Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-11

coolest water we have seen since
leaving America. Oh it was delicious.
We'll, 1T was the same, steady march
ing and burning up with heat from
1eng Soon until we reached d small
town miles from Pekin where we
waited for all the allied forces to
mobilize. Poor men fell out every day
by the hundreds and were left to get
along and catch up with the column
the best way they could. 1t was a
pltlful sight to see them come dragging
themselves into camp Ia tie at night
almost dead.
Well. the walls of Picking were
Visible from this last town and that
helped to revive the spirits of us worn
out soldiers because we knew our
destination was within those walls
and then for a good rest and food.
The second battalion started out first
commanded by Captain Eastman and
my battalion was sent as skirmisherS
to the left and the Ninth Infantry
took the right flank Riley's battery
with artillery from the rest of the
allied forces commenced lombard
ment of the outer wall at 3 in the
morning and kept it up until about
10 a. m. when the way was clear for
the infantry to move forward. General
Chatfee told my company personally
that the Fourteenth was the first
regiment to place flag on the wall.
Then a yell went up and we went
forward to the first gate which the
artillery battered down for us. We
were halted to rest in the shade when
all at once several Chinese sharp
shooters, who had escaped, commenced
picking us off from trees. We SCurried
away to shelter but not until three
men of my company and several from
other companies had been hit. We
couldn't locate the Williams but finally
some Russians across the river spied
them and quickly bored their dirty
hides full of holes. After short rest
we moved through the first gate and
were behind the 50-fOOt walls of
Picking, China. The place was full of
dead boxers and there were also plenty
of live ones seCTeted in crooks and
corners who blazed away at us at
every chance. The artillery bloWed
up every place likely to hold any of
the devils and in this way we moved
onward through the second gate and
were then only separated from the
legations by one more walk. The
refugees soon tore away the bar
ricadeS and we filed through tunnel
and were at our goal at last but nearly
dead. We were met with wild cheer
ing, waving of handkerchiefS and
handShaking Tears were shed in
plenty and am not ashamed to say |
did my share when one kind lady
graSped my dirty sunburned hand and
bid me welcome and also handed me
glass of cold water. Oh such scene.
1t was glorious. We stacked arms in
here for an hours rest and exchanged
greetings. How glad they were to
know they were free but how sorry
they were for us poor, Starved-lOOking, |
tired out soldiers. We did indeed
present pitable appearance. They
said we came just in time as they
couldn't have stood it much longer.
That night we camped just outside
the tunnel in order to guard the
entrance bnt were bothered all night |
by boxers in our front where the
Secret City was. 1t became SO bad
that we were compelled to go up next
morning and drive them out and
Riley'S battery opened the gateSswhere
no white man ever entered before.
Here we were met by terrible rifle
fire but we charged and drove them
back then we mounted the roofs of
the houses along the walls OF the
entrance and enjoyed fine shooting
from a fine cover. We picked off
good number in this way until this
entrance was cleared. Here Captain
Riley was mortally wounded. We had
two more gates to batter down and
two more enclosures to clear Of the
boxers but we set at it and as the
battery blew open the gates we rushed
through and each time were met by a
whitening fire. One man in my COM
panY was killed here. We kept this
up until about 10 a. m, Aug. II, when
General Chaffee ordered halt as we
were going beyond his orders. We
rested until p. m. at this point then
turned over the ground gained to
Russians and went back to our recently
deserted camp near the tunnel. Next
day we moved camp about + miles
west of there to the Temple of Heaven
where we are now recruiting up. L
am in the hospital completely played
out and so poor that my bones are
punching through my skin. a few
days rest and nouriShment will put
me on my feet again. My company
alone has about so sick and played
out. One company OF the Ninth
Infantry has only nine men lett Tor
duty. Isn't that awful? We expect to
leave inside of month for good, old
America. Can't hear any news up
here but the railroad is being built
fast. then we will be alright. We
haven't even had change OF clothes
yet but when the road is finished we
can get back to Tien Tsin. We don't
anticipate any more trouble now.
Left Tien Tsin at 3 p. M, August /.
Acted as reserve for japanese in their
battle on August but were not called
into action on that day. On August
was foremost company in the battle
at 1eng Soon. | was in the second
squad in the second section and was in
the very midst of the fight from start
to finish. How | ever escaped is a
miracle as men were mOwn down us
close as three feet from me. My
regiment alone lost 81 in this battle.
Our column was composed Of the 18th
Infantry. 9th Infantry, Battery T of
the 9Th Artillery, two companies OF
mariners, hospitable outfit, wagon
trains. ammunition pack train and on
the Sth were Joined by Troop NJ. 9th
, Z. S. Cavalry. General Chatfee was in
command throughout and he was
cursed by every soldier and officer in