The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-17

shells. Shell after shell screamed over our
heads. Some exploded on the river surface
sending up a column OF water. Others skipped
over the water and struck the opposite bank.
where the bodies Of q number OF Chinese were
found at daylight. II was a wild and terrible
| scene. moonlight being rendered ghasuy oy
the frequent illumination OF the explosions.
How We ever escaped being scuttled 1cannot
| imagine. We stood ready TO take small boats
ut q moment's notice. Between our steamer
and the gunboats was a feet Of Chinese gunboats
lying In q wide sweep Of the river. Some OF
the foreign gunboats attacked them. and that
| added to tho uproar and confusion. Some
| times there was such a glare OF fire from the
ships that we thought them af1re. Shot and
shell poured back and forth INCREASINGLY for
several hours. We did not see the land oper-
ations. but after daylight we soon discovered
that the forts were In the possession OF the
foreign forces. The Chinese gunboats. dis
mantled. and half burning and containing
dead and wounded. were towed past US up
stream the prizes Of the Powers.
Our steamer got under way that morning.
and we went down past the gunboats and forts
to the gulf aud on to Shanghai The battleships
and cruisers were out beyond the bar. out of
range Of the forts and therefore unable to as
sist the gunboats.
we arrived at Shanghai on June %, and
we're fortunate enough to catch the Coptlc.
leaving that afternoon. / had heard nothing
since the bombardment. but the events that
transpired while we were at sea do not sur
prise me. II Is "A I feared-the Chinese En-
pire Is afame against foreigners. The worst
has come to pass and Minister Conaer's credu-
lily and good faith In the Chinese has prob
ably cost his life and the lives Of all the other
foreigners In Pekin
Il have just at this moment learned OF the
murder of Baron Won Kettsler. II 10 no surprise.
Won Ketteler was the one Minister whom the
Chinese feared. He was suspicious Of them
and demanded proof Of their good faith before
he would believe them. Sir Claude Mcdonald.
the British Minister. and Mr.. Conger placed
great faith in the representations OF the Chinese
Government. Won Ketteler demanded that
the Government suppress the Boxers Mcdonald
and Conger entered mild protests and were
satisfied with promises. There Is no doubt
in my mind that Won Ketteler's death was pro-
cured by the Government itself. I believe
that the Empress Dowa9er and five or six ad-
visers are responsible for this whole carnival
of massacre. IL Is impossible for any person
familiar with the situation TO believe that the
Chinese Government Is not In sympathy with
the Boxers, II not actually directing them.
The Boxers AZ a body are ignorant, miserably
poor and deludcd fanatics. They are used and
directed by Intelligent men. The movement
spread like INTELLECTUALLY as though 1t were
receiving powerful aid from those In authority.
Boxers carried on their drills and exercises In
Pekin under the eyes Of the Government
unmolested. | did not zee these drills. but
they were described to me by many who had
seen them. The Boxers formed In companies
facing south and east and west and went
through various gymnastic exercises. repeat
edly bowling and uttering incantations. Al
one point in the exercise they bow lower and
lower, until they touch the ground with their
foreheads and cry out as il addressing their
gods. All this. they are led to believe. makes
them invulnerable TO bullets, Consequently
they go into battle with the ~fanCtical courage
of people who believe their lives are charmed.
For weapons they have everything they can
acrape together. from modern weapons to clubs.
Many of them have no weapons at all, except
their own hands. They wear red sashes but
no other sign Of uniform"