The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-10
AS TO FATE OF FOREIGNERS IN PeKIN
STILL UNREIIEVED
THE HORRIBLE RUMORS AFLOAT
Regarding Recent vents In That City.
:Christians and Prisoners-Probabil.
ity Of Disturbances Spreading-Chin-
~ Preparing to Attack Taku and
Tien Tsin-Bravery of American Sol
diers-The Powers Delegate Restora-
ton OF Order to Japan.
ton OF Order TO Japan.

OCOpyr1ght by Associated freSs-)
Tien Tsin. June g, via Che Foo. July
1st and Shanghai, July 5th-Those best
informed in Tien Tsin consider the po-
sition of the foreigners in Pekin as
most hopeless.
1t Is hopeless to attempt TO force the
way with the force available. Com
manders are willing to resort to des-
perate means, but to attempt a forced
march from Tien Tsin with the forces
at hand means certain destruction to
the army, besides slaugter Of the civil
ians left in Tien Tsin. Enough soldiers
are necessary to defeat the Chinese
army. maintain order at the base Of
supplies and guard the hospitals. The
water supply is an important problem,
the country furnishing none except the
river, and wells, which are being poi
soned.
The Chinese are committing terrible
atrocities upon the wounded. They are
mutilating all the dead which fall into
their hands.
General Tung Fab Slang, with 10000
of the best disciplined troops in the
Chinese army, MohammedanS, is
marching from the outhweSt towards
Pektn. The army Whereabouts numbers
1000. The empress fled to her summer
palace. The Mohammadans and Boxers
are fighting. Ten regiments of General
Nieh's command north of Tien Tsin
are reported to have deserted n gone
to pillaglng the country. Residents de-
clare a Chinese commune has been in
augurated and that the peaceable Chi
nese are the greatest sufferers.
The foreign soldiers are burning the
nJIfGEirfC af TIL, Tci- % 0--;x l.
enemy of shelter and the Boxers are
destroying outlying villages for loot.
The smoke Of a hundred fires IAN be
seen in every direction.
T1en TSin was not bOmbarded today
for the first time in a fortnight. Fam
lilies are returning to their homes with
in the concessions. Women and chill
dren Will be sent to Taku as soon as
the travel is safe. No u~nfriendly Chi
namen are visible in the streets. A
few of the richest and their families
, are huddled in the outhouSeS for pro-
lection, badly frightened. Others con-
cealed in various houses shoot at the
Europeans on the street. The Chinese
dead abou Tien Tsin number thou
sands. Most of those who have beer
killed nave been buried in the fields
The river at Taku is full of floating
bodies and many have been washed uI
by the tide. Dogs are feeding on these
bodies along the banks.
The small American contingents
everywhere distinguished themselves
Captain NcCalla and Major Waller arr
most popular at Tien Tsin and theil
men are placed in the lead in every
movement, by common consent, with
the British close beside them.
The foreigners in Tien Tsin declare
however, they owe their lives to tn,
Russians, without whom the othe,
small attachments must have beer
overwhelmed. On the darkest day
Wednesday week, when the Chimes,
were pressing on every side and tn
bravest men We're abandoning hope
the Russian commander, Colonel Wo
Yak arranged that the main body o
the troops should make a sortie will
the civilians in the direction of Taku
leaving 400 Russians to defend tn
Lefty, engage the attention of the Chi
nese n ultimately sacrifice them
selves. The arrival of the American
saved the day and proved a surprise
CIJNA'S IMMENSE WAR PREPAR
ATOMS.
Among the military evidences Of tn
immense Chinese preparation for war
1t may be mentioned that arsenals an,
stores hitherto unknown have been dis
covered with $40, O00, 900 worth of arm
n ammunition of most modern type
IneSe arms II nave bee
destroyed. In three arsenals outside O
Tien Tsin several thousand troop
under General Tieh are holding the ma
tive city five miles north of Tien Tsir
1t is rumored that 10000 Chinese Wi
attack the place at noon today. TIL
troops under arms failed to mate
rialiZe.
Admiral Seymour was wounde,
slightly recently by a spent ball whic'
struck him in the shoulder while il
the house with Commander Mccall
n Commander Taussig. The hero O
Tien Tsin is JONES Watts, a youn
Englishman, perhaps the best rider i
China, who, with three Cossacks, ra
the gauntlet to Taky with message
for achievements, charging thre
villages under fire repeatedly. Severe
foreign commanders have recommend
ed that the quartette be decorated.