The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-08-02
Omer Encouraging Reports


New York, Aug. IA dispatch to
the Sun from Tientsin, July 27, four
p. M. via Chefoo, July 30, and Shang-
hal, July 81, says that courier
reached Tientsin with dispatches adj
dressed to Maj. Waller, the comman-
der of the American marines. These
dispatches were dated July 2t, and
were from Minister Conger and the
representatives at Peking of the Brit
ish, Japanese and German govern
ments. There were also several pri-
vate messages all of which corroborat-
ed previous reports. The courier also
reiterated the statements as to the
bad condition of the roads to Peking
and the numbers of Chinese who lined
the way. Minister Conger in his note
to Consul Ragsdale says: "Since July
16 by agreement there has been no fir
ing; we have provisions for several
weeks, but little ammunition. If
they continue to shell us, as they have
done, we cannot hold out long and a
complete massacre will follow. hope
relief can come soon. We were glad
to hear of the victory at Tientsin,
but regret the terrible cost. All safe
and we'll" The last refers to the min
ister's family Sir Robert Hart. the
imperial maritime commissioner Of
customs, sent word to Commissioners
Drew and the customs staff that he
and his family were still safe.
Feeling of Certainty.
Washington, Aug. doubt has
given way to feeling akin to certain
ty that the legationers at Peking and
the gallant marines who managed to
reach the Chinese capital just in the
nick of time were not only alive on
July %, but, in all probability, are
still alive and likely to remain so un-
til they are released from their state
of siege. The officials here feel GER
tain that the attack by the Chinese
on the legations will not be renewed.
They are convinced that the counsels
of the viceroys in the great southern
and central provinces and the advice
of Ii Hung Chang have had effect, and
that whosoever is in power in Peking,
whether emperor, empress, Ching,
Tuan or Tung, now have been made to
see the necessity for the preservation
of the legations,
Welcome News.
The official confirmation of the news
that Minister Conger is safe and well,
coupled with the statement that he
has provisions for several weeks and
that the firing on the legation has
ceased was welcome intelligence,
though not unexpected in view of re-
cent news. The information from Col.
Daggett was promptly telegraphed to
President Mckinley at Canton, who
has been advised of the receipt of mes
sages always as soon as they reach
here. The last message which came
from Minister Conger was that which
was obtained through the interme-
diary of Mr.. WI, and was supposed
to be dated the 18th ult., before
which time nothing had come since
June 12, almost two months.
The Advance on Picking.
1t is expected now that all the en-
ergies of the government as well as
those of other nations will be concen-
trated for an advance on Peking. Sew
eral of the reports which have come
from China seem to indicate that this
will occur very soon, some of the dis
patches placing the date as early as
Monday. The officials here, however,
do not look for so early an advance if
the allied commanders adhere to their
original estimate of $4,000 men as nee
essary for the campaign, as the latest
reports received here do not show half
that number on the ground. Still
other reports indicating the possibil-
ity of the advance being made by the
British and American armies have
come.