The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-04

THE SCENE IN BRITISH LEGATION THE
NIGHT AFTER THE RESCUE
A CURIOUS CROWD ASSEMBLED
Missionaries Singing the Doxolopy.
Soldiers Bivouackine and Cannon
Smashing the Roofs of the Forbidde,
Cfty-Soldiers and Civilians From ALI
Parts of the World FraternizIng-The
Wonderful Barricades of the Be-
sieged.

Copyright by Associated Press.)
Pekin, August 14.-By post via Tien
Tsin- A medal will b struck com
~memorating the siege Of Pekin. 1t will
bear the legend "Men not Walls, Make
= City"
In the grounds of the British lega-
ton. where a handful of men with
stood the millions of the Chinese capt.
tai for fffty-six days, a memorable
c~elebation is in tonight in
y~indicatiOn of that principle. Mis-
sionaries. assembled about Bell tower,
ale singing the Doxology. Rockets
are blazing. Soldiers and civilians of
all nationalities are f-raternizing. The
women are a~ppIauding the sound of
the cannon that are smashing the yell
low roofs of the Forbidden City"
The tired Sikhs are planting their tents
on the lawn, and the American and
Russian ~contingents are lighting camp
fires along the stretch of turf extend
ing beyond the Tartar wall.
Through the ruins of the foreign
Settlements an eager, cosmopolitan
crowd is jostling, Indians, Cossacks.
legation ladies, diplomats, Americans
from the Philippines, and French dis
c~iplinarians from Saigon, who kept
discreetly to the rear while the fight
ing was in progress, but came con-
Spicuously to the front when lOoting
began. Only the Japanese who have
earned the first place, are absent.
Resident foreigners welcome the
luxury Of walking about and immuni-
ty from bullets.
The new corners are anxious to in
spect the evidences of an historic de-
tense. These barricades are, after
ALI the most wonderful sight in Pekin.
The barriers hedging the British le-
cation are a marvel of stone and
brick walls and earth works. Sand
bags shield every foot of space. The
tops of the walls I'VE inches for the
rifiemen, and the buildings, All their
porticoes and windows, have armor
boxes, bags stuffed with dirt. and pill
lows too.
Back of the United States legation
is a work named Fort Myers" which
the marines held, completely screening
both sides of the walls, with steps
leading to it. There is a loophole in
the barrier across the wall which
faces a similar Chinese work a few
yards away. Another wall bars Lega-
ton street in front of the German le-
cation and, confronting the enemy's
barbados within those limits, are
yet more walls, enabling the foreign
SCS 10 contract the area OIL uSI6uSe II
pressed.
The tops of the American and Brit
ish buildings were badly torn by the
Chinese shells. The rest of the for
eign sec>+ement was almost demolish-
ed. Two thousand eight hundred shells
fell there during the first week of the
bombardment-40O in n day. Buck
cts full of bullets were gathered in
the grounds.
Four hundred and fourteen people
lived in the compound through the
greater part of the siege. Three hun
dred and four marines, assisted by 50
commanded by the English
Captain Pool, defended the place.
Eleven civilians We're killed and nine
teen wounded. Fifty-four marines
and sailors were killed and 112 wound
ed.
The American loss was seven killed
and eleven wounded. Mr.. Gilbert Reid,
who was wounded in the feet was the
only American civilian injured. Two
foreign ladies were The re-
ception which the survivors gave the
army was worth the hardsh1pS the
troops had undergone. Tine entrance
was not spectacular Sir Alfred Case
lee. with his staff and a company OF
Sheiks waded up a bed of sewerage in
the canal under the Tartar wall. The
besieged removed the barricade; and
when the gates swung inward and the
British cOlOrS appeared there arose d
great continuous cheer on both sides.
Generals, soldiers and correspondents
scrambled up the banks through the
filth, elbowing to be first. Men and
women surrounded the reScuerS and
shook the hands of the Sheiks. hitting
them on the back. Everybody was
hustled excitedly along in the legation
grounds where the colOrS were plant
ed. The soldiers surrounded the wall
which had been the salvation of the
besieged. The ministers and officers
demanded h latest news on both
sides; and afterward General Chaffee,
riding at the ead of the Fourteenth
United States infantry, marched to the
Tartar wall. An American marine
who was on top of the wall shouted,
You are just in time. We need you
in our business"
Where can we get in," said General
Chaffee.
There at the canal. The British en-
tered there two hours ago" was the
response. The American general look
ed disappointed.
Although the Americans entered be-
hind the last of the British forces
their reception was just as enthusiast
tic as if they had been first When
the stars and stripes emerged into
view Mr.. Tewksbury, the missionary,
cried: Americans, cheer your flag.
Ladies waved their handkerchief
and the soldiers cheered the ladies.
4 FEAST OF