The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-10-14
LURED ON BY LOOT
SnecglatOrs ThrOng Tien TSin
to Purchase CUriOS.
REAL BARGAINS FEW
,rARTY cakes LIKELY TO BE
SHIPPED FOR SALE.

correspondence of the Associated Press
Tien Tsin, Sept. 7.-Lured by the
prospect of rich bargain and loot, large
numbers of buyers are reaching Pekin
and Tien Tsin from Shanghai and 9TH
err cities in the south.
Most Of them are acting under cable
instructions from dealers in America
and Europe, the most exaggerated re-
ports having been spread of the value
of the plumber taken in the sacl1ing of
these two north of China cities. It is,
Of course, impossible to even approx
mate the total value of the loot secured
nv the troops. For the greater part
of it there is no standard value, its
chief worth lying in the fact that it is
loot and as a souvenir of the Chinese
trouble il is given a fictitious price. 1t
is safe to predict however, that Europe
and America Will De flooded with curios
and relics which have never seen either
Pekfn or Tien Tsin, because so far the
srecuIators have met with keen disaD-
pointment. There is today any guam
ti,y of stuff for sale, but practically
all of it could be bought in any curio
or oriental shop at home.
In every by-street and in the envi-
rons of the camps soldiers of all the
powers gather in little groups barter
ing the spOils of war. It is all done
y
at by those in authority. These little
eXtemporized bazaars are extremely
picturesque. Japanese. Americans.
Frenchmen. Russians, soldiers OF every
flag. gather in eager groups while CT
william traders and curiO-seekers haggle
with them over prices in true Oriental
fashion. By far the greater portion Of
the stuff is practically worthless except,
as has been said, for its value as
relics.
Chief Bargains In Furs.
There are and have been few real
bargains, and these have been in furs.
To the American eye they have proven
the most attractive, and some exceed
ingly handsome fur robes have been
secured at low prices Persian lamb
and mink. as the dressed hide of the
unborn lamb is locally termed. are
probably the most valuable of the furs
of this region. while some 50 bic and a
little etmine has found it's way into the
hands of those earliest on the scene
As rule, the robes sold openly are
lambs wool, very beautiful dressed cat
skins, rabbit and Monaghan goat hides.
piece in really frst-ciass condition
is rare Most OF the robes have been
worn or have suffered in the sieges by
exposure to water and fire.
There is a curious absence of bronzes
or porcelain.
..-tN AAcAn a Hal u AluIlL 10 l4Etu q DIT Of
either, and then it is usually of an
'-feriOr grade. The explanation is
found in the fact that TIE common SOL
der Is not usually a cOnnoisseur in
art and many dingy vases of rare value
and bits of priceless bronze probably
lie crushed and shattered under the
shell-tOrn walls of the native city here
and of Pelxin. It was the gaudy that
caught the eye of plundeTer, particular
ly skins and Cossacks, and tinsel orna-
Iuents of quartz and cOlored rocks set
in Gilded silver or white metal, pins
and rings adorned with cheap enamel
and lacquer, are offered for sale in
great quantities
BY far the richest loot procured was
silver bullion in Size, as the helmet
shaped ingOtS are termed. These are
worth about seventy taels each in bull
lion, or from $40 to so gold. Each
bears the imperial stamp on the under
lace. and are the standard Of value
Tor the Chinese currency. It sells in
the loot market at quite a discount.
one buyer from Shanghai told the As
Soclated Press correspondent that he
had secured about $4,000 at q price OF
$4,000. A very heavy expense. how
ever. is involved in transporting the
Size and considerable risk is taken in
getting it to market.
Arms Are In Plenty.
OF arms there is a surfeit. An i'm
menSe number of Manalicher and Maui
ser rifles and carbines fell into the
hands of tie allies and they are a drug
IN the plumber bazaars. Most of them
nave never been fired and they bring
a Sms u price. Five dollars Mexican or
sou IN sold purchases a gun IN excel |
lent condition. SingOls, or the two
men Chinese guns. huge, unwieldy at
la.ES, carrying almost d half pound
bal- are plentiful and for the weapon
co-.ectOr this region is a mine OF rich |
ness.
silks and embrOideries in small GUAM |
lAeS are purchaseable. but they bring
good value, as all fasteners are natu- /
ally judges Of textiles. At Pekin con
o ..-'nS are practically the same. There. |
40" ever were found a larger number !
vi lurS and silks. Silver bracelets. pins. !
sumo jade carvings, native clothing Of /
me quality go 10 make up the loot of /
.-- TWO cities. but the grand total ex- |
cl'NlAS the silver bullion is very small |
y ot III the camps the tents of both Of !
---1!S and men are well supplied with !
--' I'VE furniture, some of it very hand I
I..-=. It's bulk and transportation to !
=! 1pe or America, however. renders ]
q 'a-ueleSS to dealers. Teak, cedar and /
,-.--y chairs. tables, chests and lock- /
~ ~ are as common as spliut bottom /
.''--S at nome. and the soldiers often I
- army ratiOns from inlaid tops of 4
MANDARIN tables
DEVASTATION STILL GREAT.