The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04
Leads all DaiiesnN News and Circuls<on

open, an attempt of the foreign ships tC
make landing at Taku was met by Q
| fire from the Chinese forts The forts
were thereupon shelled by the foreign
vessels, the American admiral taking nc
part in the attack, on the ground that
we were not at war with China and that
a hostile demonstration might consoli-
date the anti-foreign elements and
strengthen the Boxers to oppose the re-
lieving column.
Two days later the Taku forts were cap
tured after a sanguinary conflict. Sever
ance of communication with Pekin fol-
lowed and q combined force of additional
guards. which was advancing to Pekin
by the Pei-Ho. was checked at Langfang
The isolation of the legations was COM
plete.
THE SEIGE OF THE LEGATIONS.
The siege and the relief of the legations
has passed into undying history. In all
the stirring chapter which records the
heroism of the devoted band, clinging to
hope in the face of despair, and the
undaunted spirit that led relevers
it is memory of which my countrymen
may be justly proud that the honor of our
flag was maintained alike in the siege
and the rescue. and that stout Ameri-
can hearts have again set high, in fervent
emulation with true men of other race
and language, the indomitable courage
that ever strives for the cause OF right
and Justice
BY June 18th the legations were cut
off. An identical note from the Yamen
| ordered each minister to leave Pekin, un"
der promised escort, within twenty
four hours. To gain time they replied, ask
| ing prolongation of the time, which was
afterwards granted and requesting an
interview with the Tsungh Yamen on
| the following day. No reply being re-
ceived, on the morning of the Goth the
German minister, Baron Won Ketteler, set
| out for the Yamen to obtain response, and
| on the way was murdered.
THE LEGATIONS ATTACKED.
An attempt by the legation guard to
recover his body was foiled by the Chi
nese. Armed forces turned out against
| the legations. Their quarters were sur
rounded and attacked The mission com
pounds were abandoned their inmates
taking refuge in the British legation
where all the other legations and guards
gathered for more effective defense. Four
| hundred persons were crowded in its
narrow compass. Two thousand native
converts were assembled in a nearby
palace under protection OF the foreigners.
| Lines of defense were strengthened
| trenches dug, barricades raised, and
preparations made to stand a siege, which
at once beSan.
From June Goth until July 18th, writes
| Minister Conger, there was scarcely an
| hour during which there was not firing
upon some part of our lines and into
| some of the legations, varying from a
single shot to a general and continuous
| attack along the whole line Artillery
| was placed around the legations and on
| the over looking palace walls, and thous-
| ands of 3-inch shot and shell were fired
destroying some buildings and damaging
ALL So thickly did the balls rain that
when the ammunition of the besieged ran
| low, five quarts of Chinese bullets We're
| gathered in an hour in one compound
| and recast.
| Attempts were made to burn the le-
| cations by setting neighboring houses on
| fire, but the flames were successfully
fought off. although the Austrian, Bel
| gian, Italian, and Dutch legations were
| then and subsequently burned. With the
aid of the native converts. directed by
| the missionaries. to whose helpful CO.
operation Mr. Conger awards unstinted
praise, the British legation was made
| veritable fortress. The British minis
CT, a ahA
general commander of the defense, with
the secretary of the American legation
Mr.. E. G. Sauiers. as chief of staff.
To save life and ammunition the be-
| seged sparingly returned the incessant
| fire of the Chinese soldiery, fighting only
to repel attack or make an occasional sue
| cessful sortie for strategic advantage
such as that of fifty-fve American. Brit
| ish, and Russian marines led by Captain
| Myers, of the United States Marine Corps
which resulted in the capture of a form
| liable barricade on the wall that gravely
| menaced the American position. 1t was
held to the last, and proved an invaluable
acquisition because commanding the wa
| ter gate through which the relief column
entered
During the siege the defenders lost 81
killed, 135 wounded. and by disease
| the last all children.
| On July 14th the besieged had theil
| first communication with the Tsung-l
Yamen, from whom a message came in
| viting to q conference. which was de-
clined Correspondence, however, ensueC
and a sort of armistice was agreed upor
| which stopped the bombardment and les
| sened the rife fire for a time. Even theI
| no protection whatever was afforded, mol
any aid given, save to send to the lega.
ltions a small supply of fruit and three
| sacks OF flour.
| Indeed, the only communication haC
| with the Chinese Government related t
the occasional delivery or dispatch of /;
telegram or to the demands of the Tsung
Ii Yamen for the withdrawal of the le
cations to the coast under escort. No
only are the protestations of the Chinese
| Government that it protected and sue
cored tho legations positively contradict
cd. hut irresistible proof accumulates tina
| the attacks upon them were made b.
! Imperial troops. regularly uniformed
armed, and officered, belonging to tn,
command of Jung Lu. the Imperial com
mandcr in chief DEGREES encour
aging the Boxers, organizing then