The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-07

BY J. Martin Miller. Special Correspondent
Of the Observation-Disclosures,
Temple OF Heaven
Pelins, China. Aug. n.
61ruHE commanders and officers who
assisted IN raising the siege Of Pc
king, as well as many outside
~ diplomats OF note, have expressed
surprise that the missionaries who on
June gathered In the Methodist Episco-
pal mission for sslf-defenss and protection
should have begun their fortihcations two
weeks before the different foreign minis
tsrs thought any necessary In their iega-
tions
The ministers were optimistic and trust
ing 20 the last. They refused TO be IN
suited and they accepted the inactton OF
the government through the tsung IL
yamen. as something annoying but moth
ing serious When the country outside
the city wall was swept with Boxer rage.
after the burning OF Fungtsi station, thir-
teen miles distant, the British minister.
Macdonald, plainly showed his annoyance
toward English missionaries who, because
OF their more or less isolated location in
Peking, wished the refuge Of the British
legation.
CritfcIse the Minister.
The American missionaries unanimously
claim that the same week United states
Minister Conger refused % receive. trunks
or vaIuabies belonging to American mis-
sionsries saying that the trunks were
quite as safe in missionary compounds as
in the United States legation This was
manifestly untrue, for the United States
missions were separated and far apart.
while the legation was to be guarded by
soldiers and was one OF many legations
masscd in close proximity.
When the Boxers swept Picking the mis-
sion compounds were burned with the
aforesaid boxes and all they contained.
while many of tho legations. with their
contents. stiil stand. among them the
United States legation. Not an article
beyond a little clothing was saved by
many missionaries and some saved only
what they wore when they fed
Because OF the entirely optimistic out
look OF the ministers the American mis-
sionarfes OF Picking and Tungchin sent a
cable direct TO President Mckinley, urg-
Ing that relief be sent at once. Many a
veteran missionary had advised Minister
Conxer to cable earlier for troops and ex-
plain fully the threatening attitude Of
the Boxers and the almost certain CON
nivance OF tho empress dowaeer. But
Minister Conger saw nothing In their
fears save the Nervousness OF mission
aries"
He preferred to listed 70 his interpreter.
Mr. Cheshire, a man grown old In China
but regarded as very light weight men,
ally. Up until the last the latter assured
the minister that the whole Boxer move
mcnt was mere boys play" something
that would play itself out In nothing AT
ALL"
Minister conger considered twenty Ave
marines a sufficient guard. but for some
reason nifty were sent Twenty Of these
hA sent on June and to aid IN protect
Ing the American missionaries in the
Methodist Episcopal compound.
Capt. Myers and Capt Hall, in charge
~ the marines urged against the division
Of forces. thinking all would be safer
united In the United States iegation bu,
the legation accommodations were no,
large, and the Number OF missionaries
would have crowded the quarters a little
and as he anticipated nothing serious ever
AT that time, he preferred 10 divide his
forces.
The nrst secretary. Mr. Saulsrs, advised
taking the adjoining compound 70 the lie