The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-30
HELD AS HOSTAGES
CHINESE EDTCT so REFERS To
FOREIGN MINISTER'S.
THE VICEROYS THREATENED.
MUST DEFEND THEIR PROVINCES
OR SUFFER DEATH.


Incurring Imperial DispIeasure by
His Delay Asked to De Retired on
Account of Old AEc-Murdcr of the
Missionarics-Queer Americans In
trigue-Ministers Stiu Believed to
he Alive.
London. July S0.-The Shanghai corre-
spondent of the Daily Express, telegraph
ing yesterday, says
"A new imperial edict promulgated this
evening urgently orders all viceroys and
provincial governors 10 endeavor TO ne
gotiate peace with she Powers, whose
ministers are held as hostages pending
the result of the overtures for the aban-
donment of hostilities against China
The Niceroys are also commanded to
guard their territories vigilantly against
attack and to prevent. by all means in
their power, the advance of the foreign
troops, especially along the Yang-tse-
Kiang
The decree says that the officials will
answer with their lives for any failure
40 execute these orders.
Commands are also given that not a
single foreigner shall be allowed to es-
cape from the interior, where there are
still fully 1900 Europeans, connected with
missionary work, in isolated situations.
Orders to LII Hung Chang.
when the governor of Shan Tung COM
municated 10 the consuEs the imperial de-
cree of July "A. he omitted these important
passages addressed to Ii Hung Chang;
1t is admittedly inadvisabie to kill
all the ministers. but it is equally unwise
TO send them 10 Tien Tsin. 1t will be
much wiser to keep the survivors at Pc
kin as hostages.
You are commanded to hasten to
Pekin. You are incurring imperial dis
pleasure by delay. You have been ap-
pointed viceroy of Chi Lii, because with
your military experience you will success
fully lead the imperial armies against the
foreigners in Chi Ii. which Yu Lu, the
present viceroy. is unable TO do owing 10
his ignorance of military affairs
Iii Hung Chang replied 10 this edict
asking to be allowed to retire on account
of his age.
Murder of the Missionaries.
"Sheng now admits that he has had
kilograms since July 10 announcing that
every foreigner in Pao Ting Flu was mur-
dered, including forty British. French and
American missionaries, and announcing
also that two French Jesuits and a thous-
and converts have been massacred at
Kwang Ping Flu, on the borders Of Shang
Tung and Chi Ii A majority Of the
consuls favor strong measures against
Shengs duplicity.
Local officials assert that the italian
priests murdered in Hu Nan were wrap
ped in cotton, which had been soaked with
kerosene and were slowly roasted 40
death. 1t is believed that all foreigners
in Chi Ii have by this time been massa-
cred; and the wave of massacre is spread
ing toward Ming Po and Hong Chow, from
which point thirty English and American
missionaries are endeavoring to escape in
boats down the river TO Kiang Su. Off
cials here anticipate a general rising
along che Yang-tse- Kiahg about Aug l.
"An astounding American intrigue has
shape of a skillful attempt to get the
maritime customs placed in the hands of
an American missionary named Ferguson,
who, although he was an active ally of
Sheng in the laHers endeavors TO hood
wink the world with regard to events in
Pekin, was supported by the American
officials in his claim to the appointment
OF inspector general"
Ministers Probably Alive.
London, July 30, 415 a. m.-The Shang-
hal correspondent of the Daily Telegraph,
seys he is still firmly convinced that the
ministers are safe, but. with the excep-
ton of an alleged message from the Jap
anese legation in Pekin, dated July 10,
brought by runner saying that the le-
cation was still defending itself, nothing
has yet been published giving anything
in the nature of proof.
On the other hand, the daily increasing
reports of the massacre of missionaries
and foreigners leaves only the most slen-
der thread upon which to hang a hope
The general situation is steadily be-
coming darker. and crisis is said TO be
fast approaching.
The Shanghai correspondent Of the
Times, wiring yesterday, says:
Il learn that Ii Ping Hong and Lu
Chuan Lin, Governor of Kiang Su both
rabidly anti-foreign, are advancing toward
Pekin with large bodies Of troops Their
advent must seriously affect the situation
there.
To-day the consular body decided that
the situation demanded the presence of a
military force in Shanghai, and the con-
suls have notified their governments ac-
cordingly."
TWELVE WE'RE MURDERED.