New-York tribune., 1900-08-31
THE STORY OF PEKLNG.
GRAPHIC DETAILS OF THE SIEGE AND
RELIEF OF THE LEGATIONS.
THE FIRST TO REACH THEM-CHAF-
FEES DISAPPOINTMENT.


PeEing, Aug. IA. by post via Tien-Tsin.-A
medal will be struck commemorating the siege
of Peking. 1t will bear the legend. Men. not
walls, make a city"
In the grounds of the British Legation, where
handful of men withstood the millions of the
Chihese capital for ifty-six days. a memorable
ceieoration is in progress tonight in vindica-
ton of that principle Missionaries. assembled
ABOUT Bell Tower, are singing the Doxology
Rockets are blazing. Soldiers and civilians of
all nationalities are fraternizing The women
are applauding the sound of the cannon that
are smashing the yellow roofs OF the Forbidden
City
Inc tired Sikhs are planting their tents on
'he lawn and the American and Russian con-
ungents are lighting campires along the stretch
OF turf extending beyond the Tartar wall
Through the ruins of the foreign settlement
an eager cosmopolitan crowd is jostling-
indians, Cossacks, legation women, diplomats
Americans from the Philippines and French dis
clpl1narians from Saigon, who kept discreetly
to the rear while the fighting was in progress
but came conspicuousIy to the front when loot
ing began Only the japanese, who have earned
the first place, are absent
DEFENCEs OF THE LEGATIONS.
resident foreigners welcome the luxury of
walking about and immunity from bullets The
newcomers are anxious to inspect the evidences
OF an historic defence. These barricades are
after all, the most wonderful sight in Pekng.
The barriers hedging the British Legation are
n marvel Of stone and brick walls and earth
works. Sand bags shield every foot of snaca
The tops Of the walls have inches for the
rllefnen' and the buildings at their porticos and
windows have armor of boxes, bags stuffed
with dirt. and pillows too
Back or the United States Legation Is a work
named Fort Myers, which the marines held.
completely screening both sides or the walls
with steps leading to IT. There is a 1oonboIAd
barrier across the wall. which faces a s;r,i,.-
Chinese work few yards away. Another wall
bars Legation-st in front of the German Lega-
ton. and, confronting the enen1y's barricades
within those limits are yet more walls. en-
abling the foreigners to contract the area Of
defence IL pressed
The tops of the American and British hu,,5Ls
ings were badly torn by the Chinese shells
Tise-sest OF ths-foreisr settIement was alu7cgt
denolfshed. Two thousand eight hundred shells,
fell there during the first three weeks of the.
bombardment. four hundred in one dav
Bucketfuls of bullets were gathered in the
grounds.
Four hundred and fourteen people lived in
the compound through the greater part Of the
siege. Three hundred and four marines. as
sisted by eighty-f1ve volunteers. commanded
by the English Captain Poole, defended the
place. Eleven civilians were killed and nine
teen wounded. Fifty-four marines and sailors
were killed and lI2 wounded.
The American loss was seven killed and eleven
wounded. Gilbert Reid who was wounded in
the feet. was the only American civilian in
jured. Two foreign women were wounded.
ENTRANCE OF THE REsCUERs.
The reception which the survivors gave the
army was worth the hardships the troops had
undergone. The entrance was not spectacular.
Sir Alfred Gaselee. with his staff. and com
pany of Sikhs, waded up a bed of sewage into
the canal under the Tartar wall The besieged
removed the barricades. and when the gates
swung inward and the British colors appeared
there arose a great continuous cheer on both
sides.
Generals. soldiers and correspondents
scrambled up the banks through the filth. ell
bowling to be first. Men and women surrounded
their rescuers and shook the hands of the sikhs
patting them the back. Everybody was
hustled excitedy along into the legation
grounds, where the coors were planted The
soldiers surrounded the we'll which had been
the salvation of the beseged
The Ministers and officers demanded the latest
news both sides.
An hour afterward General Chaffee riding at
the head of the 14th United States Infantry
marched to the Tartar Wall An American ma
rine who was on top of the wall. shouted
You are just in time. We need you in our
business"
Where get in?" said General Chaffee
Through the canal The British entered
there two hours ago." was the response.
The American General looked disappointed.
Although the Americans entered behind the
last of the British forces, their reception was
just as enthusiastic as If they had been first
When the Stars and Stripes emerged into view
Mr. Tewksbury. the missionary. cried. "Ameri-
cans cheer your 1agr Women waved their
handkerchiefs and the soldiers cheered the
women.
THOUGHT THERE WAS A LAWN PARTY.
on entering the grounds of the British Lega-
tion the American troops stared in amazement
and inquired If there a lawn party in