The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-04

chinese Government w..t
me Chinese government proved. how
ever, unable TO cheek the RISING stra9,,fh
% the Boxers. and appeared Ia re- a nPev
- mternational dissensions In The mn
e edos contest the antI-foreign Influences
leadership OF Prince TNlan Organtzsd
armies OF Boxers with which The inn
bbs atn,d FORCES affiliated. held the country
between Picking and the coast nenefraf
ed into Manchuria no 10 the Rnss,ar hor-
uer, ana through their emissaries threat
ene1 Ike rise throughout Northern
lion ~ , as.aeks upon foreigners, destruc-
a,oli ol property and slaughter OF native
SvlNer,s We're reported from all sides
. Inc tsung II yamen, already permeated
W., WI nosllie sympathies. could make no
cations. "'F"'9 VI ''e
Al this critical juncture. in the early
Ssp -. .hg OF this year. a proposal was made
ny the other powers that a combined fieet
pc assembled In the Chinese waters as a
noial demonstration. under cover of
when ya 70 exact Of the Chinese government
luspeet Tor foreign treaty rights and the
suppression Of the Boxers The United
states, while not participating in the Joint
nrsshnii,s1ns,tration, promptly sent from the
niippines all ships that could be spared
TOT service on the Chinese coast A small
force OF marines was landed at Taku
ana sent TO Picking for the protection of
the american legation. Other powers took
similar action, until some 100 men were
assembled In the capital as legation
guards.
sea the peril increased The legations
reported the development OF the seditious
movement In Picking and the need of in
creased provision for defense against e.
W ME preparations were I'm progress for
larger expedition TO strengthen the Ie-
cation guards and Keep the railway open,
an attempt OF the foreign ships 10 make
a landing az Taku was met by fire from
the Chinese forts. The forts were there
upon shclled by the foreign vessels the
American admiral taking no part IN the
an H.. al
at war with China and that q hostile
demonstration might consolidate the
ant-fnreign elements and strengthen the
Boxers to oppose the relieving column
Two days later the Taku forts were cap
tured after sansuinary conflict Sew
GRANGE OF communication with Peking
tlonal guards which was advancing TO
Picking by the peiho was checked Mt
Iangfang The isolation of the legations
was complete.
The siege and Relief.
The Siege and the relief OF the lega-
tions. have passed into undying history.
In all the stirring chapters which record
the heroism OF the devoted band cling
ing to hope in the face OF despair. and
the undaunted spirit that led their re-
lievers through battle and suffering To
the goal, IL Is a memory of which my
eonntrymen may be Justly proud that
the honor OF our flag was maintained
alike In the siege and the rescue. and
that stout American hearts have again
set high in fervent emulation with true
men OF other race and language the in
domitabie courage that ever strives for
the cause Of right and justice.
BY June the legations were cut of,
An Identical note from the yamen or
dered each minister to leave Picking, un-
der a promised escort, within twenty
four hours. To gain time they replied,
asking prolongation of the time which
an Interview with the tsung II yamen on
the following day. No reply being re-
ceived on The morning of the 29th the
German minister, Baron Won ketteier.
set Out for the yamcn TO obtain n re-
Spouse. and on his way was murdered.
An attempt by the legation guard 90
recover his body fOiied By the Chi
nese Armed forces turned out against
the legations. Their quarters were sur
rounded and attacked. The mission com
pounds were abandoned. their inmates
taking refuge In the British legation.
where all the other legations and guards
gathered for more effective defense. Four
hundred persons We're crowded In It's mar
row compass Two thousand native con-
verts were assembled IN nearby place
under protection Of the foreigners. Lines
of defense were strengthened trenches
dug, barrieades raised and preparations
made to stand siege. which at once be-
gan.
From June 70 untn July H." writes
Minister Conger. there was scarcely an
hour during which there was not fring
upon some part 81 our lines and into
some Of the legations varying from "A
attack along the whole line.
Attacks by Chinese.
Artillery was placed around the lega-
tons and on the overlooking palace walls
aud thousands Of three-tnch shot and
shell were fired. destroying some build
the balls rain that when the ammunition
OF the hesieged ran low, i've quarts Of
Chinese bullets were sathsrcd IN an hogr
~ a compound, and rnSast Attempts
were made To burn the legations hy set
ting ntichhorins houses on hres but the
names We're successfully tegght ~. a.
and Dutch legations were then and sub
seauently burned. With the aid 81 the
native converts, directed ~ the mission
aries. TO whose helpful coeopefaiion MIN
lister Couger afterward gave unstinted
praise, the British legation Was made a
yeritahle fortress the hLliish hiitiistet'
erai commander Of the dcfcnsvs, with thc
secretary OF the American lcgatloB, t. g.
Squires as chief Il staff.
To save life and ammunition me -.
siaged sparinEly returned the tncessant
fro 90 the Chinese soldierY, ughtiug ouly
to repel attack Qr make an occasional
tage such as that 81 dtty ufe Amer
lean. British and Russian marines led
by Capt Myers. q the Dmtea states
marine corps, which resulted ~ the cap
tnre 81 formidable harrigade on the
walt THAI grsvely nenaced thr American
position. u was hrtd 90 ne last and
commanding the water gate through
witch the relief raiuiun entered.
During the sicge fhe defenders lost
sfNtv-nVg Killed lA wounded and seven
hy disease the last az children
ue.icK.d aud the r-ung III ,ame~.
ON July "A the hesirged had their Hrss
communication with the tsung q same g,
frent which q u4gseage came inviting 90
4 conference. whsch was acttince Cor
Remembrance however. crsued. and g HoTt
~ aru,fstice was aNrvcd upon Whith
sfe-r,ed az, boiphardmrni aud lesseaed
tse ri.i. nrc for a time. Eyyn thso ne
,,r,,feetfsn whatever was Afforded, fnr
anx AID given. save 90 stnd 60 The leEa.
tfsns i small supply ~ traN and ihrce
sacks 90 feur
TrAeeH the only communication Rad
Min ne Chinese government related to
~. ns.raSlanAi delivery or dispatch OK "a
tei,urasra On 10 the demands ~ the tsumg
Ii vamon for the wlthdrswal OF tee ifsa-
80, h, the csnasf under cacnrt Nof uniN
sre thc protcstatiQus az the chinese SOY.
sr4,rsgrt that "a protected ana slce2rud
- iesa tiars positively corfradtCtei. but
lrrsslstIbla psoof acc0mulAtes iA9t The Az
80 0non them were made eN Imperial
f,,>.,~s regularly uniformed. armed and