The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-31
sFort Myers" Where Brave Ameri-
can Marines Fought Hordes
of Chinese Boxers.
GEN. CHAFFEE DISAPPOINTED
FOUND THE BRITISH IN THE COM
POUND AHEAD OF HIM.
Rescucrs Much Worse Looking Than
the Rescued-Cheers for the
Stars and Stripes

copyright 1900. by the Associated Press.1
PEKING, Aug IA. by Post. via Tien-Tsin.
"A medal will be struck commemorating
the siege of Peking. 1t will bear the
legend, Men, not walls, make a CITY,"
In the grounds of the British legation,
where a handful of men withstood the
millions of the Chinese capital for fifty-six
days, a memorable celebration is in
progress tonight in vindication of that
principle. Missionaries, assembled about
the bell tower, are singing the doxology,
rockets are blazing, soldiers and civilians
of all nationalities are fraternizing, the
women are applauding the sound of the
cannons that smashing the yellow roofs
of the forbidden city. The tired Sikhs are
planting their tents on the lawn: and the
American and Russian contingents are
lighting campfires along the stretch Of turf
extending beyend the Tartar wall
Through the ruins of the foreign settle
ment an eager, cosmopolitan crowd is jost-
lng-Indians, Cossacks, legation ladies,
diplomats, Americans from the Philippines
and French disciplinarians from Saigon,
who kept discreetly TO the rear while the
fighting was in progress, but came con-
spicuously to the front when looting began,
Only the Japanese. who have earned the
first place, are absent.
Resident foreigners welcome the luxury
of walking about and immunity from bull
lets. The new corners are anxious to in
spect the evidences of historic defense.
These barricades are, after all, the most
wonderful sight in Peking. The barriers
hedging the British legation are marvel
of stone and brick walls, and earthworks.
Sand bags shield every foot of space. The
tops of the walls have inches for the rife
men. and the buildings, at their porticos
and windows, have armor boxes, bags
stuffed with dirt. and pillows too.
FORT MEYERS"
Back of the United States legation is
work named al ort Myers" which the ma
rines held. completely screening both sides
of the walls, with steps leading to 1t. There
is a looo-holed barrier across the wall
which faces a similar Chinese work few
| yards away. Another wall bars the lega-
| tion street in front of the German legation,
| and, confronting the enemy's barricades
| within those limits are yet more walls, en-
| abling the foreigners to contract the area
| of defense if pressed.
| buildings were badly torn by the Chinese
| shells The rest of the foreign settlement
was almost demolished. Two thousand
| eight hundred shells fell there during the
| first three weeks of the bombardment, four
| hundred in one day. Buckets full of bull
| lets were gathered in the grounds.
| -Four hundred and fourteen people lived
| in the compound through the greater part
| OF the siege. Three hundred and four ma
| rines, assisted by eighty-five volunteers,
commanded by the English captain Poole,
| defended the place. Eleven civilians were
| killed and nineteen wounded. Fifty-four
| marines and sailors were killed and 112
wounded. The American loss was seven
/ killed and eleven wounded. Mr.. Gilbert
| Reid, who was wounded in the feet, was
| the only American civilian injured. Two
| foreign ladies were wounded.
The reception which the survivors gave
| the army was worth the hardships the
| troops had undergone. The entrance was
not spectacular. The British commander,
| with his staff and a company of Sikhs,
waded up bed of sewage in the canal to
the Tartar wall. The besieged removed the
| barricades, and when the gates swung in
ward and the British colors appeared there
| arose great continuous cheer on both
sides. Generals, soldiers and correspond
| ents scrambled up the banks through the
| filth, elbowing to be first. Men and women
| surrounded the rescuers ond shook the
| hands Of the Sikhs, patting them on the
back. Everybody was hustled excitedly
along into the legation grounds. where the
colors were planted. The soldiers sur
rounded the wall which had been the SAL
walton of the besieged The ministers and
| officers demanded the latest news on both
| sides.
CHAFFEE'S SURPRISE.
An hour afterward General Chaffee, rid
ing at the head Of the Fourteenth United
| States Infantry. marched to the Tartar
wall. An American marine. who was on
top of the wall. shouted; You are just in
time. We need you in our business"
Where can We get in?" said General
| Chaffee.
Through the canal. The British entered
there two hours ago." was the response.
| The American general looked disappointed.
| Although the Americans entered behind
| the last Of the British forces, their recep-
| ton was just as enthusiastic as If they had
been first. When the stars and stripes
emerged into view Mr.. Tewksbury, the
missionary. cried: Americans. cheer your
flag Ladies waved their handkerchiefs
and the soldiers cheered the ladies'
On entering the grounds of the British
| legation the American troops stared in
amazement and inquired If there was a
lawn party in progress. They had expected
TO find the relieved in a worse condition
/ than themselves. whereas the contrast be-
| tween the appearance OF the rescued and
| the rescuers was surprisingly In favor OF
| the former. The British minister, Sir
Claude Macdonald. was shaven and dressed