The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-10-14
SALE OF LOOT.

! Correspondence OF Associated Press }
TEN T5lN. September I.-Lured by
| the prospect Of rich bargains in loot,
large numbers Of buyers are reaching
Pekin and Tien Tsin from Shanghai
and other cities in the south.
Most Of them are acting under cable
instructions from dealers in America
and Europe. the most exaggerated re-
ports having been spread Of the value
Of the plunder taken in the sacking OF
these two North China cities. II Is OF
course impossible to even approximate
the total value OF the loot secured by
the troops. For the greater part Of ii
there Is no standard Of value. its chief
worth lying in the fact that Il is loot
and as a souvenir Of the Chinese trOu-
bic It il given fictitious price.
II is safe to predict. however, that
Europe and America will be flooded
with curios and relics which have new
er seen either Pekin or Tien Tsin be-
cause. so far. the Spectators have met
with keen disappointment. There is
today any quantity of stuff for sale but
practically all Of 1t could be bought in
any curio or Oriental shop at home
In every by-street and In the en-
virons Of the camps. soldiers Of all the
powers gather In little groups barter
ing the spolls OF war. II Is all done
very quietly and is apparently winked
at by those In authority. These little
extemporiZed bazaars are extremely
picturesque. Japanese, Americans,
Frenchmen. Russians. soldiers of every
flag gather in eager groups while civil
ian traders and curio seekers haggle
With them over the prices in true ORR
entail fashion.
BY far the greater portion Of the
stuff is practically worthless except, as
has been said. for its value as relics.
There are and have been few real bar
gains ard these have been in furs. To
the American eye they have proven the
most attractive and some exceedingly
handsome fur robes have been secured
at low prices. Persian lamb and mink.
as the dressed hide of unborn lamb is
locally termed. are probably the most
valuable of the furs Of this region,
while some sable and a little ermine has
found its way into the hands of those
earliest on the scene. AS a rule, the
robes sold openly are lambs wool. very
beautifully dressed cat skins, rabbit
and Mongolian goat hides. A piece in
really first class condition is rare. Most
of the robes have been worn or have
suffered in the sieges by exposure to
water and fire.
There is a curious absence Of bronzes
or porcelain. One has a hard hunt to |
lind a hit OF either and then II is US
ually Of an inferior grade. The ex-
planation is found in the fact that the |
soldier is not usually a con-
In art. and many dlngy vases |
Of rare value and bits of priceless |
bronze probably lie crushed and shat |
tered under the shell-torn walls of the |
native city here and Of Pekin. It was |
the gaudy that caught the eye Of the |
Dlunderer. particularly Sikhs and Cos
sacks, and tinsel ornaments of quartz |
and colored rocks set in gilded silver or
white metals, pins and rings adorned /
With cheap enamel and lacquer are Of |
fered for sale in great quantities.
BY far the richest loot procured was
silver bullion in sice. rs the helmet
shaped ingots are termed. These are
worth about 20 taels each, in bullion,
)r from $4) IN $50 in gold Each bears
he imperial stamp on the under face
md is the standard value for tn Chin
sse currency. 1t sells in the loot mar
let at quite a discount. One buyer
rom Shanghai told the Associated Press
that he secured about
$50. 600 at a price of $4,000. A very
leavy expense. however. is involved in
the sice and considerable
'isk is taken in getting il TO market.
OF arms there is surfeit. An inn
nerse number of Maulicher and Maus-
II rifles and carbines fell into the hands
4 the allies and they are drug in the
,lun1er bazaars. Most of them have
lever been fired and they bring a small
rice. Five dollars Mexican or $3.50 in
,o.d purchases a gun in excellent con-
ition Singots or the two-men Chinese
uns, huge unwieldly affairs carrying al
most a half-pound ball. are plentiful
nd for the weapon collector this region
5 mine of richness.
Silks and embrOideries in small guam
tiles are purchasable but they bring
cod value. as all easterners are natu-
al judges of textiles.
At Pekin conditions are practically
he same. There. however, were found
larger number of furs and silks
liver bracelets. pins. some jade carv-
ngs. native clothing of fine quality go
o make up the loot of the two cities u
ut the grand total. excluding the sill
er bullion, is very small. (
Out in the camps the tents of both I
fficers and men are we'll supplied with
ative furniture. some Of it very hand
ONE. Its bulk and transportation to
EUROPE or America, however, renders 1t
to dealers. Teak. cedar aud ,
hony chairs. tables, chests and lockers
re as common as splint bottom chairs
t home and the soldiers often eat army I
ations from inlaid tops of mandarin
lbles.
of Associated Press.)
PEKIN. Sept. 1.-The formal and, to
hose who desired to indulge their pro- c
ensities TO loot. very unsatisfactory
iarch through the sacred city Is over,