The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-07

"A party of six Of us went back 10
Tien Tsin when we finally succeeded in
getting away from the river mouth,
We had seen the flashes of cannon and
bursting of shells and the dull roar at
Tien Tsin each night while we were
detained. The railroad took us IA
miles up stream, but there dumped us
and the party walked the other IA
miles across country.
I'VE entered the foreign city from
the south and as we came in we met
Seymours relief column Just return
ing from its terrible march. The men
were in bad condition for want of prop
er food and water, but they had all
their wounded with them and such
were at once given the best of care.
The story that many of the wounded
were shot by their comrades to pre-
vent them from falling into Chinese
hands is false. I worked until o'clock
that night helping care for the wounded
American marines. The entire squad
had lived in our compound for a week
before leaving for the front.
"The allied troops defending the for
eign city numbered about 1900 and
they were scattered along a firing line
at least five miles long. That thin line
held out against 10000 Chinese for over
two weeks, and had no artillery until
guns were captured from the Chinese.
1t was hard fight.
HOUSE WAS STRUCK.
I found my brother on the day Of
my return and we visited our house
which we had deserted. A shell had
carried away the chimney and there
were bullet holes in the windows. Bert
was barely missed by a Mauser ball
that came through a window while
we were there The university was of
course closed and all our 300 boys, stu
dents had been sent home. The build
ings were little damaged and DR.. Ten
ney is still mounting guard over them.
"On the 10th of July the British or
dered the foreign residents of all kinds
out Of TienTsin and so we packed our
trunks and went with the other refu-
gees on board a lighter bound for Tung
Goo, where we arrived in safety. We
were transferred to a British steamer,
but later were ordered on board much
overcrowded one. refused to transfer
and told the captain all the other
Americans abroad also refused to enter
the other boat. The British admiral
was signalled; he communicated with
Kempf and the Americans were soon
on board the Logan. We were there on
the Logan a week and then went TO
Nagasaki and also to Yokohoma, where
I found my wife in waiting and together
we came home on the Logan after much
delay and uncertainty in setting sail.
BESIEGED BY REPORTERS.
I'VE were besieged by reporters from
San Francisco across the continent and
they were all particularly interested in
the baby. Some said she was born dur
ing the bombardment, while others had
her Ave months old at that time.
1--WE certainly will go back to China
when the trouble Is over. My wife likes
it in the east very much indeed, and
there will be much to do there when
the right people get the reins into their
hands. We cannot plan now, of
course; we can only wait and see what
the outcome will be. believe the sltua-
ton in China is of much more serious
character than at any time heretofore.
Mrs. Clifford was present during the
interview, and was engaged in putting
the pretty child to bed, the child born
on Chinese soil. She was gowned in
rich Chinese costume, which was a
very pretty and comfortable house
gown for evening wear. She agreed to
her husbands statement that she would
like to go back to China again to live.