The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-11-28
bESEIGED IN PEKIN
A Letter From Mrs. Saliie Rsy-
noids Reid.
A THRILLING ACCOUNT
Of FeaFtui Days Of Seige Writ
ten by Sourh Caro-.
lima Missionary 70
China

lima Missionary 70
China
Dr.. S. VI Reynolds, Of Gceenvllle,
kindly permits the News, of that city,
to print the following letter, which will
be read with interest, both becau:e of
its graphic description Of the Pekin
siege ard OF the interest felt ia the
writer. whois known to many persons in
the State:
Shanghai, China, o.. I, 1900
My dear Brother: How good it is
to be writing tc You again. Thank
God. While still in P-kin l did not
write because could not say re were
safe. Baby and | are DnR at Nc,
Tyaire Home and Mr. Reid is, l
trust, again in Pekin, though fear he
went to Paoting Fu with relief party
to rescue some poor people still defend
ing themselves agaicst the Boxers. He
came as far as Tien Tsin and saw us Oh
the vessel for Chefoo, where we ex
changed steamers for Shanghai
After all these months it is so
blessed to be free again. My dear
brother, they have been snxious days
aad more anxious nights. The Pekin
seige was full Of mercy yet full of trial
for each baby included. l don't know
where to begin to tell about it.
JchH Gilbert aad | went to the
Methodist mission the night of June
S,h. Previous to this l had for two
weeks been sleeping io my clothes aud
for two nights expected to escape in
Chinese dress. On June 10, Mr. Reid
also with Mr. Stele came to the mis-
sion compound, where all the Ameri
can missionaries were gathered. All
foreign houses outside the legation
were 10 ted aad burned during the next
week. Oar place vas one of the last to
go. Poor old Isl Fu7g, the watchman
escaped over the wall, leaving the place
on fire and the courts filed with soldiers
and Boxers, to deliver to ne the keys
of the hcuse. Wasn't that just like
Chinauar? Next day he and Mr.. Lieu
went back to see what might be still
left on the ground of the burnt prem
ises; seeing 40 one outside the gate
they ventured in and were INN ediately
seized by soldiers and dragged of to the
Yamen where they were connanccd 10
burn ioceuse. This both of them re-
fused to do, and they were at once be-
headed. The faithful old carter brought
US word the same day. For days this
horrible deed haunted US. Mr.. Lieu was
fine nsn, a Christian sentlauaa and
one Of the best friends Mr.. Reid ever
had among the Chinese. His wife and
little grandchild are entirely dependent
on US now. 1t was terribly ssd.
We were at the Methodist mission
until June 10th, each day and each
night growing more and moro full Of
danger. AS sooa IS the Germsn min
ister was killed Msj. Ginger ordered US
to the American legation We walked
through Pekin' streets to the legation,
not knowing what moment we might be
fred upon by Chinese troops stationed
along the city walls.
On reaching the American legation
we were told that all the foreigners
were to refuge in the British legation
By 4 o'clock We were within the walls
of that legation, were located at Jub-
lice chapel, and firing from the Chin
ese had begun. Then followed day
after day and night after night Of in
cessant fusilading and shelling until
sometimes it seemed ss if the end must
come. Yet God kept US and the Chin
ese failed in their every attempt,
| though sixty FIVE per cent Of our brave
soldiers lost their lives 10 defending US
On July 9th, about o'clock in the
afternoon, news came to me that Mr..
Reid was shot in the left leg just
through the calf. l could not see him
until nearly o'clock; as his wound
must be first dressed aud ne made COM
Portable in the hospital before l could
be allowed te see him. He suffered
greatly with his wound and With lum-
bags, which was very acute AMI las Il
four weeks.
Baby had four attacks Of naiarial
fever during the seige and grew weak
CT and weaker, as had little or moth
log Tor him to eat-tEo bottles of Mel
Inns food aud dozon tins of condensed
milk. Everything wa had been able to
get as .sr as the Methodist mission, eZ
cepr the truak which you gave ne,
With its contents, was burnod or loot
cd BY the soldiers. We lost everything.
did not save even comb ard brush.
Living, eating and sleeping were all
done within the walls Of our chapel
There we-c seventy six of Us to feed
,h,es times day. Most of US slept on
the floor and were thankful for an inch
or two of cotton between US ood The
boards. Mosquitoes, S;es and heas
we're innuuerable Dirt and smells
we're not to be avoided, yet We had
only five nights too hot for sleep,
though We spent many sleeples5 ones
because Of the firing asd shelliog.
By the last Of July Mr.. Reid was
conv4lescent aud was not even using a
crutch when the troops got il, August
10Th, though he still uses stick and
limps wee bit. Oa August 20th We
left the British legation to resume life
IN Chinese house. The same day
baby was taken with dJsantery apd
was Ill for two weeks or more. So
many after the seige had dysentery OF
typhoid fever.
Poor Wee Jack grew more and more
thin until it almost made ne cry to
touch him. Mr.. S:c.lc was i'll a the
same time with ma arial fever. As