, 1900-07-21
CONGER
AMERICAN MINISTER IN PICKING
WAS ALIVE ON JULY
18TH.
In British Legation Under Shot and
Shell From Chinese Troops and
Says Quick Relief is All That Can
Save Them-Secretary Hay Be
lieves Cable Genuine.

minister received today the following
cable in cipher from United States Min
lister Conger at Picking:
IN British legation. Under contin-
ued shot and shell from Chinese troops.
Quick relief only can prevent general
massacre"
The message is not dated, but ii is
understood was sent from Picking on
the 18th. la,
The message was transmitted
through the tsung Ii yamen and the
Shanghai Taotai. 1t was signed in
English with the name 'Conger."
The following statement has been
given out at the state department:
On the 18th of this month the state
department communicated a brief mes
sage asking tidings from Minister Con-
ger in the state department cipher.
Minister WI undertook to get this into
Miniser Conger's hands if he were
alive. He has succeeded in doing this.
This morning the state department re-
ceived a telegram from Consul Gener-
al Goodnow at Shanghai, saying:
The governor of Shan Tung informs
me that he has received today a cipher
message from Conger of the 18th"
A few minutes later Minister WI APP
peared at the state department with a
telegram from Taoai Shang, dated the
goth of July, which had been received
by Minister WI at $3.50 o'clock this
morning, reading as follows:
Your telegram of the 18th day of
his moon 9th of JULY received. The
state department telegram has been
handed to Minister Conger. Herewith
is Minister Conger's reply to the state
department:
"'In British legation. Under con
tinued shot and shell from Chinese
troops. Quick relief only can prevent
general massacre"
This reply was in the state depart
ment cipher and it is regarded by the
9lotC uSpai tilShl uS SChuiLS'
as forgeries seem under the circum-
stances impossible.
AS soon as Minister Conger's cable
gram had been translated a cabinet
council was called in the office Of the
secretary of state, and all Of the cabi-
net ministers accessible assembled.
Tn ropIr 10 , r,,oeti1r tJirtart Gan
eral Corbin says it was impossible to
say now what effect the receipt Of Min
lister Conger's message would have on
our military operations in China or on
our preparations here. He did not
know but that increased military haste
might precipitate matters in China.
Secretary Hay upon d%eciphering the
cable made a copy and dispatched
this by messenger in haste to the
White House, with request to the tele-
graphers there to forward it at the ear
Hest moment to President Mckinley
for his information. Secretary Hay,
remembering the intense public ankle
" " hdNt llulh6S VI Ia W ltaHS ~
Peking, caused his private secretary
to prepare copies of the message he
had received, t%houghtfully accompany
ing them with an explanatory state
ment and these copies were given to
the newspaper men who by this time,
seeming the fact that news Of the
greatest importance had come, began
crowding the broad corridor before the
secretary's office.
Then Secretary Hay betook himself
to the war department to convey the
news in person to Secretary Root and
to Secretary Long, who were together
at the time.
After a shert consultation in Secre-
tary Roots office Secretary Long, upon
emerging into the corridor, was show
cred with congratulations by a large
throng Of department employees and
newspaper men who had congregated
there.
I'VE are all very happy over the
good tidings," said he. 81 have hardly
had time to think of the exact effect
of the news of the situation, but it re-
moves one of the great elements Of
doubt and leaves us free to hope for the
rescue Of the foreigners in Picking. 1t
is a great victory for the state depart
ment OF the United States. Every
country in christendom was employing
every agency in its possession to Oh
tain authentic news Of the besieged
ministers and the United States Is the
first to give to the world authentic n
absolutely reliable word direct from
the place In which the b~eleagueIed
ministers are garrisoned. There is
now good reason to believe that the
ministers will be able to hold out I'M
til a relieving force reaches them. II
they have been able to stand the siege
for almost a month after the outside
world had given up hope, there seems
no reason to fear that they will not be
able to hold out a little longer"
do you regard the fact that the
message is in. the state department
code as conclusive evidence that It
emanated from Minister CONCERT" he
was asked.
Might 1t not be possible that. hav-
-....or~S %ha roon1a In tho Amerf