Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-07-12
EVENTS IN CHINA.
Courtyard Of Britiih Embassy in
pekin Converted into Shambles.
EMPEROR AND DOW AGER POISONED.
Preparing the Way for The Greatest Crime
Of the Century-The United States De-
cides to Augment Its Forces
In China Considerably.

London, July 6.--The story that all
foreigners in Pekin were murdered on
June 30 or July | appears to be cir
culating simultaneously at Chez Foo,
Shanghai and Tien Tsn. Yet as it
is not confirmed by official dispatches
and is not traceable to the southern
viceroys, who are still in certain COM
munication with Pekin, there Is some
basis for the hope that it is untrue.
Cautious observers at Shanghai
recognize that, even though these re-
ports are rejected, events in Pekin
must be golloping to tragic end.
Correspondents of the Express at
Shanghai gather details from Chinese
sources, which, pieced together, relate
that when the foreigners ammuni-
ton was exhausted the boxers and
imperial troops rushed the British le-
cation and poured into the courtyard
with fanatical fury. The foreign
troops were so hopelessly outnum-
bered that their fate was certain.
The moment the mob broke, the
courtyard was converted into a sham
bles. Others of the invaders spread
into the interior of the building.
One correspondent adds: at is only
left to hope that in the final rush of
the murderous horde and the men of
the legations had time to slay with
their own hands their womenkind and
children. The Chinese are whispering
the terrible story under their breath.
Their attitude towards foreigners in
the streets has undergone strange
change. The demeanor of the better
class of Chinese is one of pity rather
than of triumph. Even the rabble in
the native quarters are silent. Some
thing of this eliminating tragedy in
the CHASTITY history of recent events
in Pekin seems to pervade the very
atmosphere here and to compel be-
lief against all our hopes. The con-
suls fear that the report is too true
and the Chinese officials do not at
tempt to seek reasons for denial"
Two Manchus who have arrived at
Shanghai certify to the truth of the
statement that Prince Tuan visited
the palace and offered the emperor
and dowager empress the alternative
of poison or the sword. The emperor,
they say, took poison and died within
an hour. The dowager empress also
chose poison, but craftily swallowed
only portion of what was offered
her and survived. On the same day
the Chinese customs bureau was de-
stroyed Sir Robert Hart, the inspect
or of customs, and his staff escap-
ing to the legations.
There are whisperings of startling
rumors in the native quarters, and it
must not be forgotten that the tele-
graph lines on which alone the news
can come are solely in the hands of
the Chinese. The native rumors are
likely to have their source in solid
basis, and the native officials are be-
lieved to be preparing the way for
the reception of news of the greatest
crime of the century. Tatoi Yu adj
mitted to the correspondent that the
case of Europeans in Pekin is utterly /
hopeless, in his opinion. He believes
that if they have not yet been massa-
cred ii is only matter of course be-
fore they will be.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph wires under date of
July 4: Yuan-shikai, governor of
Shang Tung, telegraphs the French
consul here that Prince Tuan is pre-
pairing an edct ordering the extermi-
nation of all foreigners. This is prob
ably intended to prepare the public
for the worst news. Chinese reports
which are generally believed here, de-
clare all foreigners in Pekin have
been massacred.
W.T. :, crease american Force.