Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-06-22


hal been murdered From Shanghai at
tbe same time came reports of large iucen-
diary fires in the eastern part of Tien Tsin,
where three English ard American
churches and residences of foreigners were
burned. The train conveying food for
the foreign column advancing upon Pekin
had TO return, being unable to reach the
column on account of breaks in the rail
road
Another despatch said that the servants
of foreigners and native converts had been
massacred in East Pekin, and that the
Catholic cathedral had been burned The
wife of Baron Ketteler, the German minis
fer. was Miss Matilda G. Ledyard, daugh-
fer Of the president OF the Michigan Cen
tral railroad. They were married in st.
Paul in 1897, when the Baron was the Ger
man minister in Mexico.
The terrible reports from China Satur-
DAY made profound impression upon the
President and the members of his cabinet,
although they tried to doubt them in the
absence of any confirmation from an Off
cal source.
The very fact, however, that not only
Pekin. but Tien-Tsin and Taku are cut off
from Geographic communication, so that
neither Minister Conger, Admiral KempH
nor Consul Ragsdale could be heard from.
added to the fears of the administration.
1t is endeavoring to get some information
from some official source, and meanwhile
is preparing to act upon the theory that
the representations of riot and murder, in
Guiding even the assassination of Minister
Conger, as well as of Baron Won Ketteler,
the German minister, are true
Gen. Macarthur and Admiral Remey, at
Manila, were cabled to prepare as large
force of soldiers, marines and sailors as
can be spared for service in China.
A number of conflicting reports were re-
ceived Monday but the statement came
from several quarters that the Taku forts
at the mouth of the Pekio river fired upon
the foreign warships and that the ships re-
turned the fire, silenced the Chinese guns,
and that the international forces subse-
auently landed and seized the forts One
despatch said the battle lasted seven hours,
and that two British vessels were sunk in
the river. An Associated Press despatch
gave the casualties of the allied forces as
follows Killed. British l, German 3,
Russian 49, French /; wounded, British
+. German :, Russian 40, French |.
London papers had dispatches from
Shanghai stating that the firing from the
forts was bv personal orders of the empress
dowager, by advice of the minister of war
Four hundred Chinese were reported killed.
The heavy losses to the Russian forces
were due to the blowing up of magazine.
The officials at Washington received no
tice Of the engagement from Commander
Taussig of the Yorktown, from Chefoo, and
from Admiral Remey at Manila, who asked
for instructions. The American vessels
probably did not take part in the attack on
the fort.
Secretary Hay was asked if the latest
developments had made any change in the
policy which the United States had adopt
ed toward this Chinese trouble. He re-
Piled "Our naval forces in that region
have been directed to act concurrently with
the forces of the other powers for the pro
lection Of all American interests.
The French consul-general in South
China, who was instructed to send into
Tonauin all the French citizens at Iunnan-
Sen. cables from the latter place, under
date of the 18th, that he has been prevent
ed from leaving, with his companions, by
the lviceroy, and that his house and all the
missions have been burned. French troops
are massed on the Tonquinese frontier OF
China. but their march has been delayed
as the French authorities fear to provoke
an uprising of the population and massa
ere of Europeans before the troops coulc
reach them.
despatch received in London Wednes
day morning stated that Russian rellev
ing force had arrived outside Pekin ano
had made an attack on two sides OF the
city with artillery. 1t is reported ina
700 Chinese were killed in the forts at Ia
ku. and that so Russians were killed Of
wounded by an explosion on one OF TN
warships. $1,000.
japan is SAID to be mobilizing 20, 900 TO
transnortation to China. Four Thousand
Russian troops have been despatched from
Port Arthur TO Taku. France will lan'
420O men at that port at an early date ant
regiments have been ordered there IRON
Hong Kong and India by the British gov
eminent The American gunboat Concor
has sailed from Manila under sealed or
ders. supposedly for China. The big bat
tleship Oregon will leave Manila as soon a
she can be properly equipped.
Gen. Macarthur has been informed 0
the necessity of hurrying the 9th lnIantT
to Taku as soon as possible. Col T.
Liscum, the commander, Is ordered 10 re
port to Minister Conger and cooperate VII
him and the naval forces in estahlishin
order. The instructions sent to ADMIRE
Kempff require him to act concurrent
with other commanders in the occupatlo
of the forts and in other movements
despatch from Shanghai announce
that the United States transport Iholha
with troops for Manila, was diverted
Nagansaki and has arrived at Taku wit
1900 men The Shanghai correspondent
the London Times says; THE British ia
is reported to have been flying Iuesda
over the south gate of Pekin. This IS PR
sumed to indicate tho arrival of Admir-
Seymour. The summouing of ii Hun
Chang to Pekin is regarded as a compile
change of front on the part OF the Ma
chus who have abandoned the hope OF o.
posing the powers"
special from Shanghai to the Dal
News, dated Tuesday says; The Cnlue
officials here assert that they have nev
from Pekin up to June II. The situaIl'
was then very serious. Beyond that tn'
claim to have received nothing, but tn'
deny that dispatches have been wlthhe !,
Although l am not willing to adoPt u
alarmist reports, my impression gather'
from the consuls and the Chinese autnoi
ties, is that the worst is to be feared
Pekiu Admiral SeymOur's column Is no
in the middle of an arid plain, with no TO-
and no good water, and surrouhueu
hostile forces" II.
The British cruiser Undaunted arrlv
at Shanghai Tuesday, cleared for ac1io
and took up a position commanding