Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-08-23

only Of a sneaking and cnwardly char- |
actar. They have tried to creep up the |
he'd of the canal under the protection OF |
the stone enbankment which runs by the
legation, and they have tried to burn lhe
legation out 5y setting fire to the build
ing4 around il. The sacred buildings OF
the Hanlie college. with its ancient
library of unique manuscripts. was orrh
ed. and several homes of friendly Chinese
which adioined were also DESTROYED
From theIegation could be seen the de-
struction. and by the rising OF the smoke
vou could tell as one by one they were
wrecked The Russian and the Amerl
eau Legations have been the least 'lalh-
aged, for they lay so close that tney are
almost under the protection OF the guns
in the British legation We would nave
had n hard time mad il not been for the
Smuggling in of supplies by friendly
Chinese. The stable gate of the legation
orens into Il Chinese market, and lot
Of vegetables and garden products was
smuggled in that way. We also recelV-
ed much information concerning the
whereabouts and position OF the Chinese
forces from the compound of those Chl-
uese who lived on each side OF the lega-
ton, while lot Of imperial troops Were
canped in the imperial carriage grouhds
that adioined the legation on the noflh-
west.
Once or twice the Chinese came down
the street by the canal as Though they
were going to force the front entrance,
but they could never stand the hre OF
| our guards long enough toreachlt we
have received q number OF commQlllcd-
+ions and a lot of edict5 from the Isung
Ii Yamen, first landing the Boxers anu
calling them patriots, and asklng all
| GOOD Chinese to Join in the effort to ex-
terminate the Christians, but afterward
turning completely about and ordering
| them to furnish us protection.
The last edict was quickly interpreted
a. meaning that the Chinese forces had
been defeated outside the city. The very
FIGHT after this friendly edict was pub
ished the most vicious attack OF all was
made on the legation. The Chinese SIM
nlv swarmed the street and attempted 10
| climb over the wall, until at last capt.
| Myers. in command Of the American ma
rines. decided to make sortle. Almost
every one opposed his decision, tor they
thought it would be certain death anu
that the American force would De ann
hilated, but Myers was determined Ior
lit seemed that nothing else wouid stop
the swarming Of the Chinese, ana IL tney
once began to get over the wall 1nslde
the legation it would probably have been
all over; so the Americans dasned out oi
the entrance and, quicker that you can
sell. the street along the canal was sweep
clean Of Chinese. The Americans sur,
fered severely, and Capt Myers minister
was badly wounded, but they saved tne
l1eoation The CITY wall, which lies only
| L l. l. - no
heen the favorite post for large force
of the Chinese who had made themseiYeS
particularly troublesome; for, beng Sc
bioh mn thew overlooked the legation
and could shoot right down into 1t.
Had there been any merksman among
them they could easily have picked Oh
most If those in the legation one at
time. hence it was decided that the toI
Of the wall must be taken by some oi
our guard, and again the Americans
were selected for the work:
II was done without much trouble, foI
the Chinese had been 80 badly whipped
that they did not care to stand mp aRaihs'
Those Yankee marines. The Americans
lare stiIl holding the top Of the wall
which is vital and commanding posi-
ton, for it not only prevents the lega
ton from being fired into, but 1t enables
Them to see the movements ana posi-
tions of all the Chinese forces IN the
lneighborhood.
There is no us discussing an Anglo
american alliance 1t is already II
lexistence. and out here it is the only
thing that has preserved the safety o.
tn. foreigners in Pekin and brought
about the truce which now promises &c
relieve them. The Yankees and the red
coated Englishmen are together every
where. and lead in very movement
1.-The fighting itself has not been so fierce,
except the few times that the Chinese
have attempted to make an assault, bu'
there has been an awful strain from con
slant watching and the agony Of wait
ling and wondering what has become Oh
the relief force which has 50 long beer
ldelayed. The women in the legation
lhave been even greater heroes that TIE
men. looking after the wounded and car
ing for the comfort Of those who were
on guard or at work in building new
defenses.
The legation is ditched and tunneleo
land barricaded, 70 that if the Chlnesi
get in any place they will still find them
selves prevented from reaching the res'
Of the legation without just as hsrcc :
fight as it necessary 10 gain their mrs
ladmittance The great pavilion whicl
stands just inside the entrance-the one
with the tall red d-lacquered pillars ahf
the big greenfield roof. which has bee,
the scene Of much gayety and dancing
has been turned into hospital. ana cots
for the sick and wounded stand al
laround, while the women are Hitting II
land out in their ministrations.
Platforms were built around inside th'
Iencircling wall Of the legation compound
40 that we could have the outlook and
watch the Chinese, but the strain Of the
expectation Of attack and the fear OF
dread of being overwhelmed by Hood
Of yellow fiends have been terrible. III
our dreams we have seen the wall cover
ed with grinning, chattering faces just
ready TO drop inside. Many were the
plans made for action il it came to the
worst, for the problem of what to do in
case of,extremity has been fully consider
ed. The men couldn't agree that lht
women and children should be killed ii
the Chinese attack should prevail. but II
was pretty well understood, particularly
lamonQ the Americans and English, that
their families would not be allowed t.
fall alive into the hands Of the Chinese.
| At Washington, Tuesday, the Cabinet
session Of the day was taken up by The
consideration Of the momentOns ques
tions growing out of the capture Of Pc
kim. Until that days session, the alb
lgorbinQ question has been the safety oi
Minister Conger and the legation peO-
lple at Pekin Now that has given
place 10 problems touching the very ex
istence Of the Chinese empire and the
part which the American government
Is 10 take in the reconstruction.
The meeting that day was devoted en-.
entirely to the Chinese situation. Sccre
taries Hay and Root who have beer
most active in directing affairs, were
labsent from the city, 50 that the atteu
dance was comparatively small, tht
president having with him Secrotarie'
Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson and Post
master General Charles Emory Smith
Several questions were awaiting atten
ton. First Of these was the application
of Iii Hung Chang for the appointment
Of Minister Couger or some other com
missioner 10 negotiate for the cessation
Of hostiities. The decision arrived nj
was TO reject the appeal, and reply O1
this character VIII be sent to Minister
Wu 10 be forwarded 10 III Hung Chang
L The rejection is based on the non-com-
pliance Of the Chinese government will
the specific provisions Of the declaration
Of the United States under date OI
August IL.
The moving cause for this action il
that this government is NJ present very
! much in the dark as TO whether there
is any existing government in China
4 L.. ~ s..I Ia. ,.f 4.