Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-25
TERROR ~. PEKIN.
An American Woman Writes OF the
BeEfnnfng of Boxer Troubles.

An American Woman Writes of the
beginning of Boxer Troubles.
From the New York Herald,
A letter which initiates the alarming
situation in and around Pekin early last
month has been received in New YORK.
1t was written presumably by woman
who was we'll known in Washington socie-
ty, and who was on visit to Minister
Conger's family. The letter was addressed
to a sister in Japan, who, in turn, forward
ed it to another sister in this city Ine
Mr. S. referred to is probably Mr. Herbert
S. Squires, secretary of the American lega-
ton in Pekin. The letter is as follows:
Here 1 am still In Pekin, and the proba-
biltties are that l will soon be en- route TOT
Japan. An English woman, who has nveo
quite long time in Yokohama, L believe,
is to chaperon me there. as she goes dlrect
to that metropolis. But-and this out Is
quite big under the circumstances-she may
be afraid to start down. as We might get
detained at Tien Tsin. or Taku or Tonga.
THE condition of Pekin is pretty PAD
and Sir Robert Hart says that in all the
years he has been here, and in all the
coups d'etat that he has watched, ne has
never seen Pekin or foreigners in a more
critical condition than now. But 1 sup
pose you have been reading kilograms from
Pekin and have kept au courant, so L won
bother you with facts.
I'VE were at the temple In the hills. and
wild tales of what the Boxers were going
to do and saving that hundred had left
the small villages near our temple to go 70
Yangi and burn IL. 1t is a station with
quite a small collection of houses OF for-
eigners and having a bridge. The foreign
ers heard of the intention and escaped IN
the early morning.
I'VE thought the servants were drawing
the long bow but about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon we were called to watch the fire
from our balcony. 1t was near enough Tor
us to see all the smoke, ana the flames, too
There were thousands of Boxers about, and
we We're frightened lest the Boxers on re-
turning to Pekn might stop and loot our
dwelling, and incidentally kill us. There
was not foreign man on the plain.
THE tsung Ii yamen had sent Chinese
guard of twelve soldiers to protect US, and
they stayed at the temple until they saw
the Boxers coming that way, when they
deliberately ran away. You can imagine
our feelings. Three babies to protect and a
lot of frightened Chinese servants.
Mr.. s. was in Pekin, and We did not
know if he would hear of the burning OF
fang-u in time to get out to us that night.
Mr.. s. had. however. learned of the
burning of the town and had ridden out at
great speed to the temple, borrowing on the
way one of the four Russian Cossacks that
were quartered in the Russian legation.
We were ready for anything all night,
and at O'Clock were up packing. At half
past 6 our caravan had started for Pekin.
we got into the legation at half-past 10
o'clock. Mr.. Pettue, Lii Hung Changes pri-
waite secretary, said he feared for our safe
ty, and was on the point of sending for
Chinese regiment for us.
so for the last four days we have been
in the legation and no one allowed to go
out. Rumors are flying broadcast, and
there is excitement to know if the marines
would arrive in time. The missionaries
are terrified half TO death and Mr.. S.
has presented good many of them with
rifles and ammunition. =
1.-The marines of the English. the Rus
sian, the Japanese and the French all came
up the day before yesterday from Tien
Tsin, and when they finally landed at Pekin
there was great excitement as to which
body of marines should lead. Captain NC
Gala, who had come up with our fifty ma
rnes. hurried his men double quick to get
the lead, and our troops were the first to
march up Legation street.
There was an enormous mob at the sta
ton, and they were frightened and did
nothing as the troops We're passing. How
ever, they yelled and howled and swore
curses on all the soldiers ancestors We
have rented quarters for the marines just
back of the legations.
Captain McCal!a of the Newark that Is
at Taku, came up with the marines and
discussed the situation with Mr.. ConKer.
The poor legations that had no troops are
terrified. The Spanish and the Belgians
have none The Belgian secretary had
tea yesterday with US. and could only be
gone one hour, as he had been told he
must come back and help guard the Iega-
ton. | should like to see a good harrow
Ing climax that would give the marines a
chance to use their Maxims and hear the
off -