The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-18
RUSSIAN OUTRaGiS IN CHINA.
Slaushter Hsi Hess Ven, Women, and
Chii.ren, shot as They Ran.

From Leslie Weekly.
| But now yse learned the ugly things
! about the slaughter o. women and chill
dren. shot as they ran, or their heads
mercilessiy crushed with bricks and blud-
geons as they kneeled crying for mercy
| The bodies he by the river In the mud
and the dogs are fat with feasting on the
dead. From 1'aku, as We sail up to Tien-
| tsin, many OF the Chinese mud villages
| have but a few terrified inhabitants left,
and what was a village even a day ago
| is now a desolate heap of blackened ruins,
Last night, as we eamped In Tong-ku
the few houses that remained when We
arrived, were sending a glare into the sky
| The railway station and the hospital,
where the Russian iiag flies, with one or
two buildings owned by people who have
nations at their backs, are the only ones
that are not destroyed. The American
soldier has made up his mind about the
| Russian. There are too many terse oaths
| in the opinion for publication, but / can
bear witness that Americans at home may
safely accept their verdict 1t does not
| fall in with the Anglo-saxon deas to mur-
der women and children on their knees
begging for mercy. throw their bodies into
| the river, or leave them for the dogs to
1 y.
and their stories are not pretty / have
/ listened to tie American soldiers and the
British marines exchanging ideas regard
ing these Russians An officer on the
United States ship Monocacy has Just seen
some Russians split the head OF an un-
armed, helpless Chinaman with an *
The river carries many dead bodies.
Ihe Temple OF Heaven, In the southern
! or Chinese city, which was captured and
| occupied as a camping place by the Brit
Ism fo:ccs. Is an immense park alrr"s.
a mile square. This Is the place where
the Chinese Emperor goes twice every
| year 10 worship Heaven, his ancestor
and to mediate for his people. The chief
building In the inclOsure Is the great COW
ereo ALTA. which no one is allowed 10 en-
ter except those who are OF royal blood
IL Is circular In form, rooted with blue
porcelain tiles. and surmounted with a
gilt bail, making one of the most beauti-
! fuI specimens OF native architecture In
| China. The other altar, called the open
altar, consists OF three terraces, each
about ten feet high, built one upon the
other, the highest one bei7g about sixty
] feet In diameter. This aiIar Is built OF
1 white marble and pTOteTteI by marble
| balustrades. all being hea ~ and ornate
~ carved. Two magnificent bronze burn
ers. each about nfteen feet IN diameter
sit before this altar. IL Is surrounded by
| a high wall covered with blue tiles. Be-
yCnd IL Is situated the Palace Of Absti-
nGnce where the Emperor is supposed 70
} fast for three days preparatory TO offer
{ ing the annual Sacrifice. Various other
buildings surround the affairs. which are
/ devoted 10 lodging the Emperor and his
retinue. and these are now the barracks
: ia which the English troops are quarter
ed. The pa-ks around the temples Are
{. beautifully wooded ana well watereG,
while ma agnihcent paved walks run in ey-
cry direction. The troops could not ask
/ for better quarters.
4 Heaven. Is the Titan. literally the Altar
/ 10 Ezr,n. but commonly called the Tenn
/ Die OF Agriculture Here the main body
/ OF the American troops have found quar-
1 ters In the temples which are built about
the altar. Within this !nel0sure Is the
I field where the Emperor. assisted by the
/ board Of rites. performs the annual eere-
/ mOny OF pIOWing. IN token Of the agricnl-
K turai character OF the people. A little
west OF the Aliar 70 Earth Is the famous
Black Dragon Pool. an artificial lake defi-
Gated 10 the spirit OF water. 10 which the
| Emperor comes 20 make special suppl
/ cation when the country Is suffering from
/ drought or deluge. These two Enclosures
| lie tiist within the southern wall OF me
/ southern e4ty. and on either side OF the
gate which leads 20 the railroad station
of the road 70 Tientsin. The Japaness
forces are cSmped on the snting pisla, or
/ Chinese drill ground. Just outside the
| northeast gate OF the city. while the Rus
| sisns are camp%d near the gate whore
they entered. and are watching the I'm
| ~ the troops 0f the different powers for
,h.tr camps are significant 10 those who
understand The international complications
| OF the situation.