Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-07

was SSuJ IuTu MluiolSI Wu 10 the QS-
partment here. The dispatch is dated
July II, and is signed Conger. Fowler
has no doubt as to its genuineness.
Massacre In Province of Shan.Si.
Paris, Aug. 81 The French consul
general at Shanghai in dispatch
dated Thursday, states that many mis-
sionaries of different nationalities
have been massacred in the province
of Shan-Si.
Russians Captured Guns.
st. Petersburg, Aug. General
Groekoff telegraphs from Khabrovsk
that fourteen Hotchkiss and ten other
guns were captured at Hung Hun by
the Russians, who, in storming the
fortress on July 80, drove four thous-
and Chinese before them.
Russians Take a Town.
ST. Petersburg, Aug. General
Grodekoff has sent the following dis
patch to the war Office: "Khabarovsk,
Aug. 1.-Two columns from Blagoves-
tshensk, crossed over the Amur river
at o'clock and attacked the Chinese
troops and took the town of Sakhalin.' y
The Transseisk detachment under
Colonel Pfotenhauser bombarded All
gun with IL mortars and the Chinese
replied. An officer and five men were
killed and Is were wounded. Four
armored steamers are patroling the
Amur river"
A telegram from Engineer Ofenberg
dated KWang-Kumsig GaSimur, in the
Trans-Baikal province, Aug 1, says:
In retreat to the frontier body of
agents, workmen and guards were
surprised and bombarded by the Chin
csc in Shingan passes. Three guards
and one workman were killed. TWEEN
ty workmen fled to the mountains,
none of whom returned"
Communication Not Allowed.
Washington, Aug. 4.-The State de-
partment has issued the following:
Minister WI this morning handed
to the acting Secretary of State a
copy of a telegram from the Taota of
Shanghai dated Aug. 2. 1t confirms
the message of the governor of Shan
tung to Consul purporting to commun-
icate to the same telegram of July 30
from the tsung-li-yamen, but contains
passage from the governors message
saying that as fighting was going on
Tien Tsin it is inexpedient to send
cipher kilograms to a foreign minis
ter in Picking. In this particular the
present telegram agreed with Consul
Goodnow's report received yesterday
that Lii Hung Chang had told the
French consul at Shanghai on the
third that no messages would be de-
liyered to the ministers because the
foreigners were advancing on Peking.
Asks Free Wire for Ministers.
St. Petersburg, Aug. 4.-The Chi
nese minister, Yang Yu, on behalf OF
ne other Chinese ministers at Euro.
pean capitals, has cabled the COVER.
nor of Shantung a demand that the
members of the legations be permit
| ted free telegraphic communication
with their governments and be sent
| to Tien Tsin under a Chinese escort
Advices received by the Russian
| general staff from Tien Tsin estimate
that there are $4,000, trained Chinese
troops in Picking, in addition to 6
| large force of Boxers whose strength
| is not yet broken.
In the opinion of the general stat
to march on Picking before the end Of
| the rainy season would be risky, the
climate being changeable.
Chinese Mounting Guns.
st. Petersburg, Aug. "A dispatch
from Shanghai dated Aug. 2, received
today, says that after Ii Hung Chang
left Canton the imperial troops join
ed the Boxers. The provincial troops
along the Yang Use river remain quiet
owing to the promise of the Viceroy
of Nankin to foreign consuls. The
Boxers are numbering the missionaries
in South China, but are not disturb
ing the treaty ports. Troops are be-
ing secretly brought to the treaty
| ports. The batteries along the Yang
Use river are being repaired and new
ones are being erected at Wu-Sung.
Despite the declaration of the Viceroy
tina, work would be stopped, five guns
have been mounted. The dispatch ac-
cuses the British of secret under.
standing with the Viceroy in account
ing for the Indifference of the British
/ fleet to the strengthening of the Chi.
nese Notifications at Wu-Sung.
Shanghai, Aug. According to
trustworthy reports received today
the Chinese are fortifying the Yang
Use river. At a fort near Nankin
two six-inch quick fire guns were dis.
abled at the first trial. The Chinese
officials affirm that guns were mount.
ed as precaution against Boxers ad.
yancing southwark.
Hung Hsu Ching cheng.
London, Aug. 4.-The imperial ruler
OF China has taken an insolent but i'm
pressiye way of displaying contempt
for the powers by acting upon the adj
wee OF the new general, Ii Ping Heng
and executing in public Hsu Ching
Cneng, the former Chinese minister to
Russia, and one other statesman, FOR
suggesting pacific measures toward
the powers.
TO THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
Three BIakesburg and One EIdon Mar
| Make Arrangements for Trip.
William Fritz, of Blakesburg, was