New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
FIGHTING ON HORSEFLESH



pulled out and used; every available carpet.
curtain. tablecloth. sheet ana pair of trousers
have long since been made into sandbags. OF
which I should think we must now have used
about fifteen thousand. Bombproof shelters
have been dug all over the place Kitchens.
armories. commissariat tents are pitched in all
sorts OF weird places. Seventy missionaries are
camped in the chapel. Families OF all nations
and races occupy our students downstairs quar-
tiers. The two large entrance porches to the
Chiefs house are crowded. the first with French
priests, Belgian engineers. Chinese Roman Cath
Ollie Sisters. etc. the second is reserved as an
officers lager on the whole. you would SIM
ply never recognize our poor. old. peaceful quiet
Legation in its present state We have tried to
guard against mining by digging ten-foot
trench all the way round. and hope that may
be effective.
All round the legations is a scene Of desoation
such is seldom seen, should think. The in
habitants. Of course, all cleared out "chop-chop"
when the siege began, and there is scarcely
a house left standing near US. During the first
two or three days Of the siege the wretches
made the most determined attempts to burn US
out. creeping up TO houses that stood close to
our walls ard firing them with paraffin. They
repeated this over and over again, and we had to
ont and work like very demons with our
wretched little hand pumps to check the flames,
while the Chinese would keep up hot fire on US
all the time from the houses round. Several times
I thought they had done for us. and it seemed
quite hopeless TO keep the FIRE out OF the Lega
ton, but always managed to get II under
and after that, if possible, sortie would be
made. the Chinese Shippers" would be cleared
out. and we would set TO work to demolish the
ether houses around which might be set fire TO-
SORTIEs WERE DANGEROUS.
Thesessorties from house to house were ter
Iibly dangerous as you were liable to come
round a corner suddenly onto several Chinese
soldiers. 1t in this way that Halliday was
wounded He was leading his men down a mar
passage and. turning into a small court
ward. suddenly came upon FIVE soldiers who
were shipping at while we were trying to put
out q fire. The first one blazed at him point
blank the muzzle of his rife almost touching
him, and the bullet going through his shoulder.
Halliday proceeded pot him and two others
with his revolver, while the others escaped.
Demoiishing houses was a novel experience to
me. We would take a band Of coolies and simply
wreck the whole show. 1t is wonderful how
easily Chinese house comes down with a run.
There was Of course good deal of valuable
loot brought in. which the Chief ordained should
be put into the common stock and afterward
distributed; but I fear that this excellent rule
Is not being rigidly adhered to. The soldiers who
attacking us are armed with very serviceable
Mauser rifles. We have fortunately been able to
get hold OF a good many of these from the
soldiers we have slain, with their bandoliers of
cartridges. and they have proved simply in
valuable TO the Italians and Japs. who have
nearly run out of ammunition. I had one for
some time when I had mis1aid my Martini, and
q very handy weapon # was. too.
NEWS OF THE ALLIES COMING.
August s.
You must not mind this epistle being spread
out over several days fear we will have some
time yet before relief comes and we ean-beein-
TO think OF sending off letters again. A native
messenger from Tien-Tsin managed to get In
10 us on August with letters saying that
strong relief force was on the point of starting,
but since then have passed a week without
q vestige Of news, and things are dull to de-
gree. Everything is fairly quiet, however bar
ring good deal Of shipping and an occasional
night fusillade. Yesterday Japanese got
bullet through his leg while passing loophole
and they blazed at a good deal last night.
We are in a state OF most delightful uncertainty
as TO how we stand. The Yamen pretend to be
all anxiety to protect and guard US. but we have
already had one or two examples of how far the
Yarnen can be relied upon, and IL they have such
friendly Intentions why are Imperial troops
building most formidable barricades all round
the legations and across every little lane and
alley? And why is it that we cannot show a
little finger above our barricades in most places
without getting bullet through #?
On the other hand. II they really wanted to
~scuppsr" US. why did they cease active hos
tilities just when were getting it so hot. and
give US about three weeks of comparative peace.
unless. perhaps, through fear of an advancing
relief force, or perhaps on receipt of the news
OF the capture Of Tien-Tsin? There is really
nothing like spice OF uncertainty TO give zest
TO life, and with US now goodness only knows
the why, wherefore. or what next Of anything
Dispatches have just come from the Tsung-li-
Yamen 10 say that Ii Hung Chang has been ap-
pointed to settle all questions with the Foreign
ofices Of the various countries. We suppose
that this means unconditional surrender on
the part OF China, probably after jolly good
hiding by our relief force. and also speedy re-
lief, hope. for US poor beggars in here,
WORRIED By The SUSPENSE.
only wish we could get some idea OF what is
going on outside. 1t is annoying to think that
you at home, thousands of miles away know a
great deal better what is going on outside the
very walls OF Picking than we who are cooped
up inside them. A coolie messenger whom we
sent out into the city has just returned with
the news that all the troops in the city. except
FIVE Of Jung LUIS regiments. are ordered to go
out with all haste TO meet the advancing foreign
troops which also looks hopeful However,
more OF all this in its right place must go on
with my description of the present condition of
things where left off last Monday
Saturday. August IL, 1900
Nov. ne shant be long" to quote the little
vulgar boy. A messenger whom we sent out last
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