Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-07-27
BEGIN TO DOUBT.
n l. Intimatsd That the Message from
ConErr Was Rsdaied.

II !. Intimaisd That the Message from
ConErr Was Rsdaied.
Washington. July 26.-The receipt at
Tien Tsin Of an undoubtedly genuine
and autographic message from Minister
Conger has done nothing 10 dispel the
doubt As 20 the situation at Pekin. The
message. which was forwarded by tho
naval officers at Tien Tin. Taku and
Che Foo. has indeed served only 20
deepen the darkest and saddest mystery
OF tine century.
The official conclusion remains un.
changed. but IL is admitted that care.
full scrutiny Of the autograph message in
comparison with the famous cipher mes
sage from Minister Conger admits Of
the belief that the two messages were
inditod by Mr.. Cougcr at about the same
time. The situation at the British lega-
tion is represented 20 b. the same in
each case. and as Mr.. Conger declares
that relief must come quickly. II AT all.
there is ground for the supposiiion that
conditions could not have long remain.
ID unchanged in such a crisis The a.
sumption that this reasoning Is correct.
involves the further conclusion that Mr..
Conger's cipher message. II genuine
was redated, ~ the 18th of July. two
weeks later than the date Of the nctnal
writing. and Of course If redated Al ALL
that was done by Chinese officials
On the other hand and in support ~
the state departments position, comes a
message from another great Chinese
viceroy. Tax. at Canton. he took charge
after Ii Hung Chang's departure. This
also affirmed solemnly the safety Of the
legationers and coming from 50 many
different sources. and from such i'm.
portant Chinese officials, that these dis
patches claim attention. A pessimistic
view Of them. however, attributes 20 all
n common origin. namely. some high
| Chinese parsonage at Pekin. Il is noted
that Tak's assannce brings the minis
ters one day further toward an ultimate
rescue than has any preceding message.
The fact that II allows only three days
60 cover the transmission over the great
distance between Pekin and Canton ap-
pears 20 demand an explanation.
In spite of the alarm with which the
Chinese officials, including Ii Hung
Chang. profess % view the advance Of
the aIlisd forces on Pekin, 50 far as II
affects the safety OF the foreign minis.
tcrs. IL may be- stated that none Of the
powers evinced any tendency to abate
their preparations 10 accept an escort Of
imperial troops for the ministers from
Pekin 20 Tien Tsin. II was said at the
state department Wednesday that II the
American minister needs an escort ont
of Pcldn it should b. composed Of Amori
can soldiers.
4 discussion Of the authority OF th'
dispatch from Minister Congcr dated a
Pokin on the July IS developed the fac
that several years ago a copy OF the stat
department cipher code disappeared, ,an,
never has been recovered. These cod
books are numbered and receipted 70
when placed in the hands Of those emit
tied 10 thom. The intmation was xiv
ON that missing code book fell into th
hands OF the Chinese government Thi
information was calculated 10 inspire
doubt Of the authority OF the Congo
message.
State department officials decline O
discuss the story Of the theft Of the cod
book. but do enter a denial that the
ever entertained a suspicion that IL ha
fallen into the hands OF the Chinese gov
eminent
Il is known that several years ago
copy Of the old state department cipher
which since has been changed, wa
stolen. \ copy Of this the authorh,
have strong reason 10 believe. found II