Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-15

ACT as uh Ls-
cort-The Looting of the Imperial
City.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
PEKIN, September 7.-Prince Ching,
who visited the foreign ministers yes
terday, did not receive that cordial re-
ception he seemed to expect. At the
British legation, the first n he Wis
tied, the demeanor Of Sir Claude Nc
Donald was chilly in the extreme, and
the visit occupied no longer than five
minutes.
Prince Ching was in his sedan chair,
borne on the shoulders of eight gor-
geously apparelled servants, preceded
by four Chinese officials of high rank,
each wearing the insignia of the pea
cock feather. A troop of Japanese cav
airy acted as escort and guard. From
the British legation the oavalcade went
to the German legation, but were re-
fused admission to the grounds, being
informed by the Chinese interpreter OF
the legation that the representatives
of his imperial majesty, the Emperor of
Germany, were not %receiveing social
calls at present from Chinese officials.
AT the Spanish legation, where also
the French minister resides, as his
residence was destroyed, the call only
lasted twelve minutes, and at the Aus
TRAN hardly SO long.
AT the Russian legation over an hour
was spent. From there the American
legation was visited. Here the Prince
was received by Mr.. Conger and the
members of the legation. The prince
told Mr.. Conger that he felt ashamed
to
Look Him in the Face,
but that personally he had done all in
his power to prevent the catastrophe
that had occurred, but the force of
events had proved too much for him.
Ching said that he had merely come
ito pay a visit of respect to an old
friend.
It is stated on reliable authority that
at the japanese legation Ching was in
formed that Japan was utterly opposed
to any division of China by the powers
and that both England and America
would stand by her in this demand;
that China would have to pay heavily
for the trouble she had caused, but 1t
would not be in loss of territory.
1t is now believed here that the set
Element of the situation will be made
by an international commission, either
at The Hague or Washington, at which
China will not be represented. If the
opinion of high officials here can be
taken as a guide, Russia, Germany,
France and possibly Italy, are in favor
of a division of China, with a merely
nominal Chinese empire, while Eng
land, America and Japan will demand
the open door policy, a heavy indem-
nifty and for a long period the policing
of the country by ar international
force.
The general consensus of opinion Of
the American and British ministers and
generals is that seldom if ever in the
history of the world has any city been
more
Completely Looted and Quilted
than Pekin, and it is mainly due to the
influence of Gen. Chaffee and the Brit
ish general, Gaselee, that the Sacred
City itself has lot suffered the same
fate. In fact, most of the members of
the embassies, their families and even
the missionaries think that a great
mistake was made in not footing It and
burning it to the ground. They argue
that If all the property of the mer-
chants, bankers, pawn brokers and
ever the houses of the very poor have
been looted and burned, why should
the property of those mainly respon-
sible be saved and held sacred for their
future use.
1t is an everyday sight to see sol
diers, camp followers and members Of
the riff-raff that is following the army,
selling all sorts of things, particularly
the silver shoes, which were used as
cash, valued at seven, thirteen, thirty
and fifty dollars, according to weight.
Hundred dollar watches were selling for
five, but now prices have gone up and
silver shoes are selling for two-thirds
of their value an other things accord
ingly.
The proprietor of a Pekin hotel has
bought, 1t is stated. silver worth over
a quarter of a million dollars, at a cost
OF less than fifty thousand.
American soldiers have not been Of
fcially allowed to loot,
But Only to Forage,
which means that parties have gone
out daily owe the American quarter
and collected the things most needed
by the troops, SucA as bedding, furni-
ture for camp use, etc. Most of the
soldiers on the march to Pekin threw
away their blankets and other impedi-
ments which rendered the march I'M
der a burning sun unbearable. At
night now they would suffer from cold
II they had not been allowed TO COM
mandeer the necessary covering. 1t is
only human nature If the soldier boys
IN that duty should pick robes of err
mine gray fox skins and other warm
furs rather than those of a coarser and
pglier appearance. Some of the most
persistent hooters have been the mis-
slonaries.
Recently meeting a missionary with
five carloads of furs and antique furni-
ture, Major Waller asked the mission
airy by what right he had taken the
things, and to his question he was told
that they had been taken by permits
sion Of Major Waller. He informed the
missionary that he was mistaken as he
himsAlf was Major Waller and that he
saould confscate every bit Of 1t.
GERMANY NOT SATISFIED.