The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-20

Policy of the Governments.
Washington, July 1S.-The hopeful
feeling of yesterday as to the Chinese
situation was strengthened to-day by
the addition of a confirmatory dis
patch from Consul Fowler. at Che Foo,
touching the safety of the legations.
at Pekin on July 9Th.
OF course, it is understood that Mr..
Fowler's information came from the
same fountain head as did Minister
Wu's, of yesterday, namely, the IA
nous Yuan Shih Kai, the military
governor of Shan Tung province. Be-
cause of the very intimate relations
that have existed up to a very recent
date between this official and the i'm
perial court at Pekin, he having been
| commander of the imperial bodyguard,
| there is a disposition here to attach
more credence to his dispatches than
would be accorded to those of other
| Chinese officials. This is based on the
presumption that he has no induce
ment to falsify the facts.
| Consul General Goodnow, at Shang-
| hal, has cabled for a warship. Hus
suggestion was merely precautionary
| and after considering it the navy de-
| partment has withheld action in view
| of the fact that the Castine is at that
| port and foreign ships are on the way.
| There was no cabinet meeting this
morning, as the advices which reached
! the government over night did nos
| oh ar1cr n
| to demand a meeting at this time.
TALK OF MIR. CONGER'S SUCCESS
| SOR.
| One of the first callers at the state
| department to-day was w. ". Rock
| hill, director of the bureau Of Amerl-
! car republics. whose name has been
| mentioned with those of e&-Minister
| John Barret and Colonel DENLY as
among the possible successors Of Min
lister Conger as the United States min
| lister in China III case the latter is
| dead.
After his interview with the secre-
tary of state, which lasted an hour.
Mr.. Rockhill said he had not had the
| subject of Chinese mission OF any
! sort suggested to him and that he had
no expectation of returning to the
| Orient.
| FEW OFFICIALS HAVE ANY HOPE
Mr. Rockhill is one of the few Off
cials who still retains ray of hope
that some of the members of the lega-
| ton in Pekin may have escaped. His
| hope for some of the fugitiveS is based
on his knowledge of the relations eX-
listing for the past twenty years be-
tween Sir Robert Hart, the Brit
ish inspector Of the customs and
the customs officers. Some of these
1 off
the friendship of Sir Robert, and it is
within the limits of possibility that
they may have been able to secrete at
| least some of the women of the for
eign party where they can weather the
storm till relief reaches Pekin.
AUTHENTIC NEWS FROM PEKIN
EXPECTED SOON.
There was no change to-day in the
presidents intention to return to Can
ton tomorrow night. He will be in
constant communication with the
members of the cabinet from there by
telephone and telegraph and unless
something unforeseen occurs ne does
not consider it necessary to remain
in Washington.
Having decided that the situation
does not warrant the calling Of an eX-
ira session at this time and having
agreed upon the number OF troops and
marines which will be sent to reinforce
the international forces in China the
position of the administration is de-
Scribed by a prominent official as one
of waiting. Authentic and reliable
news of the situation in Pekin is ex-
pected soon. Until it arrives nothing
remains to be done but to mobiliZe
and push forward the troops and ma
rines selected for the China expedition
: MR. WU AT STATE DEPARTMENT
The Chinese minister called on Sec
retary Hay this morning and had 9
ten minutes talk with him. Mr.. WI
said he had received no additional in.
formation, but thought the situation
looked much brighter as q result o:
the dispatches received yesterday
The secretary made known to Mr.. w,
the dispatch from Consul Fowler, a.
Che Foo, quoting the governor of ShaI
. Tung as stating that the Legations a
Pekin were safe on the 9Th instant
and this was accepted by him as con
firmatory of his dispatch Of yesterday
Minister Wu said there was not tn
slightest doubt as to the date bein,
the 9Th, although London cables sug
gested that the eth referred to tn
Chinese calendar and meant the 5th b,
the English calendar. On the con
trary, the dispatch received by hin
mentioned the 18th as the date, whicl
| by the Chinese calendar correspond
with the 9Th of our calendar.
Ii HUNG CHANG LEAVES CANTOe
Hong Kong. July Isl Hung Chan
disregarding all attempts OF Euro
I | peanS and Chinese to pursuade him Z
/ remain left Canton this morning 70
: Pekin. Prior to his departure Chimes
merchants and gentry OF Canto
{ strongly appealed to the viceroy No
i to leave and presented a petition set
d ting forth that Canton, so long tn
prey to the depredations Of robber
and pirates, had become peaceful dun
: ing Ii Hung Chang's viceroyalty; tha
Il disturbances had been repressed wit