Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-30

tHE RUINS IN NATIVE CITY.
II IS impossible to convey an idea of
the ruins In the native city. The
matched roofs burned fiercely and the
mud walls shivered at the impact of
the Shells. Probably no accurate esti-
mate of the loss of life in this densely
populated section will ever be made A
curious fact is that a native child or
Cninese say they were killed, but the
resident foreigners believe they are
eltner hidden In the native city or have
been sent to the country.
Or the cooley labor there is no scar
CITY. The word has gone forth that the
s su.l5. VIII employ them and the
supply Tar exceeds the demand. The
wages range from Is cents (Mexican)
10 50 1-3 cents (A1exican) per day, the
iat'er price being paid by the Ameri-
cans. who also give each cooley two
POUNDS Of rice day. All ordinary oc-
Supatlohs are suspended, of course, and
neyond what the natives derive from
!helr labor for the forces of occupation.
they nave no means of subsistence.
NaturaIiy tood of all kinds is scarce
little produce Is finding it's way into
.ne cry. Some sheep have arrived and
poultry can be occasionally had. but
the fare at best is hard. and everything
Is at wartime prices. The troops how
ever are faring welt on camp rations.
OF which the Americans have an album
oance: splendidly stocked commits
Sary depot Is being established here UNI
der the command of Major Hugh Cal
lagher. chief commissary officer and
the river is lined with lighters, bring
ing provisions up from Taku. 1t is un-
derstood here that the American base
Is TO be established for the winter ut
Tong 1<u. which has fairly deep water.
Major Gallagher has also established q
sales store, where luxuries of all kinds
are purchasable. including timed
fruits. mineral waters. canned meats
and vegetables and tobacco. The store
Is literally patroniZed by the omcers
and men. There is absolutely no suf-
fering among the troops. except from
the heat. and this is now somewhat re-
lieved by the cool nights. The forces
are enjoying exceptionally good health,
the hospitals are not overcrowded, and
with systematic communication with
Taku and Tong Ku. and constantly ar
irving supplieS, the physical situation
at Ticn TSin is excellent.
| SANITATION.
Strenuous efforts have been made to
put the city in a sanitary condition.
and they have partially succeeded.
However. it is more than the work of a
month to undo the work of days. Lime
by the ton is being used in courts.
alleys and CUTTERS and the surface
drains which line the curbs are kept
cleaned out and free. Nevertheless.
European residents agree that the
nearness of frost is a thing to be
thankful for. Huge stacks of rotting
rice and tons of burned and decoia-
posed sugar fill the region OF the river
front with an unhealthy and terrible
stencil. while the ruins OF the Chinese
city are almost impossible because OF
vile odors In the heat of the day. a
Chinese provisional government has
been established over the native city,
administered by Americans and Euro
INC A
eign. is In working order. and system
is being gradually evolved out OF the
chaos. The foreign city is efficiently
pollced by troops and perfect order Is
maintained. At every corner is a SEN
try. while guards and patrols are con-
stantly afoot night and day. The for
eign residents are gradually returning
to find their homes either DESTROYED or
occupied by the allied forces. and 1t is
expected that an attempt soon will be
made TO fix compensation for occupa-
ton and use of such property. The
residents accept the situation philoso-
phically and there is apparently no
conflict with the military authorities.
That 1t will be many months before
the rehabilitation of Tien Tsin is begun
is n certainty. That 1t will ever be re-
stored TO it's once beautiful proportions
is doubtful. The slow work Of years
was destroyed In a week. Beautiful
some grounds are but wreck and ruin.
and the hot breath OF war has blasted
the Pie-Ho Valley from Pelxin to the
Gulf of Take.
A FAMINE APPREHENDED.
Tien Tsin. China. Aug. 29.-General
apprehension was felt here of q famine
when the cold weather sets in Foreign
residents of Tien Tsin do not hesitate
TO predict terrible suffering among the
natives and military men, who have
looked into conditions in the Pei-Ho
valley, and are inclined to believe that
the fear of famine is we'll founded
Already there Is considerable suffering.
although fresh produce rs cu1rtrg in
slowly, and what the result will be
when frost puts an end to vegetation
is not difficult to forsee. Rice. the
great stable of China, is no longer in
the market this far North. Every
sack of the white grain has been COM
Wandered or purchased by the allies
and the natives. thus unable to buy
it, must depend on the charity of the
forces. The supply on hand is none too
plentiful. 1t is practically impossible
to even roughly estimate the quantity.
but it is stated to be considerably less
than normal. Usually at this season
the river is crowded with vessels bring
ing the winters supply of rice from
the South, but now every available
craft is in the service of the forces.
transporting supplies and materials.
consequently there is little chance that
any considerable quantity of rice can
arrive between now and the freezing
of the river. The situation is con-
coded to be very critical. and the out
look is for great loss of life.
At best the military authorities. even
with systematic distribution of food
and acting in concert could relieve
only 1.-THE of the people. and no such
arrangement or agreement is probable.
AT best transportation in the Winter
is a difficult matter. and every resource
will be taxed to provide for the big
army which will be scattered from the