Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-07-19
FATE OF LEGATIONS.
london Corrcspondent's Story OF
PAX ia,.r ,Nsn..o.A..

london Correspondents Story of
Pektng Tragedy.
London, July 1s.-The Shanghai COR
respondent of the Daily Mail saws:
II can assert positively that the Chi
lese authorities had the news from
Peking u week ago and that Sheny
knew I'LL the foreigners in Picking
were dead when he asked the Ameri-
san consul to cable Washington a pro-
posal to deliver the foreigners in safe
" at Ten Tsin, on condition that the
allies would suspend their operations
to the north of Peking."
The correspondent adds certain de-
tails of affairs at Peking after June
Is. According to his story, the mem
bers of the legations made daily sor-
ties, sometimes by night and SO sue
cessfully us to compel the Chinese to
retreat from the immediate vicinity.
The reverses had disheartening eff
feet upon the Chinese, and there soon
began to be open signs of dissatisfac-
ton, followed by desertions to Prince
Ching's army, which was endeavor-
Ultimately Prince Tuan decided to
make night attack in three powerful
columns.
81 says the correspondent, Sire was
opened with artillery upon the Brit
ish legation, where the foreigners
the walls We're battered with shells
and shot and huge breaches were
made in them. Then general adj
Al
infantry, volleying constantly, moved
towards the gaps. The fire of the de-
tenders, however, was so accurate and
steady that hordes of Chinese soldiers
and Boxers broke and fed in the Wild
est confusion, leaving large numbers
of dead and wounded around the le-
cation. They could not be rallied un-
til they were out of the rife range of
the foreigners.
"'Then Prince Tuan. making a des-
perute appeal, induced them to stand
and return to the attack Artillery
fire was then resumed and at the mid
die watch second attack was at
tempted. But before the attackers
could accomplish their object they
they were met by Prince Ching and
General Wang Wen Shao with their
troops, who were going to the aid of
the foreigners. A desperate battle en-
Chinese and Manchus.
UNFORTUNATELY many of Prince
Ching's troops deserted to Prince
Tuan. Prince Ching fell and was
supposed to have been killed, but as
the search for his body was unsuc-
cessful, it is now believed that he
was only wounded and was carried
off and secreted by his faithful retain-
ers.
General Wang Weng shao, gray
haired and 20 years of age, led his
troops in person. He was killed and
his force, which was completely out
numbered, was routed.
"Throughout the night repeated at
tacks We're made on the legations, but
these We're Invariably repulsed with
heavy losses. Toward the end of the
third watch, about 5 a. M, the allies
had practically defeated the besieg-
ers. who were WAGERING and gradual
ly withdrawing. But just then Cen
eral Tung Pub Slang arrived from
the vicinity of Tien Tsin, with large
force of Kan Su braves.
'By this time the walls of the le-
cation had been battered down and
most of the buildings were i'll ruins.
Many of the allies had fallen at their
posts and the small band that was
left took refuge in the wrecked build
ings, which they endeavored hastily
to fortify.
Upon them the fire of the Chinese
artillery was now directed. Toward
sunrise it was evident that the am
munition of the allies was running
out. and at Z o'clock. as the advance
of the Chinese in force failed to draw
n response, rush was determined
upon.
''rhus standing together, as the sun
rose, the little remaining band, all
Europeans, met death stubkornly.
There was a desperate handto-hand
encounter. The Chinese lost heavily,
but as one man fell others advanced,
and finally, overcome by overwhelm-
ing odds. every one of the Europeans
remaining was put to the sword in the
most atrocious manner"
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Express. on the alleged author
ity of the couriers who brought the
story, gives Il very sensational account
of the affair. He says:
"Maddened with hunger, having been
without food for many days, the mem
bers of the legation and guards made q
surtie on the night of June 80 and killed
200 Chinese lii an unexpected attack. Cen
eral Tun Fuh Ting, enraged over the loss
of so many men. brought up heavy guns,
and Prince Tuan gave the order that
every foreigner must be destroyed. His
words We're: destroy every foreign YES
western powers
prince Tuan had previously discovered
that Prince Ching was supplying the for
eigners with ammunition. He therefore
ordered General Tung Fun Slang to fire
ported that Ching was Killed or seriously
wounded.
"In the final attempt to cut their way
through the legationers formed a square,
with the women and children in the cen
ter. When the Boxers realized that they
were being attacked they became like
wild beasts and shot each other with re-
Nolvers. Heavy gums bombarded all night
until the buildings were demolished and
in flames Many foreigners were roasted
In the ruins. The Boxers rushed upon
them and hacked and stabbed both dead
and wounded, cutting Off their heads and
carrying these through the streets on
their rifles, shouting fercsly- They then
attacked the native Christian quarters,
massacred all who refused to JOIN them,
assaulted the women and Drained the
children. Hundreds of mission buildings
We're burned.
The correspondent adds:
'All China is now aitame with revolt
against foreigners. Only in the extreme
west is. there quiet. Every port, even
Shanghai. is menaced. In the provinces;
OF Hnpe and Human thousands; of 9ative
Christians have been nItilated and tor
he. hai 4