The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-18
RUSSIA STANDS FIRM
To HER PROPOSITION TO WITHDRAW
HER TROOPS FROM PEKIN
NO INTERREGNUM IN THE CITY
Chinese Must Establish Governments
Immediately on Evacuation OF the
Allies-Li Hung Chang Makes Pledge
to Our Government Assassin OF Ket-
teller In Hands of the Governor.
American and Russian Soldiers At
tack Chinese.

ST Petersburg. September 13--The
Russian government adheres firmly to
its proposal TO evacuate Pekin and
continues to cherish the hope that Ger
many will end by agreeing to it and
thus induce Great Britain to follow.
1t lis explained, however, that Russia
recognizes the impossibility of the al
lies leaving Pekin unless the Chinese
government Immediately enters, so tina
there n not be an interval with
out a government Russia will, there
fore, not move before the termination
guaranteeing order in Pekin by the in
s%tallation of a government Immediate
1y after the evacuation.
London, September 13.-Grea1 Brit
aims reply 10 the Russian proposition
for the evacuation of Pekin was sent
two days ago. and as the Associated
Press f~orecasted, Great Britain de-
clineS to evacuate Pekin prior to re-
ceiving satisfactory guarantees from
the Chinese government for the full
fllment of certain conditions.
Ii HUNG CHANGES PLEDGE.
Washington, September 13.-MiniSter
WI has received a cablegram from Ii
Hung Chang, answering the hope ex-
pressed in the American note of a few
days g that his powers are sufficient
to protect American lives and inter-
ests in China Earl Ii says he has
that power and will see hat the pro-
lection is given.
This response came in reply to the
effort of the state department to Sc
cure the use by Id Hung Chang of any
extraordinary powers he might have
for the protection of American life and
property in China, pending a final set
tlement The department asked Lii
without further delay to give assur-
ance that the life and property Of
Americans will henceforth be respect
ed throughout the Chinese empire"
The v1ceroy has given the assurance
asked for. His word came in the shape
of a cable dispatch to Minister WI,
dated yesterday at Shanghai. Mr.. WI
called at the state department this
morning, and presented this answer to
DR.. Hill. He, in turn, sent it forward
to the president. 1t will be for the
latter to decide whether Lis aSsur-
ance is sufficient to meet the needs of
| the case.
Ii Hung Chang's message removes,
perhaps, the last obstacle to the speedy
beginning of the peace negotiations;
and the only doubt that exists is as
to his ability to redeem his pledge to
protect American interests and stop
the outrages upon the missionaries and
native converts. If he can do this
and thus manifest the existence of a
de facto government there is no rea-
son to doubt that negotiations will be
Immediately in order. The notice that
Russian troops will not evacuate Pc
kin until some arrangements have been
made for the installation of a govern
ment to TAX charge of affairs is di-
rectly in dine with the object which
the state department has been pursuing
in the exchanges with Ii Hung Chang,
and if this Russian decision is ad-
hered to, it will certainly facilitate the
ultimate withdrawal of all the foreign
forces, in the opinion of the officials
here.
Copyright by Associated PreSS.)
Pekin, September 10.-Prince Ching,
during the course of private inter-
views with the ministers yesterday in
formed them that while he has power
to negotiate he cannot act without Ii
Hung Chang. An urgent request has
been ~telegraphed to Lii Hung Chang,
asking him to come to Pekin-
AldTQulS lSlduS says uIdl uolihhS
can be lone until h arrival Of the
emperor.
KETTELER'S ASSASSIN CAUGHT.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Pekin, September 9.-The japanese
have arrested the assassin of Baron
Won Ketteler, the late German minis
ter to China. The assassin, who has
been handed over to the Germans by
the Japanese a confessed his guilt
He was arrested for trying to sell to a
japanese officer a watch with Baron
Won Ketteler's initials. He afterwards
admitted the crime, saying that the
imperial government ordered the com.
mission of the act
>, A SKIRMISH WITH BOXERS.
Colonel Tretiekoff's party yesterday
engaged 500 Boxers seven miles from
Machipo. The Boxers were armed on
ly with swords and spears. The Rus
sian cavalry charged On them, killing
many of them with sabres. The charg,
was made through the corn field ant
the Russians succeeded in killing tn
commander of the enemy's forces. Thu
casualties among the Boxers are es
tfmated at 200. A Russian officer wa:
wounded and two Cossacks were kill
ed.
AMERICANS ATTACK IMPERIAL
TROOPS.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Pekin, September S, via Taku, Sep
TENDER 10.-A troop of American cav
airy, to act as a convoy for cattle, sur
prised 300 i~mperialists quartered at tn,
Temple Shaho. They killed thirty ans
!. captured forty rifles. The enemy fie,
northward-
MISSIONARY HODGE KILLED.
= Washington, September 13.-Minis
: ter Conger cables the state department
under date Of September 9Th IS fol
laws: Hodge killed Pao Ting Flu"
Minister Conger's message is in an
swer TO a abled inquiry from tn
state department as to the fate o
Rev. Courtland van Rensselaer, Eodg
|. and wife. Elsie Campbell Hodge. TIL
couple wee natives Of Philadelphi
. and belonged to the Presbyterian mis-
sion.
FL Try Aliens Foot-Ease.
A powder to be shaken into the shoe,
. Your feet feel swollen. nervous an