The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-30

.PEI-HO VALLEY
IS DEVASTATED.
Nothing Left but Roofless Huts and
Fallen Walls.
LooTING HAS BEEN COMPLETE,
Among tho American Forces Alono
Was Discipline Maintained in
This Rcspect-Dcath by Star
walton is Inevitable.
.L00TING HAS BEEN COMPLETE,
Dy Associated Press.)

(Ey Associated Press.)
TEN TSIN, August 26.-a1ilitary Ia"
stu prevails in Tien Tsn and the city
mas as yet made no effort to recover from
the terrible shock which 1t experienced.
EVERYWHERE is ruin The land is devas-
tated, villages wiped our, crops cominan-
0eered or destroyed and the natives
either hiding or killed. 1t would take a
wise crow to fly down the valley OF the
Pei-Ho without carrying Its rations
Nothing is left OF this once populous ana
hourishine region save rooiiess nuts, 1al-
len walls and devastated gardens. NO sign
OF life is to be seen outside the city eX-
cept the scattered ou:posts, anu within uie
walls there is only soldiery.
Here the Russians and japanese pre-
dominate. No one knows the total
strength of either force, but they run into
the thousands. Skirting the river on either
bank, the Russian camps dot the country,
the Russian flag flies from the railway
stations, and Russian troops are contin-
uaily passing along the roads, either NOV
ins: on towards Pekn or establishing ad-
vanced outposts. There are both Cos
sacks and foot soldiers, and all fine look
ing fellows, ma king 4 splendid show in
their white blouSes and black trousers
tucked into top boots. Next in number
are the japanese and here again not
even a rough estimate can be made of
their strength. They appear, regiment
after regiment, and as fast as one con-
signnent arrives from Taku those sta
toned here are pushed forward. The
Germans are also active and are not slow
in getting men in and to TIE front
AMERICANS QUIESCENT.
Meanwhile the American and British
forces are quiescent in camp and do not
seem inclined to press matters, now that
the legations are safe. lite American
forces are camped il the extreme eastern
portion of the city. on a flat lying along
the south bank OF the river and are. with
the exception Of some Russian troops the
only force living under tents. The other
forces are quartered in buildings in the
foreign concession. Colonel Mohl. OF the
Fifteenth Infantry, is the ranking Ameri-
officer in the absence OF General
Chaffee. and his headquarters are in the
home Of a wealthy Chnaman who was
also an undertaken. The low. one-story
structure, full Of quaint courts and pas
sages, was full of collins when the Ameri-
cans took possession and in one court
yard were a number of bodies OF wealthy
Chinese enclosed in handsome lacuuered
caskets. Here. also, is the headquarters
of the commissary and quartermaster's
officers. On two sides OF the building lie
the camp of the American army, while
the river, yellow and sluggish, winds
along the north of 1t. It Is not an ideal
camping ground. The treeless plain is
inches deep in dust there Is no vestige
of shade, and all the water must be car
ried some distance to the camp The
sun beats down pitilessly, even so late
in the season as this. and the mosquitoes
are a plague.
The marine corps has Jared better Like
the Europeans and English troors the sea
soldiers are CHARTERED in airy. comfortable
buildings in the English concessions The
men occupy several large structures with
Big courts or compounds, while the officers
are quartered in a series of private resi-
dences in Victoria. terrace. The Ameri-
cans are kept pretty close to camp, and
there is very little attempt at fraternizins
with the other armies. IN fact, it is al
most prevented entirely by the inability
of the various forces to communicate
Practically none of the foreigners know
any English and the battalion of WEIGH
fusiliers are about the only comrades the
blue-coats can find. On the whole, the
nations keep pretty well to themselves,
notceably so in the case of the Rus
slams, who are seldom seen in company
with any other nationality.
THE LOOTING.
The Americans, without exception. are
behaving splendid!y, and their officers
nave DcSil UGH COLI pI.iItniPu# OF the QlS-
cipline and police of the force. No grave
charges have been brought against them,
and IN the loot they Go not seem to have
been in the same class with the others,
especially the Russians. Many grave
stories are told Of the cruelty and ruth
lessness of the CossackS during the fight
ing, but it is naturally impossible to sub
stantiate them at this late day. An Eng
lish resident found some CossaclSs, or
other Russians, looting his office. He
snatched the shoulder ornament from one
OF them, reported to the Russian flagship.
and q few days later the unfortunate
offender was swung from the yard
arm Here in Tien Tsin an American
found a party of Russian soldiers footing
his house. He followed them up, ana
meeting the Russian commander stated
his grievance. The men We're lined up
along the street and searched and consid-
cradle silver brought to light. Without
the cumbersome formality OF a court
martial six OF the offenders were placed
against a wall and shot to death.
However who ever did the looting did
it thoroughly, for of the many beauti-
ful residences in the foreign concession
few escaped, while the native city was
stripped.
The big shells from the forts swept
and left devas station in their path. Grim,
6esolate, blackened walls are all that is
left of this once beautiful section Thsy
stand in ruined gardens and blasted trees
keep guard over shapeless piles OF debris.
It is impossible TO convey an idea of the
ruins in the native city. The matched
roofs burned hercely and the mud walls
shivered at the impact Of the shells
Probably no accurate estimate of the loss
of life in this densely populated section
will ever be made. A curious fact is that
a native child or woman is seldom seen
even yet The Chinese say they We're
killed. but the resident Foreigners believe
they are either hidden in the native city
or have been sent to the country.
COOLEY LABOR.
OF cooley labor there is no scarcity. Inc
word has gone forth that. the foreigners
will employ them. and the supplS.sfar eN-
ceeds the demand. The wages range from
IS cents CNfexicanl BIB cents GMexl-
can> per day. the latter price being paid
by- the Americans, who also give each
cooley TWO pounds of rice day. All Or
binary occupations are suspended OF
course, and beyond what the natives de-
rive from their labor for the forces OF &C
cupaton, they have no means OF suDsss-
fence