The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-26
NEWS IS RECEIVED
FROM Mr.. CONGER
This Dispatch is Undoubt-
edly Genuine.
ITS DATE is JULY 4TH
he Asks For Immediate Relief and
Says a Massacre is Imminent.
HAD THEN BEEN BEslEGEO TWO WEEKS
The Chinese Have Also Requested France,
Germany and Russia to Mediate. This
Fact Renders Succt ssfuI Med-
alton impossible.
alton impossible.
(By the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press.)
London, July 26-(Thursday a. M
Mr.. Conger's. letter, the substance of
which has been transmitted to the United
States Secretary of the Navy, through
Captain Thomas, has increased the be-
lief in London that there is no hope for
the foreign legations in Pekin, and that
the elaborate fabric of dispatches, which
the Chinese are building to persuade the
civilized world that the Ministers are still
alive is only intended to enable them to
gain time to complete preparations for
warfare.
The Shanghai correspondent CT the
Daily Mail asserts that a Chnaman who
was employed in the British legation as
a writer and interpreter, has escaped
from Pekin to Niu Chwang, and that he
declares that at the time he left Pekin,
most of the members of the legations were
dead, and the conditions of the others
was hopeless. He says that Sir Robert
Hart, director of Chinese Imperial mari
time customs, died on July End.
The correspondent goes on to say:
No other dates are given in the mes
sage from Niu Chwang. The leading Chi
nese newspaper here published yesterday
dispatch declaring that it was al over
with the members of the legations. The
President of a minor board at Pekin
wrote to relative in Shanghai, under
date of July 9th saying:
The foreign legations are still uncap-
tured, but owing to the daily fighting it
is reported that only about 800 persons
are left alive in the legations, and If
there is any delay in the arrival of the
relief force l fear that none will be left
to receive it,.
This letter is regarded in Shanghai as
authentic. Strange enough it says moth
ing of any assistance to the legations by
Prince Ching or General Lung Lu."
While these brief side lights as to the
fate of the Europeans leave little ground
for hope, Shanghai sends batch of re-
ports indicative of prepara ations for hos
tilities on the part of the Chinese 1t is
alleged that the Yang Use Viceroys have
sent deputies to Shanghai to inquire as
to the prospect of raising foreign loan,
OStensibly to pursue military operations
against the Boxers, whose movement is
extending rapidly southwark with con-
stantly growing strength, and has reach
ed point where the provinces of Shan
Tung, Ho Nan and Shan Si meet leaving
behind it trail CT burned missions and
murdered Christians.
u. S. MAKING PREPARATIONS.
Washington, July 25-The receipt at
Tien Tsin of an undoubtedly genuine and
autographic message from Minister Con-
ger has done nothing to dissipate the
doubt as TO fho ctuation pol;p l,o
message which was forwarded by the
naval officers at Tien Tsin, Taku and
Che Foo has indeed served only to deepen
the darkest mystery of the century. The
official conclusion remains unchanged. of
course, but it is admitted that a careful
scrutiny of the autograph message in
comparison with the famous cipher mes
sage from Minister Conger admits of the
Dellef that the two messages were indited
by Mr.. Conger at about the same time.
The situation at the British Legation is
represented to be the same in each case
and as Mr.. Conger declares that relief
must come quickly if at all, there is
ground for the SuppOsition that condition
could not long have remained unchanged
at such crisis The assumption that
this reasoning is correct involves the
further conclusion that Minister Conger's
cipher message, if genuine, was redated
as of the 18th of July two weeks later
than the date of actual writing and Of
course, If redated at all, that was done
by Chinese officials. On the other hand,
and in support of the State Department S
position came today a message from an
other of the great Chinese Viceroys, TAX,
at Canton, he, who took charge after Ii
Hung Changs departure. This also al
frmed solemnly the safety of the lega-
TONERS and coming from so many Giffar-
ent sources and from such important
Chinese officials these dispatches claim
attention. A pessimistic view OF them,
however, attributes to all common ORR
gin, namely, some one high official per-
sonage at Pekin. 1t is noted that Talks
assurance brings the Ministers one day
further towards ultimate rescue than has
any preceding message. The fact that it
allows only three days to cover the trans
mission over the great distance between
Pekin and Canton has attracted attention
here, and appears to demand explanation,
If the message is to be accepted as gen.
timely of Pekin origin.
1t was not known to the State Depart
ment until the publication of the fact in
the news dispatches that the French Gov
ernmen also has been addressed by the
Chinese Government in the effort to Sc
cure mediation. Now it appears that still
other powers were addressed in a similar