The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09
LAST MARCH TO PEKING
ALLIED EXPEDITION IN CHINA IN
DER GEORGE GORDON.
Duplicity of the Chinese Led to the
Destruction of the Summer Palace
Torture Of the Ministers.
Washington Letter in Chicago Journal.

Picking. The Chinese have reason 10 re-
member the date-Oct. is, 1S60-for OH that
day the English and French troops under
Major General (then captain) Charles
George (''Chinese'D Gordon looted and
burned the summer palace" of the En-
peror. The property destroyed and carried
eff was reported by Gordon to be worth
$4,000 00c. The structures and contents, he
said. could not DE replaced for that.
Although called a palace the name re-
ferred to a series of magnificent buildings
covering several square miles, and the
rooms of which, in addition to their beau
tiful and costly furnishings, were stored
with vast quantities of woven silks, robes
ornamented with gold and silver. china of
every description, art treasures, articles of
vertu from foreign countries, and vast
amounts of treasure
1--WE could not plumber them properly"
wrote Gordon in his reports of the affair.
Gold ornaments were burned. being mis-
taken for brass. 1t was wretchedly de-
moralizing work for an army. Everybody
was wild for plumber
What was not carried off was consigned
to the flames, and every vestige of the
structure was RACED TO the earth. The
troops sowed salt on the site, and then
erected monument bearing an inscription
in Chinese stating that this was done as
punishment for treachery, cruelty, and
violation of faith.
Public opinion at that time, and since,
has justified Gordon in the course which ne
took. The provocation was extreme, and
even at this distance it is hard TO read or
the matter without being deeply stirred. 1t
seems that after varying fortunes OF war
the Chinese government had agreed TO
sign treaty of peace and commerce with
Great Britain and France, and had ap-
pointed a meeting at Tun-Chew. place
not far from Picking. where the formal
ceremonies should be enacted. Lord Elgin
was the plenipotentiary representing Eng
land, and Baron De eros represented
Hon Frederick Bruce had been appointed
/. to fill the post of British minister at re-
king, provided for by the proposed treaty;
but he did not act personally In the nego-
tiations preliminary TO its execution. IN
stead, he appointed two of his secretaries,
Mr. Parkes and Mr.. Loch to meet the chi
nese enyoys They were accompanied by a
correspondent of the London Times named
Bowlby. AS an escort there were nine
other Englishmen and twenty-slx FRENCH
men, all unarmed.
While this little company was advancing
to meet the Chinese officials they were set
upon by troop of imperial soldiers and
carried off as prisoners to Peklng. Al the
same time a French officer was attacked
and killed by some Chinese soldiers, ana
the disturbance which ensued led 10
general engagement. in which the chinese
troops were badly defeated
At this point the Emperor sent word to
Lord Eigin that he would be very happy 10
sign the treaty. and proposed another meet
ing place. Lord Elgin replied That tnere
lot
prisoners were released. Prince Tung sent
back word evading the issue and assuring
the foreigners that the prisoners were be-
ing treated with every consioeraeion.
Thereupon word was given Ior the advance
on Picking.
Captain Gordon and his army reached the
CITY walls Oct. 6. and sent word 10 Prince
Tung that he would be given twelve hours
to surrender one of the city gates The
Chinese still attempted to negotiate, Out
Gordon busted himself getting his heavy
guns into position for the bomparoment;
Just before the time limit had EXPIRED
Prince Tung sent word that he was willing
to submit, and that the prisoners would be
given up.
PRISONERS HAD BEEN TORTURED.
The gates were opened, and those of the
prisoners who survived were brought out in
iron cages. Thirteen had died under the
terrible torture which had been inflicted
upon them, and the survivors were in a
condition which language fails to express
1t appeared that they had been subjected
TO every form of indignity which the fertile
mind of the Monaghan is able TO devise
The foreign troops went wild. and with
difficulty were restrained from sacking the
city. Gordon wrote to Prince Tung, say
ing that there could be no peace between
his government and China until this treach-
erous cruelty had been avenged. In allud-
ing to the sufferings inflicted on the pris-
oners he said he could not speak of IL lest
he be betrayed into expressions which were
not Seemly for any man TO use.
Then the officers held council of war
AT irst,ib,was proposed to destroy the city
| but II seemed unjust to infict starvation
| and perhaps death thousands of poor
| people who had not had any hand in the
| crime so Ii was determined that the heav'
lest punishment would be the burning OF
| the summer palace. 1t was here that the
clothing of the prisoners was found, and
| In the stables were their horses. They had
| been brought into the presence of the EN-.
perOr and the fortunes had been inflicted
at his personal command, and for his di
| yersiopsf One of those who had died under
| the treatment was a Captain De Norman
| who had campaigned with Gordan in Asia
| The burning of the summer palace
| brought the Chinese to their senses for the
moment The Emperor announced his will
ingneSs 10 sign any treaty which might bt
presented. And accordingly four days later
the document was agreed to in the hall OF
| ceremonies with great pomp. The French
! and English officers, however, were not al
| lowed to be present, their feelings of re
| sentiment still being so strong that IL wa:
| feared they would break bounds and dc
| violence to the persons of the Chinese.
The treaty provided for the payment o.
| an indemnity of sl4,000.000; also $4,000 fo
each Englishmen who had died while IL
| captivity. for the support of his family
| and $3.50 for each native soldier who ha'
died in captivity. for his family. The othe-
| provisions of the treaty were the same a
| those embodied i'm the document which
i the Chinese Emperor had promised 10 con
/ clude a year previous. and which was I.
| have been signed at the meeting at Tung
| Chew, where the ENJOYS were taken priS
oners II provided for the opening of Ger
| tain ports on the coast to the commerc
| of the world; for the protection of Protes
| tant and Catholic missionaries; for free
| dom and protection TO foreigners travelling
| in China, and for the residence at Pekinl
| of a British and French minister durin
| such part of the year as their home gov
ernments might elect IL also provide
| for The residence of Chinese represent
| alive at London and Paris
| This is the treaty with a few modifica
| tions under which the world has been do
| ing business with China for the past fort
years.
CHINESE DUPLICITY.
The march on Picking. with its excitin
elimination, was the final chapter in
| long story of fighting and diplomat
wrangling. 1t was in these dealings tina
the Chinese government laid the founda
ton for its reputation for duplicity. treach