The National tribune., 1900-11-29
BY ONE OF THE BESIEGED.

When the eXuDefant JOY OF greeting I'll
relief troops abated and gave place to sim
Bile gratitude, none the less deep and last
ing because unspoken, then we began t
feel restless. The eight weeks of sieg
found us in state of unnatural calm,
WORKOUT benumbei condition of mind ant
body, from which we were reused by tn
advent of the allied relief troops on Aug
il. The troops once settled down among
US we began to ask:
when can we get away:
Some were still vigorous enough to wisl
to stay for sightseeing and looting. Man.
of the hard-worked missionaries had t.
remain to look after the poor remnant o.
their native Christian f1ockS. The min
listers and few others stayed behind be
cause of duties, some wives because hus
bands could not so, but the majority OF
the besieged wished TO leave the scene OF
trial and horror.
Arrangements were soon made, and we
were informed through United States Min
lister Conger that Gen. Chaffee would send
US to Tien Tsin with i guard of $50 sol
diers, Maj. Foote TO command the eXpedi-
ton.
We were further informed that all sup
aiies, save milk. would be furnished by
khe Quartermaster Ut Tung Chow, and
ssked TO take the minimum of servants,
Is everything. cooking included, would be
provided We were told, however, to take
II miles from Picking, where we were to
take the boat, as the journey would oc-
cupy from six to eight hours.
The water route from Peking to Ticn
Tsin covers 135 miles. There were strong
ly guarded places, formerly populOus Chi
nese villages, along this water route,
about equal distance apart. After Tung
Chow is Ma Tu, Ho See Woo, Yang Tsen
and Peitsang in the order named. In each
of these places were at this time United
States, British, Sikh, Russian, japanese,
German and French soldiers on guard.
1t was a spectacle the world had never
before seen.
The hour of departure was set at a.
m. Tuesday, Aug. q. We had been so
nearly furnished of all palatable food dur
ing the siege that we could scarcely credit
the news that we were to have plenty of
army stores provided. Therefore a gentle
man of great prominence during the siege
took half day to visit the chief officers
in command of the United States forces,
and was assured and treasured that
things would be as first promised.
Then feeling quite secure on this point
We packed the few garments that re-
manned in our possession, prepared a sean
ty lunch of brown bread and jelly, prin-
cipally, and Aug. p, at 6:30 a. m, we,
numbering about 40 in all, assembled in
the United States Legation courtyard and
awaited the start. There were others in
the party, including the ambulance of sick
and conValeseent soldiers, who were to be
removed TO Tien Tsin TO the hospital
there ~
GETTING OUT OF PEKING.
A half hour after o'clock found the
last unfortunate loaded upon his boxes in
a huge army wagon drawn by four mules.
We had babe good-by to Minister and
Mrs. Conger and friends, who had gath
cred to see us off, but many followed us
outside the Legation gate and waved un-
til we could no longer see them.
Our good old cook, whom we had
dressed in foreign clothes to prevent his
being murdered by Russian or French sol
diers, who found enjoyment in shooting
friendly coolies and helpless women and
children, followed US on horseback for
some distance, and as we bumped over
the rough streets l espied my Amah stand
ing waiting by the roadside, tears stream
ing down her withered old face. She
started to run after US and followed quite
a distance, but l waved her back, for
fear the trotting mules behind US would
trample her to death. And so we left
old Chand Mai Mai, the most faithful of
servants, who had deserted her heather
family and soldier sons to serve us in the
siege because she had been with us III
happier and safer days.
We soon left Legation Street, with its
turned south and passed through Chen
Gate into the Southern City. The United
States soldiers quartcred on top of the
Chen aleu wall, waved us goOd-by, and
We waved in return. Some Marines were III
that company who had defended us with
their lives; seven of their comrades who
had defended in the siege, lay in their
graves in the Russian Legation. Many
were wounded or MANNED for life. Their
gallant Captain, Myers, at that moment
lay in the hospital battling with typhoid
fever, and young DR.. Lippett, of the Navy,
was bound to his bed with the terrible
thigh-wound that shortened his leg four
inches-a cripple for life.
The newly arrived troops were those who
had marched under the blaze of the East
ern sun, battled with shot and shell, boys
who had seen their comrades shot by their
sides or drop exhausted by the way. Ten
or IL had already given up their lives fore
ing their way through Peking's gates and
just few days before We had seen their
beloved Captain, Riley, wrapped in his
rubber shroud upon the Chen Meu wall
awaiting burial at the United States Le-
CATION. So it was with sympathy for and
gratitude TO our brave boys that we waved
them farewell.
Our train was long one; it seemed TO
lengtheR as We proceeded; now ana then
a new wagon Joined us, telegraph men and
reporters on horseback. Then regiment
OF japanese met us and marched afoot on
our right for over a mile. These white
clad, sturdy little soldiers, that have now
the admiration and respect of the other
nations of the world, looked upon us smiI-
ingiy, and their laughter when the heavy
wagon nearly threw us out in bumpipg
over the stone road was not unfriendly in
the least.
AMONG THE RUINS.
In our passage through the Southern
City nothing but desolation met our ewes
Now and then we ran by a dead dog or
horse; oftener by a dead Chinaman. More
gruesome than those, lying as they fell
were the ones tied, all but their feet and
ankles, in coarse mating; but worse was
TO come. The terrific jolting over the
rough stone road, full OF holes and great
ereylces, was enough to take ones mind
from the most Interesting surroundings.
AS we neared the east gate of the
Southern City, the way was guarded py
Cossacks, whose deeds of cruelty and yio-
lation, have been so horrifying that no pen
can describe them.
In passing through the gate we were re-
minded by the shell-holes in the great
doors that IT was through this gate that
Gen. Gasalee marched with his officers
and Indian soldiers. The gate was an old
affair, practically unguarded, and the Brit
ssh, by choosing this particular one, were
enabled to march through the Southern
City with the loss of only one man wound
Cd. Ihey soon reached Tue water-gate
which now is the dry bed of the canal
running under the city wall near the Brit