Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

~ L u " Nl w 1AS " Ill Glll
that the great courage and energy of
the force gradually compelled the
Chinese to retreat from the immedi-
ate vicinity of the British legation
These reverses having disheartening
eect there began to be open
signs of disaffection and fire.
quent desertions to the troops
or Prince Ching, who was
endeavoring to cooperate with the be-
sieged.
Prince Tuan Organizes General Attack.
ultimately Prince Tuan decided to
make an organized night attack. Hav-
ing secured d plenty Of ammunition
for the heavy guns, conference of
the Chinese leaders was held, and
regular plan of attack was agreed upon
by three powerful columns with strong
reserves.
"At 6 p. m. on July fire was OPEN
ed with artillery on the British lega-
tion, where the Europeans concentrat-
ed, for two hours.
"The walls of the building were bat
tered by shot and shells and huge
breeches made in them.
"Then a general advance was order
ed. The Chinese infantry, volleying
constantly, moved towards the gaps.
The fire of the defenders, however,
was SO accurate and steady that the
hordes of Chinese soldiers and Box
ers broke and fed in the widest con-
fusion, leaving large numbers of
dead and wounded around the legation.
nf
rifle range. Then Prince Tuan, max
ing desperate appeal, induced them
to return to the attack.
Prince Ching Comes to Aid Legations.
Artillery fire was resumed, and at
\ the middle watch a second attack was
attempted, but before the attackers
could accomplish their object they
: were met by Prince Ching and General
4 Wang Weng Shao with troops going
to the aid of the foreigners.
"a desperate battle ensued between
. the various forces of Chinese and
Manchus. Unfortunately many OF
Prince Ching's troops deserted tC
Prince Tuan and Prince Ching fellIt
was supposed at the time he was killed
but a search for the body the next
morning was unsuccessful land it is
: now believed he was only wounded
carried off, and secreted by faithful
retainers.
Wang Weng Shao, altho a gray
haired old man of TO- valiantly leo
the troops in person. He was killed
and his troops being completely out
numbered were routed.
. 'Thruout the night repeated attacks
were made on the legation, but wers
invariably repulsed with heavy losses
Towards the end of the third watch
, about 5 a. M, the allies practically de
,, feated the besiegers, who were waver
J J ing and gradually withdrawing, whe1
General Tung- Fuh-Siang arrived from
the vicinity of Tien Tsin with larg,
:, force of Kansu braves.
) Legation Building Knocked Into Ruins
"By this time the walls of the lega
tion had been battered down and mos
of the buildings were in ruins from th'
2 Chinese artillery fire.
> MANY allies had fallen at thei
: posts, and the remaining small bant
still alive took refuge in the wrecked
: buildings, which they endeavored hast
l lily to fortify.
"Upon them the fire of the Chimes
artillery was now directed.
: Towards sunrise it was evident tha
a the ammunition of the allies was run
' ming out, and at o'clock, as the ad
I vances of the Chinese in force ha,
failed to draw response, it was clea
: they were completely exhausted, an,
t a rush was determined upon.
4 "Thus standing together as the SUI
!, rose fully the little remaining band Q
all the Europeans met death stubborn
I ly.
There was desperate hand-to-han
S encounter, in which the Chinese los
h heavily, but as one fell the others &C
g vanced and finally oyercame them b
e overwhelming odds.
= Every Man, Woman and Child KILLED
n Every one of the European remain
It ing, men, women and children, wit
n two exceptions, were put TO the swor
/. in the most atrocious manner.
l. 1.-TWO escaped for only short time
a and once outside the walls of the cit
d both were captured and killed.
when the western nations come t
know and understand the awful jug
glery and duplicity which have chal
y acterized the methods in which tn
!, . news about the tragedy at Peking
y doled out and even misrepresentet
l venture to believe they will find n
II words too strong in denouncing tn
tactics of the so-called friendly Chi
ese officials.
Story Known to Chinese Last Monda.
81 assert and do so with all the ca
u nestness of which one is and can b
capable, that the story told, whic
was for the first time given out toda
1t Sunday, has been in possession {
y the Chinese authorities, as cablet
u since Monday last, and since then the
e have concealed it, partly to minimi2
d the chances of an outbreak of vel
S. geance on the part of the powers an
It partly to make matters carrier fc
8 Peking from the hurricane which
1t about to burst on the country.
1t ''The messages which have bee
reaching official sources here all com
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