The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-11-15
/ vlL0ROUS MARINE
ABOARD THE DlaIc
CAPTAIN MEYERS KxRoUTE
HOME ON SICK LEAVE
CHINESE SITUATION.
First March on Peking Graph
cally Described Does not Ds-
lisve Charges Against
Captain Hall.

l CoPS310 A8u.
Captain ]. T. Meyers. {. s NJ. c..
with his wife, were through passengers
in the Dcric yesterday from the ORIENT
During the siege in Peking. Captain
Meyers was in command of the American
marines and by his yalor and attention TO
duty NJ the critical time before the re-
lief OF the legzrioners he won fame and
the respect and love of the imprisoned
people. In conversation yesterday he
said:
by the latter part of May the Boxer
uprising had started and the Chinese had
even gone so far as TO burn two stations
between Taku and Picking. Minister
Conger was keeping the wires hot send
ing notices for a guard 10 be dispatched
TO the legation. On May 80. Commander
McCalla ordered me to take a body of
fifty marines and go Immediately TO Pc
king. We tried 10 go by rail, but the
Chinese refused TO sell Us tickets. The
result was that we got lighters and were
towed up the canal The other countries
sent along troops with us and when we
reached Picking the same night we were
from 400 to 800 strong.
..As soon as we reached Picking each
detachment was distributed about 10
guard the legations of their respective
countries. The sentiment against the
foreigners was daily increasing and fin
ally on June Il communication with the
outside world was shut off. On June
~. Baron Won Ketteler was assassinated.
That night we moved the women and
children into the English legation and
the following day the Chinese began an
attack upon the legations.
The foreign legations are built in
line along the great wall which is forty
feet in height and thirty feet in width.
At first no attempt was made by either
side to take this wall in fact the Chi
nese sent word that the: would keep off
of it if we would. This was agreed to-
but the Chinese soon broke their COM
pact and seized portion of the wall
Owing to its height the wall gave them
a command over the surrounding country
and especially the legations. and so. real
possession of the position. we charged
and drove the Chinese off of it.
I'VE held about 600 yards of the wall
and although there We're bastions at
every hundred yards, we added further
Notifications to protect the men. The
Americans guarded one end of the wall
and the Russians the other. while the
other nations had troops distributed be-
tween the two wings. Another import
ant reason for holding the wall was the
fact that the great canal passed under
it close to the legations and we speculat-
ed that if the relief expeditions. when
they did arrive, should fail to carry the
gates they could get into the town
through this canal.
ITO what extent the empress dowager
but 1 know that we were attacked by
thousands of imperial troops. men who
wore the uniform of the imperial army
and carried the imperial banners. In
fact in charge that we made and where
| was wounded in the leg by a spear.
we captured several banners which gave
the name of the colonel of the Chinese
regiment and told to what portion of the
imperial army he belonged
Il can't say that any set of troops
-,
than did the other 1t was root-hog
or-die case with us all and every man
realized that he had to do his utmost to
hold that position or else his throat would
be cut. so he naturally put forth every
effort in him.
Regarding the report that Minister
Conger had filed charges of cowardice
against Captain Hall. the second in COM
mand of the marines. | will say that |
am certain Mr. Conger did not make any
charges at ALL A rumor started that
Hall had showed the white feather and
he demanded a court martial. A number
of people were asked if they would pre-
fer charges against Hall. myself among
the number and we declined. Hall was
exonorated by the court. So far as |
saw he was an efficient officer.
Captain Meyers has been in Honolulu
before. When the Charleston arrived
here during the Spanish war on her way
to Manila he was on her. During her
stay the captain made many friends here
and yesterday he was around town re-
newing old acquaintaneeships- From the
Charleston after the battle of Manila he
was transferred to the Baltimore DE
then went to the Oregon and later was
detailed for duty aboard the Newark. |
from which vessel he wa sent TO Picking. !
CAPTAIN Meyers is on his way home on
sick leave and as soon as he has fully
his health he will be sent back