The Worthington advance., 1900-07-20
SOLD LIVES DEARLY.
Foreigners at Peking Make Gallant
Defense Before Death. /

Foreigners at Peking Make Gallant
Defense Before Death. +
All Are ButcheFed by the Fiendis
az, ,BOxers-Brave. Men Put Wives and
~ Children to Death to Escape '~
= More Horrible Fate.
London, July tion of
the awful rumors in reference to Pc
king has now been received from Shane-
hal. Sheng obtained an audience of
the whole consular body on Saturday
and informed them that on or about
June 30 the foreigners in the British
legation were annihilated. This in
formation has reached him officially
from the governor of Shan-Tung.
The Express publishes long &C.
count of the massacre, which is truly
horrible in its details. It appears from
the governor of 'Shan-Tung's own
statement that the foreign inmates of
the legations, including the women
and children, were, so maddened -by
hunger that they resolved upon max
ing sortie on the night of June 80.
Killed Their Own Loved Ones.
The attack was unexpected 10y Gen.
Tung, and 200 of his men were slain
in their attempt to cut their way
through. The: women and children
were placed in the center of a hollow
square, and after fighting madly for
some time the devoted little band re-
allied that their va1or was in vain and
they were then reluctantly compelled
to turn their revolvers on the wom-
en- and children to save them from
a worse fate at the hands of the Box
ers.
Gen. Tung battered the legation
buildings to ruins with his guns, and
the Boxers, thirsting for blood, at
tackled the native Christian quarters.
massacreing all who would not Join
them, outraging the women, Draining
the children and burning the mission
buildings.
Sheng asserts that Prince Tuan is
the real author of the massacres.
There is still some confusion as to the
exact date on which the massacre was
perpetrated. The Nails account puts
the date on July 6. One thing is GER
tain, however, and that is that the
white men died at the post of duty
and honor, and it is a matter of con-
graduation in the awful circum-
stances that the white women and
children died at the hands of their
loved ones.
Fighting Desperately at Tientsin.
The allies have had. desperate fight
ing at Tietsin and sustained heavy
losses, amounting to $50 in one day
alone. 1t is doubtful if the Europeans
can hold their own even there, unless
they are speedily reinforced. An Off
cial demand for the surrender of the
town made by the Chinese military
authorities proves that the Chinese
themselves recognize that a state of
war exists and that they will spare no
means to take the foreign stronghold.
Even Shanghai is now seriously threat
ened. The Boxers are concentrating
In large numbers near the city, which
is poorly prepared for defense.
A War of Revenge.
The Peking massacre is bound to
make the war to a great extent one of
revenge, and the constantly increas-
ing armies which the powers are send.
Ing east indicates their appreciation of
the gravity of the situa ton. In fact, 1t
is predicted by many conservative mil.
ltary men familiar with the Chinese
and their recent improvements in the
army system that 100000 Europeans
will be necessary to bring the war to a
successful termination.
Known to the Authorities.
London, July 16.-The Shanghai cor.
respondent of the Daily Mail saws:
"Ican assert positively that the Chinese
| authorities had the dreadful news from
Pekfng a week ago, and that Sheng knew
all the foreigners in Peking were dead when
he asked the American consul to cable
Washington proposal to deliver the for
eigners In safety at T1entsin on condition
that the allies would suspend their opera
tions to the north of Peking."
Tells of Affairs at Pekinr.
The. correspondent adds certain de.
tails of affairs at Peking after June
Is. According to his story, the mem
bers of the legations made daily sor.
ties, sometimes by night, and so sue.
cessfully as to compel the Chinese to
retreat from the immediate vicinity.
These reverses had disheartening ef-
feet upon the Chinese, and there soon
began to be open signs of disaffec-
tion, followed by desertions to Prince
Ching's army, which were endeavor-
ing to cooperate with the besieged.
Ultimately Prince Tuan decided to
make night attack in three powerful
columns. The correspondent saws:
"At six o'clock in the evening of July 6
fire was opened with artillery upon the
British legation, where the foreigners were
concentrated. For two hours the walls
were battered with shells and shot,. and
show huge breaches were made In them.
Then general advance was ordered,
and the Chinese infantry volleying con-
stantly, moved toward the gaps.
Driven Back.
1.-THE fire of the defenders, however, was
so accurate and steady that hordes of Chi
nese soldiers and Boxers broke and fed in
the widest confusion, leaving large num-
bers of dead and wounded around the le-
CATION. They could not be rallied until they
were out of the rifle range Of the foreigners.
Then Prince Tuan, making desperate ap-
peal, induced them to stand and return to
the attack. Artillery fire was then re-
sumed, and at the middle watch a second
attack was attempted.
Ching to the Rescue.
But before the attackers could accom-
plish their object they were met by Prince
Ching and Gen. Wang Wen Shao with their
troops. who were going to the aid Of the
foreigners. A desperate battle ensued be-
tween the various forces of Chinese and
Manchus Unfortunately. many of Prince