The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-10-30

Standard secHrea nj Tfen-fsfp.
y The oriy Imperial Chinese standard
that was captured from the Celestial
forces during the lighting that prece1-
ed the relief of the beleagnered lega-
TONERS mt Picking was taken by Licu-
tenaut A. Eugene Harding of the
United States marines Ina q hand to
hand fight with the Boxers at Tiep~
fslh. says the ST. Louis Globe Demo
crit. This yellow standard, the more
priced because no other soldier or sail
or In the allied forces possesses one. ~
now owned by Major Waller OF the
presented 1t immediately after the
fight.
No more daring feat Of arms was
performed during the month OF fight
Ing around Tien-tsln and from there TO
Picking than the capture Of this ensign
from the fighting men OF the Son Of
Heaven. The cable dispatches bore
mention Of 1t at the time. and Lieutep-
ant Harding Wa mentioned IN orders
spd Recommended for promotion by
Major Waller for this and other gal
liant conduct. Letters that haze reach
I'd Quincy, Ills. Harding's old home.
tell more in detail how be performed
the deed that filled the soldiers Of ey-
cry other nation with envy and swell
ed the breasts Of bis c~0mpatriots with
pride In bis achievement.
1t was during the fierce lighting
around Tiep-tstB, when the allied
forces were battling for their very
lives against the bioodtbirsty bordes
OF Boxers and when the outcome was
uncertain. Several times 1t seemed
that human bravery and Gesbly epdDr-
apce would be unable TO cope With
success with the swarning yellow
fighters who cried for the blood Of the
"f0reign devils" II WAS q time when
desperate courage was called for from
every maD In the white army. Most
conspicuous among the several thou
sand who showed themselves heroes
then stands this young American lien,
tenant OF marines, From behind u
paraDet that banked the Americans q
force Of Chinese were pouring M eD
6ladipg fire that raked the men IN kha,
NJ and blue severely, 10 stand the w.
nv Of the fire seemed Impossible, to re-
treat more Impossible, but To capture
the Darapet WA to the American com
mapdcr uptbipkabIe, At such d crisis
Lieutenant Harding asked for permts.
sion to Lead q force Of volunteers 10
stop the Chinese fire.
Harding found no trouble In securing
volunteers for hts desperate enterprise.
In The face OF o murderous fire the ~
tie band started, Those who were not
shot down reached the p9rApet sealed
II, CHASED the Chinese soldiers out and
the American nag and n hearty |
American cheer 10 Rpprise their com
rades Of their SUCCESS, When Harding
the top 0f the Chinese d.
lenses, At the head Of bis men, be
found The Chinese standard bearer pre-
70 retreat With the e0lors, The
American officer WAS Immediately pos
Of mn 0yerwGeptDg desire for
the beatben's dag and reached for H.
But the Celestial kpeW that his head
would be the price ~ losing H. and de-
cided DO might ~ well lose II lighting
like u NAP M running IKE n coward
w they fought there IN . blood stained
ditch, with their white and yellow
comrades lighting and dying around
them the American officer and the
beRtten each GgbttRg for what be
held dearest; oRe fought for honor, the
other for bis head IN the END The
lieutenant of marines secured tbs blt
II torn and blood stained yellow SIX,
md H. the recommendation NJ biz WI,
1eri0F officers can effect II hG VIII IN
made y cpptaip 70 reward him for his
sHssle With The ChtpRmaD That hot MI,
srpoop In tho trenches ut Tten-tsIh
the taking ~ the Chinese
,tandard, Harding WAS recommended
bravery In action In carrying
wounded men out NJ tho bullet swept
NJ the imminent peril 0f hls own
lfe, Thts Young dficer who has won
q much honor for himself bin service
md bis nopptry, ~ but ~ years Oh
ma has been y soldier but two years
r~ ~-rH 400