The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-07-27
MINISTER'S REPORTED ALIVE.
"a Message From Conger, But II
May Be Old.

"A Message From Conger, But |
May Be Old.
Washington, July 2O.-Like a flash \
sunlight out of dark sky came the in
Ieillgence at an early hour TODAY tba
United States Minister Conger had sem
a CIPHER cablegram from Pekin to N,
sCdIe department at Washington mai
known that two days ago he was aIiv,
safety. 'oi 'nei
The Chinese minister, WI Ting Fang
Itcei'ed the message. Within an hon,
lne welcome intelligence that Mr.. Conger
mas Oeen heard from after weeks Of 81
Ighce I ana evil report, was flashed
through the country, and, indeed
| throughout the world, dispelling the
gloom which had prevailed everywhere
ana bringing to officials and the nuhlir
generally sense of profound relief
- Inc dispatch was in reply to Secretary
nay cable inquiry to Minister Copper
on July IL, and as both messages were
Ia the American cipher code thpv wero
regarded by the officials as above tho
suspicion OF having been tamperpd with
Ia the course of transmission thronrb
Chlnese channels. Mr.. WI promntIv
communicated the dispatch to the Eta te
department, where the translation was
mace from the cipher figures and soon
an Washington was astir with the in
teihgence. 1t was telegraphed by Secre-
tary hay to the president, who re.nond
ed with wholesome expression of grati-
hcatlon and word of it was sent to tho
various cabinet officers. They gathered
III secretary Hays Office and an i'm
promptu cabinet conference was held in
Tue diplomatic chamber, mainly for the
purpose OF exchanging congratulations
anu ol taxing a survey Of the situation
! 70 see II It had been materially changed
Dy TINS important development,
CODger's Message.
Washington, July 2O-Tbe folIovino
statement has been given out bv the
state departments:
On the 18th of this month the state
department communicated a brief meg
sage asking tidings from Minister
longer, IN the state department cipher
minister wa undertook to get this letter
INTO Minister Conger's hand if he were
awe He has succeeded in DOING this |
lhls morning the state department 70. |
"1he governor at Onan- lung IuIUrIns |
ne that he has received today a cipher |
message from Conger on the 18th"
A few minutes later Minister WI ap-
Deared at the state department with a |
telegram from Tao Tai Shang, dated |
July 20, which had been received by |
Minister WI at $50 o'clock this morn
ing, reading as follows:
Your telegram was forwarded, and |
as requested send reply from the tsung
Ii yamen, as follows: Your telegram of |
the 18th day of this moon (July III re-
ceived. The state department telegram |
has been handed to Minister COnger.
Herewith is Minister COngers reply to |
the state department.
Mr.. COnger's cablegram is as follows:
''In the British legation. Under cOntin-
ued shot and shell from the Chinese
troops. Quick relief only can prevent q
general massacre"
The message is not dated, but it is un-
derstoOd it was sent from Pekin on the
18th. This reply was in the state de,
partment cipher, and it is regarded as
genuine, inasmucb as forgeries seem, un-
der the circumstances, impossible.
Nevertheless, the anxious American
public, when it was laid before them,
looked upon the message with doubt.
The fact that it was undated, even
though in cipher, caused doubt. 1t was
argued that it might have been a held
up message two or three, or even four,
weeks old.
British Refuse to Believe
London, July 21.-The Conger dis
patch fails to carry conviction to either
the British press or public. Its genuine
ness is not disputed, however, for, as is
pointed out here, the Chinese must pos
sess quite a sheaf of such messages which
the minister fruitlessly endeavOred to
get transmitted, from which they could
easily select a nOn-cOmmittal dispatch
to serve the required purpose. 1t is sup
posed Minister COnger omitted to de-
strOy the cipher code and that this is
now in the possession of the Chinese in
which event the selection of a cOncOc-
tion of the dispatches would not be diff
cult. 1t is argued that the dispatch, if
it were genuine reply to the inquiry OF
the American government, would go
more into details. The slight ray Of
hope is admitted in the fact that Minister
and Mrs. Conger are known to have been
on very friendly terms with the empress
dowager, but the universal opinion here
is that if the dispatch is genuine the date
is falsifed.
The bare possibility that the news Of
the massacre was premature, however,
has had it's effect and the government
has issued a semi-oficial disclaimer o.
responsibility for the proposed memorial
service in st. Paul's cathedral, while the
newspapers are calling for the postpone
ment of the service until all doubts arr
| set at rest.
A Good Cough Medicine.
Many thousands have been restored
to health and happiness by the use 0
Chamberlain Cough Remedy. If al
ficted with any throat or lung trouble
give it trial for it is certain to prov
beneficial. Coughs that have resisted al
other treatment for years, have yielde'
to this remedy and perfect health bee
restored. Cases that seemed hopeless