The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-30

in getting them in and to the front. Mean
while the American and British forces are
quiescent in camp, and do not seem in
clned to press matters now that the le
cations are safe. The American forces
are camped in the extreme eastern por-
tion of the city, on q fiat lying along
the south bank of the river and are, with
the exception of some Russian troops, the
only force living under tents. The other
forces are quartered in buildings in the
foreign concession. Col. Mohl, of the Fiji
teenth Infantry is the ranking Ameri-
can officer in the absence of General Chat
fee, and his headquarters are in the home
of wealthy Chnaman who was also an
undertaken. The low, one-story structure,
full of quaint courts and passages, was
full of coffins when the Americans took
possession and in one courtyard were a
number of bodies of wealthy Cinnamon en-
closed in handsome lacquered caskets.
Here also is the headquarters of the COM
missary and quartermaster's officers. On
two sides of the building lie the camp of
the American army, while the river, yell
low ard sluggish, winds along the north
of it. 1t is not an ideal camping ground.
The treeless plain is inches deep in dust;
there is no vestige of shade, and all the
water must be carried some distance to
the camp The sun beats down pitilessly,
even so late in the season as this, and the
mosquitoes are a plague.
NO LOOTING BY AMERICANS
The Marine Corps has Jared better.
Like the Europeans and English troops
the sea soldiers are CHARTERED in airy,
comfortable buildings in the English con-
cessions. The men occupy several large
structures with big courts or compounds,
while the officers are chartered in a Sc
ries of private residences in Victoria
Terrace. The Americans are kept pret-
ty close to camp, and there is very little
attempt at fraternzing with the other
armies. IN fact. it is almost prevented
entirely by the inability OF the various
forces to communicates Practically none
of the foreigners know any English and
the battalion CT Welch Fusiliers are about
the only comrades the Bluecoats' can find.
On the whole. the nations keep pretty well
to themselves. noticeably so in the case
of the Russians. who are seldom seen in
company with any other nationality.
The Americans, without exception are
behaving splendidly, and their officers
have been much comDlimented on the
discipline and police of the force. No
grave charges have been brought against
them, ard in the loot they do not seem
to have been in the same class with the
others, especially the Russians. Many
grave stories are told of the cruelty and
ruthlessness of the Cossacks during the
fighting, but it is naturally impossible to
substantiate them at this late day. An
English resident found some Cossacks, or
ether Russians, lootng his office. He
snatched the shoulder ornament from one
of them, reported to the Russian flagship,
and a few days later the unfortunate Of
fender was swung from the yardarm.
Here n Tien Tsin an American found
party of Russian soldiers looting his
house. He followed them up, and meeting
the Russian commander stated his griev-
ance. The men were lined up aloDg the
street and searched and considerable sill
yer brought to light. Without the cum
bersome formality of court martial, six
of the offenders were placed against
wall end shot to death.
However, whoever did the looting did
it thoroughly, for of the many beautiful
residences in the foreign concession. few
escaped, while the native city was strip
ped.
ONLY BLACKENED WALLS LEFT.
The big shells from the forts swept down
the Victoria Road, flew over the river and
lett devastation in their path. Grim, des-
olate, blackened walls are all that is left
of this once beautiful section. They stand
in ruined gardens and blasted trees keep
guard over shapeless piles of debris.
1t is impossible to convey an idea of the
ruins N the native city. The thatched
roofs burned fiercely and the mud walls
shivered at the impact of the shells. Pro-
badly no accurate estimate of the loss OF
life in this densely populated section will
be made. A curious fact is that a native
child or woman is seldom seen even yet.
The Chinese say they were killed, but the
resident foreigners believe they are either
hidden in the native city or have been sent
to the country.
OF cody labor there is no scarcity. The
word has gone forth that the foreigners
will employ them and the supply far ex-
ceeds the demand. The wages range
from Is cents (Mexican) to 33 1-3 cents
(Mexican) per day, the latter price being
paid by the Americans, who also give each
cody two pounds of rice day All ordi-
and beyond what the natives derive from
their labor for the forces of occupation,
they have no means of subsistence.
Naturally food of all kinds is scarce.
A little produce is finding it's way into the
city, some sheep have arrived and poul-
try can be occasionally had, but the fare
at best is hard, and everything is at war
time prices The troops, however, are
faring we'll on camp rations of which the
Americans have an abundance. A splen-
didly stocked commissary depot is being
established here under command of Mai.
Hugh Gallagher, chief commissary Off
Ger and the river is lined with lighters
bringing provisions up from Taku. 1t is
understood here that the American base
is to be established for the winter at
Tong Ku, which has fairly deep water.
BAD SANITARY CONDITIONS.
Maj. Gallagher has also established q
sales store. where luxuries of all kinds
are purchasable, including canned fruits,
mineral waters canned meats and vegeta
bles end tobacco. The store is literally
patronized by officers and men. There is
absolutely no suffering among the troops
except from the heat. and this is now