Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-22

carry forward the explosive. The at
tacks Of engineers being considered
hopeless in the daylight, they were
therefore abandoned until after night
fall; but the bombardment Of the gate
continued.
"After nightfall the task Of blowing
up the gate was entrusted to detach-
ment Of engineers and Lieutenant
Taska and seven sappers were told OF
to blow up the outer gate, and Corpo-
raj Sugiminto and seven sappers were
assigned to blow up the inner gates.
At p. m, the men stripped themselves
completely, In order to escape the enc
my's notice and prepared for the at
tempt. It was a fine moonlight night,
but fortunately a shower of rain fell
as they went forward, and the overcast
sky gave them opportunity. The enc
my, evidently prepared for such an at
tack, opened up heavy fire; but the
little engineers pushed on resolutely,
and succeeded, although their ranks
were sadly decimated, in blowing up
the gates. Thereupon three battalions
under Major saquiki charged the gates,
swept away the enemy and effected an
entrance. The two leading battalions
rushed. of cheering loudly to the jap
anese legation, and the third was sent
to assist in the attack on the Tung
Chih gate; but as the latter had al
ready been destroyed they returned
and took possession of storehouses at
the Tashwa gate. The remainder Of
the Japanese forces hurried off to as
sist In the attack made by the Russians
on the Tung Pien gate; but they soon
learned that the Russians had effected
an entrance. The japanese entered
there in succession to the Russians.
The Russians had encountered unlock
and wounded. Many also fell into the
hands of the Chinese.
"The Tung Pien gate does not give
direct entrance to the city. The Hata
gate, at considerable distance, had
also to be entered. The Hata gate,
however, had not been preached by the
Russians. It was standing intact. Be-
tween the gate and the ground there
was an interval sufficient for man to
creep through. Into this interval Cap
tain Hayashi thrust himself, carrying
an electric lamp. He was able to as
certain that the gate was formed Of a
single panel and that he enemy was
not in sight. Accordingly, he and ten
men crept under the gate, and ascend
ing the parapet found that the gate
was constructed SO as to be raised and
lowered in a groove. They raised 1t
sufficiently to allow the passage Of q
horse. and the Japanese troops entered,
the Russians following.
"It was impossible to describe the
delight Of the long beseiged foreigners
and the warmth Of their thanks. The
ladies brought out brandy to the troops
and did not seem to be able to express
their gratitude sufficiently.
But we were not the first to reach
the legations. The Indian troops were
before us. Apparently, the British Of
tire Of the city, and this they took with
small force Of Indian troops. It was
a brilliant achievement. While the rest
Of the forces were assaulting the city
direct the British officers effected a
rapid entrance elsewhere. Their plan
Of action was this: Between the Japan
ese and British legations runs canal,
which has it's exit under the city wall.
The point where the canal energies Is
guarded by an iron grating, which does
not reach fully to the surface Of the
canal. 1t happens that the water in
the canal was extremely low and the
british officers, taking advantage Of
the fact, led body Of Indian troops
under the grating, an approach against
which the enemy had made no sort Of
preparations. These troops reached
the legations at p. m., on the 14th.
"On the morning Of the 18th the jap
anese, who had proceeded to the lega-
ton, were told Off to guard the Ting
gate, and the other battalion given
charge Of the legations. A company Of
the latter proceeded to the finance de-
partment and took 100000 taels Of
silver"