Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-07-12
RUMoRS FROM CHINA.
The Legations at Pekin Said to Be
Safe on July 4.
TEN TSIy STILL HARD PRESSED.


London, July 0.-The foreign con
suls at Shanghai met on July 7 ant
officially announced that the Legations
at Pekin were safe on July 4. The
foregoing statement, read with Con
sui Warren's dispatch to the foreign
Office on Saturday, makes it possible
TO believe that the legations will hold
out for number of days yet. Hay
ing fought to standstill the first
outbursts Of fanatical fury, it is be.
lieved that something may intervene
to save them. The news, after the
sinister rumors Of the last ten days,
Il enough upon which to build up
hopes. The Shanghai correspondent
Qf the Express, teleeraphing on Sum
day, at $40 p. M, throws doubt upon
Consul Warren's information. He
says: Tao Tai Eheng now admits
that there was an error in his commu.
nication to Gen, Warren. The date
cf the courier's arrival Vt Chinen Flu
was July 8, which does not apply to
his departure from Pekin. The jour
hsy from Pekin to Chinen Flu occu-
pies five days. The courier, therefore,
could not have left Pekin later than
June rs. The date Of the massacre
there, as given by Chinese reports,
was June 80 or July 1.
Tien Tsin Is still hard pressed. A
Chinese force, numbering from $4,000
to 100000 men, is estimated by incon-
elusive Reconnaissance, floods the
country round about Tien Tsin, COM
munication between which place and
Taku is apparently possible by river
only.
A Che Foo dispatch to the Express
says the Russians have landed 5000
men at Taky and the japanese have
=. discharged several transports. The
Japanese pushed on to Tien Tsin, lead
ing in the subsequent assault upon
the native city, in which their COM
mander was killed. Ten more trans
ports are engaged at japanese ports.
With the 10000 British India troops
aAoat and fresh japanese contingents
II Ia quite probable that the allies will
have $4,000 men ashore.
The disorders In the provinces ap.
pear to be increasing In violence. A
Chinese army is within 40 miles OF
New Chwang and the foreigners are
preparing to abandon their homes,
-lle southern part OF the province is
swept by raiders, destroying all works
Of the white man, except In spots
'garrisoned by Russians. proclama-
lions have been posted IN all villages
near Che Foo calling upon the loyal
Chinese to rise and expel the foreign
er for introducing among the pious
Chinese an immoral religion. Every
good Buddhist is expected to kneel
three hours daily, knock his head upon
the floor thrice and pray earnestly
that sudden, cruel death may over
take all aliens.
Refugees from Tien Tsin arriving
ut Shanghai say that only five civil
IAN foreigners were killed during the
long Chinese bombardment. The for
eigr women became so Indifferent
that they walked through the streets
not needing the shells. Most of the
civilians were deported to Taku,
thence to be conveyed to Shanghai.
Gen. Kwan Shi Kai, governor of
6hang Tung, correspondent of the
Daily Mail AYERS, predicts that by
July II the Boxers will disband and
negotiations will be begun for peace.
Nevertheless circumstantial rumors
Of dark things to come are in circula-
fion.
A More Hopeful Feeling.
Washington, July "a slightly
more hopeful feeling for the safety
OF the legations in Pekin was appar-
ent In official circles last night. The
hope Is not founded on any official
dispatches which have reached the
state department ,as nothing has
been done during the day from the
consular representatives of the United
States In China. The cumulative
statements, however, which are daily
printed from various portions of the
empire reporting the diplomatic
corps, with the exception of the Ger
man ministers, as safe up to within
certain specified periods, together
with the absence Of any corrobora-
tive proof of their murder, is partially
responsible for the slight hope which
prevails that they, the ministers, are
yet alive The statements purporting
to come from Sir Robert Hart, the
English Chinese inspector Of customs,
are regarded as the best information
which has been received. While show
ing that conditions are desperate the
dispatches have not been entirely
without hope. Considerable import
ance is attached to the telegraphic
announcement that Prince Ching Is
leading counter revolution against
che rebels in Pekin. The prince is the
head of the Tsung ii Yamen, the Chi
nesc foreign Office, and the command
or Of a garrisoned force in the capt.
tai. His influence is said to be consid-
cradle and the fact, II the reports be
confirmed. that he has espoused the
NF In Af tha am