The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-19
IN THE THIcKEsr OF BATTLE.
An Account of the PeI1in Fight by a
washington Boy.

An Account of the PeI&fn Fight by -
Washington Boy.
Thomas F. Corridor. OF Washinston.
who enlisted in the Marine Corps just
after the breaking out of the instruction
in the PHILIPPINES, and whose company
was first to land on Chinese soil at the
commencement of the Boxer troubles.
sends the following interesting letter to
his brother in this city:
Pekin. China, September 81. 1880
Dear Brother: You need not send any more mail
to PeEin, China, as we are packing our KNAPP
KIN IS getting very cid They are leaving
good part OF all the armies here and detail Of
new marines as guard for the legations.
Ne understand that We won't stay long in
Savlte, Is the TWO companies of the First and
Second Battalions that / belonged TO alternately
VIII be IN the States TO make demonstration at
the Inauguration March next, for we were the
first Americans IN China, and in II from start 10
finish; had terrible nights and DAYS OF hardships
and suferings, but we knew what here for
and did things up pretty we'll
p! shall never forget the taking Of those famous
waits OF hentsin, the slaughter and the fighting
and then the taking Of three OF the largest forts
and arsenais along that ninety march to the
walls Of Pekin- Ii was dreadful, men falling and
having spasns and FITS FOR the want Of water.
stood on the very spot Of the great Tartar
Vail, and IN the immense tower on top of this
"aH ihat was USED ny the ChIDeSe army IN de-
fence Of Pekin- ! stood on The spot where Cap
tain Reilly, OF Reiliy's famous battery, fell. We
were with him when he fell and with him ali the
wy, he leading all Of the nations soldiers in
this fight II wonderful General Chafee
said before going: Il viii 90 TO PekiH II have
20 90 by myself
It IS great sight 10 see soldiers in action, and
the maneuvring done like clockwoTk. The Amer
lean cavaTyman and his horse are wonderful to
see in war. The horses actually lie down and the
trooper has bsrricade for himself. 1t was done
here, and saw what had thought was iupos-
Sible- They take the eyes Of all the other ma
tons, and the beauty of it is that the marines
Of the Philippines. First and Second Battalions
were the first to land On CfIiHas soil. the first
oyer the walls to capture the mint, the first 20
plant the flag on the walls OF Tientsin, and the
FIST Americans on the walls OF Pe0in with Reilly,
ard the planting Of the American flag by the
bUgler Of the Fourteenth Regiment.
This Is good starting record feg the marines
and have been through II all We lost = good
many killed, and had lot wounded Some died
since from hardships and disease and lucky
to be telling You about il now, for ! said to NY
self when going over the walls OF Tientsin II was
all over Soldiers Of all EatiOns fighting together
and dropping all around you nothing pleas
ant.
Well, it is all over now and stn still alive
and well This IS Sunday morning. and ] went
to church in the French concession heard mass
said by the priest OF the Ninth Regiment that
came from Manila with US. and two Chinese altar
boys served with their Ing pic-alls hanging
down. Wen, nothing Is strange for E0w, a
saw principally all there was 20 be seen. which I
won't soon forget Ton