The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-06
CONCERTS WORK IN CHINA.
Results of HIS Visits Last Year a
American COnSuIufes

!
American ConsuIates.
The present dreadful conditions in China
furnish striking contrast to those which
Minister Conger found less than a year
ago when he made a trip to the various
American Consulates throughout the En-
pire.
The gunboats Princeton and Monocacy,
on that occasion. were placed at Mr.. Con-
gers disposal by the Navy Department
and their commanders were directed TO
obey his orders during his tour.
On August 16 the Princeton proceeded
| from Shanghai to receive the Minister as
z passenger ar Taku where eeremoniOus
visits were exchanged with Chinese off,
| Gals Leaving Taku, the party sailed for
/ NeWchwang. arriving there on August
! 20. Three days were spent az this port
where the Minister made a number Of en-
clal calls. and inspected several Ameri-
can and other foreign mercantile houses
| The Princeton next visited Chefoo
steaming into the harbor on August 20,
where similar calls and Investigations were
made. After spending nearly a week at
Chefoo, the Princeton sailed back TO
Shanghai, and went into dock there TO re-
place propeller blade broken in the shall
lcw Pei-HO. and TO coal ship After de-
lay CT eight days. she left Shanghai on
September 20 for Nins-Po. FOO-ChOw.
Annoy, HongkOng and Canton. arriving at
these places, respectively. on September
-. Is. % IS. and 90.
On the afternoon OF September 20 she
anchored of the bar at Canton. and the
party landed IN the island OF Shameen.
the foreign settlement. which is connected
with Canton by bridge At Canton there
was brilliant reception. which had been
prepared by Vice Consul Hubbard Smith.
/ led by the battalion OF sailors an marines
from the Princeton Under command Of
Lieutenant Leigh. the Minister and his
party marched over The bridge TO Sha-
Ileen and through one OF the main streets
| 10 the American Consulate. which is Stu
ated on the top Of a hill APP os>hing thu
consulate, they marched between Chinese
OF the street, and who saluted the pro-
soldiers. who were lined up on both sides
eession in military fashion.
Shameen is one Of the most picturesque
and beautiful spots II China improved BY
many handsome dwellings and set aside
exclusively for the occupation Of foreign
merchants and residents. the business
and residence portions being IN separate
parts Of the island. The American Con-
sulate is an imposing structure. surround
ed BY COnsulates OF other Governments.
its commanding location making II a
conspicuous feature Of the landscape The
Shameen bridge mentioned above. although
not a drawbridge. provides security 10
the foreign settlement on the Island, as
II IS constantly guarded by u Hung
Chsng's troops who have orders fS9bldding
any natives 10 cross without passes from
the foreign authOrities-
Minister CoUger's visit 70 Canton was
made a memorable occasion. and until
four las were spent in receptions he
was Ulaale 70 begin the inspection OF the
Consulate. On October g. the PrinCetOn's
party was IS -orted across the bridge TO
Canton. where they boarded the ship for
haukow. 5C3 miles up the Iaugtse
River From this place the Minister went
on IN investigating trip 70 SOO-ChOw. a
sqlsu town in the interior. where there
is no Consulate but which Is rapidly be-
coming an important commercial centre.
He left this place about the middle Of Oc-
tober for Wu-Hu and thence TO Nan
king. where there had been q strong move
ment 10 re-establish the Chinese south
crn capital
At Nanking the Princeton was ordered
70 Manila and the Minister and his party
took passage CT an Oriental and Occiden-
tai steamer 10 shanghai where he again
boarded Al American waTship. the Mo-
noeacy. with Commander George A. Bick-
FOR a consultation with Admiral Sey-
mour. recently commanding the Pekin
relief expedition from Tientsin. who YVES
then al Hankow-
Having completed his tour OF the Ameri-
can Consulates Minister COnger returned
to Shanghai. where he took the Chinese
merchant steamer Hsiu-Pu 20 Tientsin. ar
irving al the Legation in Pekin on Novem-
Der q. after three months absence.
On this trip Mr.. Conger was entertained
by more Chinese officials than any other
American. or perhaps any foreigner in re
cent years. He strengthened in many re-
spects the influence OF the United States
with the v!ceroys and chief subOrdinates
Of the Imperial Government. and thor
oUghly famiiiariZed himself with all that
part OF the empire Of immediate CONNER
c5al importance. The receptions given TO
him by each vieeroy in the provinces Wis
tied were unprecedented. and the festivi-
ties at Canton and other great cities far
excelled all earlier honOrs TO foreign off,
Gals. The State Department authorities
expressed the highest satisfaction with Mr..
Conger's complete reports Of his tours.
which are necessarily Of a confidential
character.
After returning to Pekin Minister Con-
ger wrote 10 Admiral J. c. Watson. the
ccmmander-in chief Of the t5iatic station.
PROBABLY the latest COMMUNICATION received
from him. II IS as follows
Il take pleasure in informing you. in
accordance with the order mentioned in
your communication OF August , last.
found the United States ship Princeton OF
Taku. August q. and was formally reeeiy-
ed on board by Commander Knox The
several ports were visited. beginning al
Newchwang and ending with Hongkong.
October 10.
On October~2I 7 boarded the NIonocacy
al Shanghai and proceeded at once up the
Yangtse River. stopping at various ports.
as fa- as Hankow. and returning to Shang-
hal on November IL
I take great pleasure in acknowledging
the constant courtesy OF all the officers and
men during the entire trip. Every kind
ness and attention were shown me BIZ Cap
tains Knox and BiekneII, and every pos
sible assistance rendered me in making
the trip interesting valuable. and success
their efficiency and aid
Please. therefore. accept for yourself
them. and their officers, my profound graf
itude.
I am making a report to the Depart
ment OF State. and am sure il will CRATE
fully acknowledge this courtesy from the
Navy Department.
Trusting the Princeton reached Manila
as early as she expected or needed. I am
sir, your obedient servant.
e H CONGER-"
CURRENT HUEoR.