Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-31
|@I1!!l23!s Ter

iSh colorS appears there was Il great
continuous cheer on both sides.
Generals, soldiers and correspondents
tScrambled up the banks through the
filth. elbowing the first. Men and wo-
men surrounded the rescuers and shook
the hands Of the Sikhs, pattinS them
on the back Everybody was hustled
excitcdly along into the legation
| grounds. where the colorS were plant
ed The soldiers surrounded the wall
which had been the salvation of the
besieged.
The ministers ana officers demanded
the latest news on both sides. An hour
lafterward. General Chaffee, riding at the
head of the 18th L. 5. Infantry, marched
TO the Tartar wall. I'm American marine
who was On top OF the wall, shouted:
You are just in time. We need you in
our business"
Where can we &c; in?" said Gen.
Chafree.
Through the canal The British cams
in there two hours ago. was the re-
Spouse.
Although the Americans entered behind
the last of the British. they assembled at
the bell tower. singing the DoXology.
| Rockets are blazing. Soldiers and civil
lians of all nItionalities are fraternizing.
The women are applaulins the sound Of
the cannon that are smashing the yellow
roofs of the forbidden city.
The tired Silkhs are planting their tents
on the lawns: ana the American ana Rus
sian contngents are lighting campdres
along the stretch Of turf extending be-
yond he Tartar wall.
Through the ruins Of the foreign settle
meut an eager, cosmopolitan crowd is
| observation-disclosures. Cossacks. legation la
dies. diplomats. Americans from the
Philippines and French discipliuarians
from Saigon, who Kent dscreetly to the
rear while the fighting was in progress
but came conspicuously to the front when
the lootiug began.
Only the japanese who have earned the
first place are absent Resident foreign
ers welcome the luxury Of walking about
ana immunity from bullets. The new
| corners are anxious to inspect the evi-
dences Of a historic defence. These bar
ricades are. after ALL the most wonderful
sight in Prkin. The barricldc hedging
| the British legation are a marvel Of tne
stone and brick walls and earth works.
| Sand bags shield every foot of space. The
! top of the walls have inches for the rifle
| men and the buildings at their porticos
and windows have armor boxes, bags
stuffed with dirt ana pillows too. Back
! Of the United States legation IS a work
| named "rort Myers" which the marines
| held, completely screening both sides Of
| the walls, with steps leading to it. There
is loophole in the barricade. across the
| wall which face" a similar Chinese work
| a few yards away. Another wall bars the
legation street in front of the German le-
CATION. and confronting the enemy's bar
| ricadcs within those limits are Yet more
walls, enabling the foreigners to con-
tract the area or defence if pressed.
on entering the grounds Of the Brit
| ish legation the American troops star
ed in amaZement and inquired if there
was lawn party in progress. They
| had expected to find the relieved in 4
| worse condition than themselves,
| whereas the contrast between the ap-
pearance of the rscued and the res
ours was surprisingly in favor of the
| former. The British minister, Sir
| Claude Mcdonald, was shaven and
| dressed in immaculate tennis hanneIs.
| Mr.. COnger, the United States minis
ter, was equally presentable. The as
semblage Of ladies was fresh ana
bright in summer clothing. Only q few
civilians We're carrying arms
On the other hand, the rescuers We're
haggard and rough bearded They
dragged themselves along as if ready
to drop, their khaki uniforms dripping
with perSpiratiOn and black with mud
But Il second performance showed that
the rescued We're pathetically pale and
thin. They looked like a company Of
invalids. EVry part of the enclosure
testified TO their tragic experiences
| Tire was a plot Of new graves headed
with wooden crosses, including the
graves of five children. The second
secretarys house was the hospital ana
1t was filled with wounded. French
nuns ministered there al one time. All
but four men of the japanese contiin-
gent had been in the hospital wound
ed. There We're several caves rooted
with timbers. heaped over with earth
which served as bomb proof, but were
seldom occupied. The bulletin board
was covered with significant notices
For instance:
"As there is likely to be a secret
dropping fire, today, women and chill
|
grounds.
owing to the small supply of veg
etables and eggs. the market will be
! open from to 10 hereafter. All horse
meat is inspected by a physician"
Mr.. Conger had the first secretary
house. Seventy American missionaries
occupied the chapel and the French
contingent had the pavilion on the
lawn.
The bravery of the women was note
worthy. They became so accustomed
to fire that it was difficult to restrain
them from walking about the grounds
at all times. When a proposal was
made to petition the Tsung Ii Yamen
for vegetables. some said they would
rather starve than take help from that
quarter. The Hamcn's food supply was