The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-21

from tho street through which our only
practicable road lay. but flames were
lcaplng from several large buildings near
hy ana cinders were flying In every direc-
ton. Besides. "a little way ahead Of us the
way was eucumbercd by burning timbers
and a small wooden culvert was beginning
10 blaze Our only hope was 10 get safely
through this narrow passage as soon as
possible.
Race Through Fire.
The burning timbors were removed and
the culvert found 90 he yet safe The
horses attached to the tarantass on which
I was sitting were stcadicr than tho
others. though driven by a hoy. II was
resolved. therefore. that We should leod
tho way our team dashed past the
others and under the stimulus Of much
exhortaton and free use Of the whip We
made the charge through the narrow pas
sage. the others following in close success
sion Tho heated air was sitting IN"
cindera rained like hail. but this danger
was safely passed and we breathed freely
Tor "A little while. only 90 learn that an
other similar gauntlet was before US On
tho other side Of the stream. But then,
the burning street though longer was
broader. and the burning houses neaTest
the road were blazing in the rear. with
only occasional tongues OF flames darling
out from the eide next 10 the road THIS
danger passed, we had no further trouble.
The banks OF the Zeya river were reacheh
late In the afternoon and We fonho
small steamer engaged In transferring sol
diers from one side TO the other. which
,,vc ns massage to the city. The anxiety
10 get news from ua was only equshei
bv ours To learn what was happening
there. We we're the first 20 come from
down tho river In two days ana therefore
tho first who could tell what the sfnoh"
az the burning villages meant and give
assurance OF tho safety OF the Russian
settlements beyond.
BlaRovestchensk Is a city OF somethlns
over DOO inhabitants spread out win
broad streets over an extensive deita t.i-
race. between the Zeya and the Amoor
rivers. The street through which We
drove 20 reach the Amor front was fully
three miles long. and lined on both eides
by pretty low log houses set well apart
from one another. Hut We could not help
observing that the blinds we're all closed
and that the streets had a deserted look.
our drivers also seemed to delight IN back
streets ana aileys as We approached the
hotel aud landed us at a side door. Nhlie
our luggage was being unloaded We ven
tured into the main street 90 take look.
We heard frequent rifle reports, but
thought Il was soldiers prac,icine. And
30 il was. but they were Chinese soldiers
on tho other side OF the river practichg
on Us. for We soon heard the ping,
ming" OF their bullets as they whizzed
by our heads. We noticed also that every
body else stood around tho corner or tthe
cross street These discoveries led as TO
ioin tho street loaferH around the cor
ner'' as quick as we could. We FOUND
that tho city had been IN state OF siege
for I'VE days. that tho Chinese had i've
cannon and an unknown number OF troops
on the opposite edo of the river. that the
city was defended by only 1000 hastily
recruited troops. with no cannon and a
scan,y supply Of small arms. Al FIRST the
people were panic-stricken. but trenches
were speedily dug along the whole front.
ana occasional volleya were fred BY the
whole line 90 warn the enemy that the
city was not without defenders At the
came time the troops were expected TO
come down the river. Az this had tho
desired effect and the Chinese did NOT at
teupt TO cross the river. Moreover their
Workmanship was 60 poor that their mr.
,ng was ineffective. No buildings were
set on Ere and only a few persons were
killed by bursting shells. Several
bullets. however. hit the hotel
while we were In Il, though 81
was on tho second street back from the
river front. and the river Il about 1000
feet wide. only yesterday a shell burst
a few rods away. killed one man and
wounded another.
Dreadful Fate of Chinese.
The appalling thing OF all was the fate
Ian at fsF