The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-29
Is About to Notify the Powers That She Considers the
Relief Of the Pekin Legations as the Accomplishment
Of the Task of the Allied Forces in China General
Chaffee'S Prudence Commended.

mob flowed in like tiday wave. There
were British officers. naval and mill
tary, soldiers and sailors with good
sprinklina of Sikhs, but principally Chi
nese. t
In twinkiing ali was pandemcnium.
The Chinese knew where the best treas
ure was to be found and the soldiers fol-
lowed them. Two forces collided In the
gateway, rush tine OF Chinese strug-
Cling TO enter and another line fighting 10
get out with great armfus of loot, while
an occasional soldier went through the
crowd like one of the Broadway squad.
Tien-Tsin experienced a sweeping re-
distribution of wealth, but on the old
scheme of prizes 10 the strongest.
The looting iourished for three days.
On the first day IL was entirely unre-
strained. Many white people accumulated
stacks of goods by simply standing at
the city gates and holding up the best
laden Chinese from the endless process
sion that flowed out.
LOADED DOWN WITH BOOTY.
loaded with trunks and sacks and piled
with loose silks. < furs, and bronzes
crowded all the roads leading down to the
settlement
English officers rode with their horses
concealed under dry goods and soldiers
slung bundles on their bayonets.
On the second day conference OF
commanding officers decided to adopt re-
pressive measures. The commanders ex-
cepting the French empowered the
British, who were doing provost duty, to
seize all loot. This order the British at
tempted to execute by holding up the
looters as they entered the foreign towns.
They took all bundles and reported the
names of claimants for future inquiry.
Naturally this step provoked grumbling
particularly among the soldiers of other
nationalities. Capt. Bailey. the provost
marshal, a big-bodicd. big-voiced Eng
lishman. explained that the prohibition
was designed to restrain civilians from
getting the spoils which should go to the
men who did the lighting.
SOLDIERS sKEPTIcAL.
The official statement Is that all seized
loot will be sold, the proceeds to be d.
vided among the soldiers as prize money.
but soldiers, wise through former cam
paigns comment skepticslly.
The Japanese so far as casual observa-
tion showed. did the least looting. because
OF the admirable discipline under which
their soldiers are held. The Americans
had all to. themselves one large arsenal
which they Occupied on entering the city.
IL contained not only cannon, but a fine
store OF small arms. swords OF curious
and rich pattern, rifles of various makes,
with stands OF the long two-man guns.
which are simply giant rifles. throwing a
! ball which, from the report and the whis-
tie, tho soldiers in the fight judged TO be
one Founders,
Munitions OF war were not the only con-
| tents of the arsenal. High officers had
| lived there. and in flight had left stacks
of clothing and other articles of great
value.
sPoILs OF WAR FOR AMERICA.
All this stun is 20 be sold or shipped 10
| Washington as spoils of war.
on the third day Of the occupation q
more effective method was followed by
| compelling looters 20 give up their loads
| at the city gate. Even this measure did
| not prevent the loss OF much gold and sill
| yer. q"
Civilians from the concession made a
| general raid on the salt commissioner 3
treasure and many succeeded in smug-
Cling loads OF silver bars through to the
settlement. The Americans seized nearly
| q million taels worth of precious metal.
which Is piled up In tho marine barracks.
To-day the walled city looks as though a
| torpedo had struck II. Enough valuable
| property has been destroyed TO stock a
| big city. and enough has been seized 10
| give every soldier a considerable sum n
/ the distribution is honestly administered.
Continued on Page Two.)