The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-21


of sunlight out OF a dark sky came the
intelligence at an early hour today that
United States Minister Conger had sent
a cipher cablegram from Picking TO the
state department at Washington, making
II known that two days ago he was alive
and that the foreigners were fighting for
their safety.
The Chinese minister. wu Ting Fang,
received the message Within an hour
the welcome intelligence that Mr.. Con-
ger had been heard from. after weeks of
silence and evil report, was flashed
through the country, and. indeed.
throughout the world, dispeiling the
gloom which had prevailed everywhere
and bringing to officials and the public
generally a sense of profound relief. The
dispatch was in reply to Secretary Hays
cable inquiry 10 Mr. Conger on July H.
and as both messages were In the Am
erican cipher code. they were regarded
by the officials as above the suspicion OF
having beer tampered with In the course
OF transmission through Chinese chan
nels.
Mr. wu promptly communicated the
dispatch to the state department. where
the translation was made from the cipher
figures, and soon all Washington was
astir with the intelligence.
President Il Owerjoyed.
II was teiegraphed by Secretary Hay
20 the president who responded with
MhniH&Ome expression OF ftatiitAiints
and word of IL was sent 10 the various
cabinet officers. They gathered IN Secre-
tary Hays office aud an irnpromptu cab
met conference was held In the diplo-
matte chamber. mainly for the purpose
OF exchanging congratulations and or
taking a survey of the situation TO see
" "a had been materially changed by
thfs important development.
First az all, from the standpoint Of the
administration officials. the most welcome
part of the message was the assurance
that MIR Cnnger was alive two days ago.
But with this cheering news came the
ominous statement that Minister Conger.
with besiegcd foreigners were In the
British legation under shot and shell from
the Chinese troops. and that only quick
aid could avert massacre.
situation IL Yet Grave.
After the nrst fiush of thsnkfulness this
srAvest feature az the message begnn 20
impress itsclf upon cabinet officials most
deeply. As one of them remarked.
There are tho poor creatures. penned
ut, under ire ~ shot and shell, and APP
peaiinE 10 Us for help
The consuls message brought about no
pronounced change ~ policy, for Il was
felt thag already every energy had been
hsnt toward meeting the situation. and
that there was absolutely nothing more
that enugd be done. After all. the cabinet
Officials felt, and 80 stated. that the mes
sage wha an evidence nf frienfHncss and
g,,ad gait - ~ the pro-foreigu element %
the c'hinesc. and wisdom dictated q course
which would continue 70 utilize this
Friendship.
M...aEe Taken rs Authentic.
The government accepted thcN message
a. authentic and Secretary Hay trans
rrtttcd d ta an our ambassadors and min
tefers abroad. with Instructions 20 lay :,
before thN respective governments 10
whseh they are connected. and % uree
ut,au theul che nnrcssity of co-ppf Tatinn
fr the Immediate relief * BE Foreigners
at PaksaN message also was sent hy
So-.resare t.arg tn ADMIRAL Kemny. r1n-
vsvirE the Intelligence ~ the sitUattoa n
rsklue ans iuetTac,irg hiss so use anf
urEe every Gnssih.e e,'iesvof ior relief
This message Secretary f.amg explained
fasast lar AHmiral Eemey ta himself
-asc sH1 urss npon the afficers ~ the
.-fl..r atu.trs she use uf every endtaver
gaF tht roileg af FekinE
on tn rektnz she order.
Secretary E.ct sent e simtsr uct.hca-
flan te Cut te.ies~ ten Serlnr olHcrr
ashore at Tfer sio TNls tiea was ire
resaIt rt tar c.rfyreare rf Score ar'ts
Has ia- a43 G..ar IL eas rrlllE'-l 2 "a
the hrt arf ~4t> forces 80 ths Jni-e5
s.ates r.w i- DAins eeaid nri s.rs'e Hasd-
s,a pas1 .n 81. fekiaN au3 tae rtaer pow
rrs E-..r..rEf vr-F &Ftttie7i &C., u0 tec
basis at htiu.tt.r t-uuarr r.fst~ige 80 co-
cgc-ate tay rrsarC
Saeg.ttg. t'At evffA.ne3 Sis reasons tor
r3erIrG ..aa-e .2 the AatheHa .irY ~
Minister r.assrs G3sfA.tA. SO .iHg t was
a esrurl.sc reT1y lu ce-ie 90 thc ea-3s Faes-
sa.e ser4i ts him and tast its aufhrrt4c5ty
was t1rchea f4r ty the tsarg } yasnea.
secretary Hays Statement.
~of course" sid Secr~ta-F fiag sGsA-
irg. su' @"t 1ii'ii.Ne .'' Afi '..AS ae