The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-08-24
HIS SISTER
IN PEK|NG
}. P. Mccoy Here From
China.
LONG A RESIDENT THERE
He Gives His Opinions Of the Boxer
7 oub,,s Rossians are
Cruel.

Tayerweather of Chicago. now spending
has vacation in Honolulu, and he will re-
main here Tor few weeks. Having come
direct from the scene of the boxer upris-
aga, and having tasted Of the horrors of
tLu war in China. MIR. Mccoy speaks with
thorough Knowledge of the startling
events which have taken place there in
the last Two months. lie was born in
China and speaks the language Of the
I'm pre- with "a fueacy w..cd surprises
the Chinese subjects with whom he con-
verses. 1t was this nuenoy of speech
which caused his name TO he sent to Gen
erai Chaifee, the commanaer of the
American forces, as au interpreter Gen.
Glance jumped at me oppoltun.t of APP
pIiAt.Lg Mr.. MCCOY on las slaH and tee
<srapiI,u for HIM IRON l.en-I sin to Cne-
fCo. but the latter never received the
telegram. that It was sent he has good
ietsLn to know, but he lays ITS non-re-
cc.pt TO the cunning of the Chinese tele-
81 aph censors. Not having received the
appointment and having rush orders to
report to the New York office of the com
pany which he represents IN the Orient,
Mr.. Mccoy was compelled to quit the
land of massacres.
Miss Bessie Mccoy, his sister, Is a
missionary in China, where she has la
bored for several years. She was in Pc
king at the time the trouble first broke
out and she was last heard from on May
q. Indirectly word was received of her
OF June 3 and since then her fate has
been held In the balance. 1t is believed
by her brother. however. that she is at
the British Legation with the rest of the
foreigners who were driven out of the
Methodist Mission and compelled to take
RI fuge in the stronghold formed by the
buildings and compounds of the Legation.
The meager accounts which have perco-
lated through the uncertainty which
hangs over all the foreigners in Picking,
have convinced Mr.. Mccoy that his sister
Is yet alive, but under what circumstances
he Is unable to state. 1t was reported to
him that the women were living In dug
outs burrowed into the soil and that their
Dolly rations consisted only of horsefesh
anC rice. Another rumor which has an
uncertain foundation. is that the pro-for-
eign element of the Imperial officials in
Poking, has rendered aid to the beleaguer-
ed missionaries and Legation attaches by
serding them food.
1t was for this reason principally that
Mr. Mccoy was SO anxious to remain in
China until the crisis is over and to ac-
company the American troops to the
trent and be on hand when the gates of
Picking were opened to free the foreigners
OF the city--if any are left. This would
have been Il reasonable excuse to for
ward to his company to relieve him of his
commercial duty while he rendered aid to
Urcle Sans soldiers In the field.
When the bombardment took place at
Tien-Tsln, where the allied forces made
stand. Mr.. Mccoy had a room in one
OF the large mission buildings. Two shells,
one following the other. burst in the room,
wrecking the place, but happily not in
jrring him in the least He says the
shells are filed with an inferior grade of
powder and failed of as great execution
as they would If primed with standard
powder. Mr.. r. e. Dlffenderfer. secre-
tary of the National Silver Committee at
Washington during the campaign of 1896.
was a large mill-owner at Tien-Tsn and
his place was completely demolished. An
gered at his losses. Mr.. Diffenderfer
shouldered q rifle. armed others with
weapons, and went to the front with the
forces in the defense of the city. He
fought like a tiger, says Mr.. Mccoy, and
he believes many Boxers were killed at
hia hands.
According to his statements. the for
eign powers are more to blame for the
practical declaration of war of China than
the Chinese Government. Mr. Mccoy
states that when the English Admiral de-
dared that the Taku forts should be bonn
barded by the allied fleets, Admiral
Kempff decided he would not join In tho
firing. None of the American vessels
tt ok part in the fight Had this bonn
bardment of Imperial forces not been eff
etted. the foreigners of Picking would
have been given safe conduct to the
coast, says Mr.. Mccoy emphatlcally.
1T Is my opinion that the allied fleets
With the exception of the Americans,
made a grave mistake when they under
tc ok to silence the fortresses of the Chi
nnpt Dta tn hat
tardment there was nothing absolutely
certain that the Imperial Government
was siding with or aiding the Boxers in
their movements. But the moment the
vessels opened nre on the forts, the for
eigncrs at Picking were doomed. Tho Inn
perlal government was In a measure fore
ed to assert itself. The fleets did not fire
been entirely different. ] believe the
me- mbers of The Legations and all the mis-
sic naries practically had their fates seal
ed by the first shot sent by the allied
fleet into that Chinese fort at Taku.
II fully believe that had this lombard
mont not taken place. the allied forces
then on Chinese soil under the command
OF Admiral Seymour could havo made
their way to Picking and brought out the
foreigners. The repulse of the column
was due to the action of the fleet at Ia
kc.
I'm Tien-Tsin the Russian troops have
Shown themselves alrost as cruel toward
the Chinese as the Boxers have proven
fer themselves towards TIE Christians.
There is no pity In the breast OF the Rus
sian soldier. He delights In bayonetlng
Ills enemies. and the present camraign
shows what bloodthlrsty men they are.
In fact. they are barbarlans clothed In
modern uniforms indicating discipline.
Men. women and children were put TO
the sword and bayoret wherever found.
Nc appeals for mercy were needed. No
Chinese In 1Ien-Tsin dares go upon the
streets near the camp OF the troops OF
ih.. Czar IL Ina a na lnainni deaIh Ia him