New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21

Christians bolted, and when the refugees came
in we immediately turned them to coolie
work on the defenceS. Since then they have
worked simply -spiendtfy. building barricades
under the heaviest-Grc digging. sandba gging,
carting and doing everything without murnur.
though many Of Them have been shot down
While at work on tsrricades: five Of them shot
at one place one day land living most of the
time on staryatiQp- rations. When they first
came in a great difficulty was where they were
to be put. -
On the side OF the Imperial Canal Just opposite
our Legation. is q large flu palace. with ex-
tensive grounds, belonging 10 a royal prince of
the nare of Su, sleek, disa greeable, anti-for
elGn sort of n nincompoop. When the ultimatum
came in we went over to call this gentleman
and told him that he had very nice grounds
that we would very much like to quarter the
refugees in thcrl, and that If he did not like it
he must lump it," whereupon Prince Su evacu-
ated and left us in possession. Since then the
'fu has been one of the most important points
in the defence Of the legations. and the place
where the fighting has been hottest
Monday, August 13
Things look rather puzzIIng to-day; not quite
so cheerful. am afraid. Last night they gave
us a very lively time attacking heavily sew
eraI times This morning the snipers are very
busy. ard they are pounding away at the Ger
man Legation with old fashioned cannon. The
Yamen Ministers. who were coming round to see
us, have just written in 20 say that they are
really so very busy and our men were firing on
their soldiers much last night that they are
afraid they cannot come around.
YAAIEN FAILED TO CALL.
Those in authority seem to take this as a very
bad sign. c. has just been in. and told me
that he thought it meant that they intended to
try to make an end Of us this afternoon. c.
is not often pe"sinistic, and it is rather de-
pressing to hear him talk like that take
much brighter view of it. think it means that
our troops are very near, that the Yamen see
that it is hopeless to try to save the CITY, and
that even if they do try to get rid of us now
we Will be able TO hold out till relief comes.
According to the programme of the japanese
General, he was TO be here to-day or Tomorrow
I must say it would be a relief to hear our guns
pounding the gates this afternoon. Let us hope
and trust that the generals DO not delay hest
tate moment for negotiations anything of
that sort: an hour may make all the difference
to US poor begEars in here. Things are bit too
critical Just to be comfortable, and as I
hohr that numbers of Chinese troops are being
seen to enter the city our prospects do not look
too bright. However, we have kept them off
before, and there is no reason why we should
not do again. Our troops positively must be
very now, and it seems out of the question
that they should have any reverse. We have
stood il for nearly two months now; il we can
stand il for another two days at the very most
we will be safe.
/ have been trying TO keep this letter more or
less connected, and have forgotten TO tell you
that since I began 70 write ii, week ago, my
leg has been mending splendidly, and am now
able to walk about quite we'll with only a small
stick though still, OF course, quite lame. 1t
should be quite all right in a week now. think.
and I will not be at all lame afterward.
have not yet told you about the Pei-Tang
Northern CathedraD. In the north Of the I'M
ncria! city there is a large Roman Catholic
cathedral, in which "a lot OF converts conGre-
gated when the troubles began. When things
GOT worse q guard of forty marines (thirty
French and ten Austrians) were sent to them
with one officer. Then the siege began. and from
that day to this we have not been able to COM
1nur!cate with them in any way They have
boen heavily alta cked just as we have, as we
have heard the guns going continually. and as
thew had not a large supply of food 1 believe
and with such n small guard. they must be in a
very bad way. and must have held like men,
ARRIVAL or THE TROOPS
Tuesday August IA evening
Thank God! We are all right. The gates are
battered down, the troops are in first in to our
legation Chank goodnessD the sikhs. PunjabIs
and Bengal Lancers. and I'm too thoroughly
tired to write anything about 1t. We have had
y time during the last twenty four hours. and
7 will tell you all about it tomorrow. Oh. the
blessed restfulness of a peaceful. quiet evening!
Good night"
Saturday. August Is, 1900
We'll here we are, safe and sound again. after
all and my letter still unfinished. ] cannot try
~ give you any sort OF description OF all that
has been going on during the last three four
as hut Ihe bald facts are something like this:
an the night CT Monday. August Is. the Chi
oasa simply went for us all they knew how
THEY began fusiIlading at about o'clock, and
tent Il up all through the night. There must
nave been thousands Of men round u.s. and the