The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-04
Magnificent Place Near Peking I'm
which the Cars People Appar-
emily Mean TO Remain.
FAILED TO TRAP THE DowAGER
JAPANESE WE'RE MUCH DIsAPPoIsT-
ED OVER EER ESCAPE.
The Russian Bear Awake and Ready
TO Reap Every Advantage from
the Chinese situation.


Special Correspondence OF the Journal.
PEKING, Sept. 9.-Having nothing else
TO do yesterday l took a ride out 10 the
absent Emperor's Summer Palace. There
is a good deal OF history connected with
this queer, immense old place. which has
existed for the last five or six hundred
years.
Just before Picking was captured the
Japanese sent a special expedition by
side-paths to the summer palace, which Is
located about ten miles rather northwest
of Picking. These little Japs are great
devourers Of history, and so they knew
that the English captured the Summer Pal
ace in 1860, and that they nearly caught
the present Empress dowager. then forty
years younger and a hundred times more
attractive. In 1860 the then Empress es-
capped by running out of the back door OF
the Summer Palace and taking to the noun
tains The Japanese thought that. IL they
moved with more stealth and speed than
the British did in 1860. they would catch
the Empress dowager and her weakling
dummy the young Emperor.
History repeated itself. The japanese
reached the Summer Palace a little too
late There were no royalties there 10 be
captured. But there were signs OF con-
fusion and hurried departure about the
great summer palace that made the little
Japs gnash their teeth. They were sure
that the Empress dowager had been there.
but she had been warned in time and had
sprinted away. Practice has made this
talented old yellow lady an expert sprin-
ter.
For a few days the Japanese remained
at the Summer Palace. Then their COM
mander at Picking decided that the place
possessed no strategic value. and ordered
his detachment back TO Picking Hardly
had the last japanese soldier marched out
when the head of Russian column moved
in. 1t looked as If the Bear had been Turk
ing in the neighborhood in order TO place
himself next to opportunity. Quite in ac-
cordance with his policy Of never letting SO
of anything that he once gets, the Musco-
vite is still there. and undoubtedly will be
until the end Of the chapter.
THE CRAFTY RUSSIANS.
Nor did the Russians go TO the Summer
Palace merely out of idle curiosity. They
had very definite purpose in view. pur-
pose that was fully understood by the COM
Russians had camped on the site Of the
summer resort Of many Chinese dynasties-
That purpose was nothing more nor less
than the accomplishment Of scheme TO
get the Empress dowager and his poor little
Majesty, Kwang Su. in their own hands
and thus control the situation in way
that would improve the Russian national
health. 1t is well known In the information
bureaus of the different armies that the
Russians sent secret messengers TO the
Empress and Kwang Su. IL is also very
well understood that the Russian proposals
TO the imperial yellow pair suggested that
they come, under Russian escort, TO the
Summer Palace. where they were guaran-
teed ample protection against the other
powers. For some reason that part of the
scheme didn't work Though the dowager
Empress Is growing old, she Is far from
simple. Doubtless she understood just why
the Russians wanted her presence and that
of the little man who goes by the name OF
the "Son of Heaven" The Russians meant
TO use them as fgureheads and set UP
Chinese government to be managed from
Picking. AS the Russians show no intention
of leaving the Summer Palace. doesn't IL
look as though they still entertain some
hopes that the imperial party may yet walk
into the trap?
A TEN-MILE JOURNEY.
Ny ten-miIe trip Of yesterday wasn't due
entirely to a desire to see the mere palaces.
wanted still more to get, If possible, some
notion Of what the Russians were doing. or
trying to do. The only method Of travel at
present, unless you are at least a brigadier
hula Il -,
GO on the back OF donkey. So a Chinese
boy" and his donkey were at the door OF
my hotel in Legation street early in the
morning. With all my American impatience
1 impressed upon that boy that wanted
TO travel "chop-chop''-which is pigeon
English for mighty quick" He nodded
and promised. That was all he did. I can
understand fully why the Chinese haven't
made any swifter progress in civilization
in four Of five thousand years. That donkey
travelled at a rate OF speed that made me
frequently dismount, walk ahead and then
wait for the creature.
We went through the east gate of the
imperial city and around the corner Of the
Forbidden City. found myself smiling
reminiscently when / remembered how
many OF the correspondents had failed 10
march in with the troops on that 18th OF
August In the still water OF the moat
around the Forbidden City the lotus plants
were blooming rankly. We went north
past Coal hill. past the Drum Tower and
the Bell Tower. and out through the north
gate Of the city.
We were out in the country now. travel
ing over a once magnificent stone cause
way. For generations this roadway has
been allowed 10 fall into increasing decay.
| Now and then a few hundred coolies have
been sent out to do work. but the results
do not show. On this road. meant Tor an
Emperor. the donkey fell into so many
holes that my neck was IN almost constant
| peril
Running along the side OF the road was q
| huge stone aqueduct that conveys water
from near the Summer Palace 10 the For
hidden City The source OF this water sup
| ply is the Black Dragon spring. There -
some wonderful legend connected with the
spring. My boy started 20 tell II TO me.
but dida't pay close attention. This yell
| low wretch is a very ordinary fourth-rats