The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-03
FACTS OF THE
SIEGE OF
PEKING.
How The Foreigners
Defended The
Legation.
INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE
AWFUL EXPERIENCES
THERE.
Belief That the Death of Baron. Non
Ketteler Was the Salvation
of Others

The Nagasak Press gives the following
details kindly furnished to its represent
| ative by a gentleman who took part in
the defence of the legations
As you are aware, he said Peking was
relieved on August 14th at $3.50 D. M
Though we knew that the allies were at
itacking the gates OF the city at different
points, We were not prepared for the sud
den appearance in front of the Legation
of body of Sikhs, who seemed to have
sprung from the ground They were fol-
lowed by the Bengal Lanoers, and these
by a medley of other Indian troops Need
less to say that after the strain and sus-
perse we had endured, the deliverers were
Historically received. 1t transpired that
these troops had forced their way through
, the water gate Of the canal leading into
the Tartar city. and running between the
: japanese and British Legations.
1t was on June Goth that the women and
children of all nauonalities as well as
> sixty-fve refugees from Paoting -fu, the
a latter consisting chiefly of railway en-
ployes, We're ordered to take shelter in
q the British Legation Inc Paoting-fu
Z refugees brought the news that all the
! missionaries in that town had been mur-
t British Legation had been splendidIy for
titled, but owing to lack or stores. sud
/ the number of refugees, ii was not
e thought possible to hold out longer than
e a month.
IS There was at one time great danger of
e the enemy forcing the gate in the wall
: nearest to the Legations, but this at
't tempt was frustrated by American troeps
IS assisted by British marines, who made a
d scrtie under Captain Myers, who was
{ YJI AT q cd va
persed the enemy and captured seven
J. cannon.
ID Another danger during the lombard
N ruent, but which was fortunately discov-
is cred in time, a mine which the enc
e. my successfully planted close to the Brit
e. ish Legation under the walls, taking a
ir ~ shape between the two walls. "A
mysterious mining noise had been heard
for some time, and underneath the walls,
l. and upon digging down, a tunnel was dis
covered L feet high and III feet long. Aft
er little ventilation, Mr.. Gamewell, who
had charge of the fortifications. entered
and found a quantity of explosives, sufh-
cie MT to have blown the whole of the Le-
cation away, had the mine been success
fully fired. AS it was. the fuse had been
81 tfnguished more than once by bullets
L is believed that this work could never
hsve been carried out so far without the
assistance of traitors within the city.
According to our informant. the highest
praise must be given to Col. Shfba. mill
tary attache to the Japanese Embassy,
iwhose work was splendid throughout. He
never tired, was always at his post, fear
lessly exposing himself and-to use our
informant's expression-was 'as cool as
captain giving the course of his yes-
sci"
were not enough medicines and lint In
the Legation. There was only one bottle
of chloroform available, and no bandageS
Had the siege lasted much longer, or had
ryQd-- fnh q
were planned by the enemy-there would
have been no help for the wounded.
Throughout the siege the behavior o.
the ladies was beyond praise After thf
first shock, they went about their duties
tending the sick and wounded, as calmly
as trained nurses. Not one finched, anC
they We're example to some OF the men
Although there were plenty of doctors
a lady, DIR. Saville, showed conspicuous
courage under fire, and was untiring II
her efforts to relieve the sick and wound
ed
The children were the worst off of all
for proper food could not be obtained 10
them. and five of them died The plign
iof the mothers was heart-rending.
The horrors of the situation wer
heightened by terrific thunderstorms fron
time to time. and curiously enough III
bcmbardfnent by the enemy was worse a
such times. Fortunately they were nc
good narksmen. or none of the defender
would have escaped.
The enemy's fire from he distance ha
the most effect, as they did not know n"
to handle their weapons at close 1art.-1
Invariably firing far too high, but 'uE
drc pped good quantity of snoS iato - -
Legation, about half of the building o.
ing destroyed. At night the surrounding
appeared Goubly awe-inspiring by u
glow of the numerous fires occasioneo
the exploding shells of the enemy
During the first day of the siege FRO
n James went onto a bridge to harahe
tho Chinese and thus stop the nrlng' u
he was instantly shot.
Mr.. Westergaard, Norwegian
birth. was at one time a source OF son
dargar. Shortly after the commenc
nent of the bombardment he went OUT
his mind completely, and esceped ~ ~,
the legation The enemy caught M M
r land in his fright it Is supposed ne ga
them a good deal Of Information, anTHs I
other things, telling them 10 III -,
and they would do more camage. 80,
lhie capture the effect Of the bomDarulile'
was certainly worse .u;as Arir
After occupation by the AM AIil1ss = 90 -n,-
oon+in,,ad in a iesultory manner LOT I soIi
t,roe huf this bore chiefly on the ChiLle' ~.
o,-arters. and soon slackened o cow
ed occurrence was the "ouholhs %
CONTINUED on Page B.