tops of the walls have inches for the
rihemen, and the buildings, at their por-
ticos and windows, have armor boxes,
bags stuffed with dirt, pillows too.
Marines Held Fort Myers.
Back of the United States legation is a
work named Fort Myers" which the
marines held, completely screening both
sides of the walls, with steps leading to
it. There is a loopholed barrier across the
wall which faces a similar Chinese work
a few yards away Another wall bars Le-
CATION street in front of the German le-
cation; and, confronting The enemy's bar
ricades within those limits, are yet more
walls, enabling the foreigners to contract
the area of defense if pressed.
The tops of the American and British
buildings were badly torn by the Chinese
she Is. The rest of the foreign settlement
was almost demolished. Two thousand
eight hundred shells fell there during
the first three weeks of the lombard
ment, 400 in one day. Bucketsful of bull
lets were gathered in the grounds.
Four hundred and fourteen people lived
in the compound through the greater part
of the siege. Three hundred and four
marines, assisted by So volunteers. com
manded by the English Captain Poole,
defended the place. Eleven civilians were
killed and 19 wounded. Fifty-four marines
and sailors were killed and 112 wounded.
The Americans loss was seven killed
and eleven wounded
Mr. Gilbert Reid, who was wounded in
the feet, was the only American civilian
injured Two foreign ladies were
wounded.
Reception to the Allies.
The reception which the survivors gave
the army was worth the hardships the
troops had undergone. The entrance was
not spectacular. Sir Alfred Gaselee, with
his staff and company of Sikhs waded
up a bed of sewage in the canal under
the Tartar wall. The beseiged removed
the barricades; and when the gate swung
inward and the British colors appeared,
there arose great continuous cheer on
both sides.
Generals. soldiers and correspondents
scrambled up the banks, through the filth,
elboWing to be first. Men and women
surrounded the rescuers and shook the
hands of the Sillhs, patting them on the
back Everybody was hustled excitedly
along into the legation grounds, where
the colors were planted. The soldiers sur
rounded the wall which had been the sal
walton of the besieged. The ministers and
officers demanded the latest news on both
sides.
An hour afterward. Gen. Chaffee,
riding at the head of the Fourteenth
United States Infantry, marched to the
Tartar wall. An American marine who
VIZ. on top of the wall shouted: You are
- in time. We need you in our bust
ness"
Where can wa get in." said Gen. Chat
fee Through the canal. The British en-
tered there two hours ago. was the res
Ionse. The American neral looked dis
appointed.
Although the Americans were behind the
last of the British forces. their reception
was Just as enthusiastic as If they had
been first When the Stars and Stripes
emerged into viey. Mr.. Tewsbury. the mis-
sionary cried: american. cheer your
nag." Ladies waved their handkerchiefs
and the soldiers cheered the ladies.
nescucrs and the Rescued.
On entering the grounds OF the British
legation, the American troops stared in
anazement and inquired II there was a
lawn party in progress They had expect
ed to find the relieved in "A worse ccndi-
tion thnu themselves, whereas the con-
trast between the appearance Of the res
cued and rescuers was surprisingly in ia
vor OF the former The British minister.
sir Claude Macdonald. was shagen and
dressed IN Immaculate tennis Eannels
Mr.. Conger, the United States minister,
was equally presentable. The assemblage
OF ladies' was fresh and bright ga summer
clothing only a few civilians were car
rying arms.
on the other hand the rescuers were
hagRard and rough bearded. They drag
ged themselvef along as n ready 10 drop.
their khaki uniforms dripping Hi'h perspi-
ration ard back With mud But
second glance showed that the
rescued we're patheii oily pole ana
thin. They looked like . company Of IN
ynllds Every part Of the enclofure tee
lined 90 their tragic eNpefiences IArre