The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-07-18
BUTCHERY BY BARBAR|ANS
How the Legations Were Wiped
Out at Pekin.
EVERY PERSON SLAIN.
Boxers Turn Their Guns on the Home s
of ENJOYS and Reduce Them
to Cinders.

|
account of the affair which had the APP
pearance of an authentic basis. The fol-
lowing message was filed at Shanghai
last night Sunday at 8 o'clock, and by
the payment of urgent rate came through
Ill less than eight hours time.
Il have to confirm absolutely and fully
! the announcement which | cabed on Fri
day in effect that the legations at Pekin
were destroyed the night of July 81, and
that all the British and Europeans were
| massacred. Further official Chinese mes
| sages, one from the government Of
Shangtung, were received here yesterday
Saturday, confirming the dread tidings.
Attack Began on June 20.
"On June % the Boxers and the i'm
perial troops gradually increased Ill num-
bers and massed themselves around the
British legation, camping in the streets
and in places laid waste by the Boxers.
Daily sOrties were made by small body
of defenders, who met the Chinese in the
streets, infiicting severe punishment
These sorties often took place at night,
so that the great courage and energy ~ot
the little force gradually compelled the
Chinese to retreat from the immediate vi
cinity of the British legation. These re-
verses having a disheartenlng effect.
there began to be open signs of disaffec-
ton and frequent desertions to the troops
of Prince Ching, who was endeayorlng to
cooperate with the besieged.
ultimately Prince Tuan decided to
make an organized night attack. Having
secured plentiful supply Of ammunition
for the heavy guns, conference OF the
plan of attack was agreed upon by three
powerful columns with strong reserves.
Open with Artillery July 6.
"At 6 D. m. on July fire was opened
with artillery upon the British legation,
where the Europeans concentrated. for
two hours The walls of the building
were battered by shot and shell and huge
breaches made in them.
'"Then a general advance was ordered.
The Chinese infantry. volleying constant
ly, moved towards the gaps. The fire
curate and steady that the hordes OF
Chinese soldiers and Boxers broke and
fed in the widest confusion, leaving
large numbers of dead and wounded
around the legation. They were not raj
lied until out of rife range. Then Prince
Tuan, making a desperate appeal, III
duced them to return to the attack.
Artillery fire was resumed, and at the
middle watch d second attack was at
tempted. but before the attackers could
accomplish their object they were met
by Prince Ching and Gen. Wang Weng
Shao with troops going to the aid of
the foreigners.
"a desperate battle ensued between the
various forces of Chinese and Manchus.
Unfortunately many of Prince Ching's
troops deserted to Prince Tuan, and
Prince Ching fell. 1t was supposed at
the time he was killed, but a search for
the body the next morning was unsuc-
cessful, and it is now believed he was
only wounded, carried off, and secreted
by faithful retainers.
Second Chinese Defender Falls.
"Wang-Weng-Shao. although a gray
haired old man of 40, valiantly led the
force, being completely outnumbered, was
routed.
''Throughout the night repeated at
tacks were made on the legation, but
were invariably repulsed with heavy
losses.
Towards the end of the third watch.
about 3 a. M, the allies practically de-
feated the besiegers, who were waver-
ing and gradually withdrawing, when
Gen. Tung- Slang arrived from the
vicinity of Tien Tsin with large force
of Kansu braves.
Legation Building knocked Into
Ruins.
by this time the walls of the legation
had been battered down and most of the
buildings were in ruins from the Chinese
artillery fire. Many allies had fallen at
their posts, and the remaining small
band still alive took refuge in the
wrecked buildings which they endeav-
ored hastily to fOrtify. Upon them the
fire of the Chinese artillery was now di-
rected.
Towards sunrise it was evident that
the ammunition of the allies was running
out, and at o'clock, as the advances of
the Chinese IN force had failed to draw
4 response, it was clear they were COM
pletely exhausted, and a rush was deter
mined upon.
Last Desperate Stand at Sunrise.
Thus standing together as the sun
rose fully the little remaining band of all
the Europeans met death stubbornly
There was a desperate hand-to-hand en-
counter, in which the Chinese lost heavi-
ly, but as one fell the others advanced
and finally overcame them by Overwhelm-
ing odds.
EVERY one of the Europeans remain
ing, men, women and children, with two
exceptions, were put to the sword in the
most atrociOus manner.
1.-Two escaped for only a short time.
and once outside the walls of the city
both were captured and killed.
when the Western nations come to
know and understand the terrible Jug
glery and duplcity which have charac-
terized the methods in which the news
about the tragedy at Pekin is doled out
and even misrepresented, [ venture to
believe they will find no words too
strong in denouncing the tactics of these
so-called friendly Chinese officials.
Story Known to Chinese Since Last
Monday.
81 assert that the story | have told
has been in possession of the Chinese au-
thorities since Monday last, and since
then they have concealed it, partly to
minimize the chances of an outbreak of
vengeance on the part of the powers and
partly to make matters easier for Pekin
from the hurricane which is about to
burst on the country.
1.-THE messages which have been reach
ing official sources here all come from
Gen. Yuan-ShihKa governor of Shan
tung, who has undoubtedly been fully
conversant with events in Pekin. Yuan
ShihKai is pro-foreign to certain ex-
tent, purely, however, because he wishes
to be on the side which will win, and
not in the least from any progressive
sympathies. Accordingly he commune
cate with Sheng, the taotai of Shanghai,
a man of kindred instincts, and the two
agree upon the publication of just SO
much as they think advisable