The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-03
AWFUL SCENE in PEKING
FOUR THOUSAND CONVERTS SLAIN
BY BOXERS UP TO JUNE 20.
Reformer Who Escaped from the Cap
itaI Says the Streets Ran with
BIood-Tuan's Reign.

CHICAGO, Aug. "A special to the
Record from Victoria, B. c., says: A letter
received by local Chinaman by the steam
er Glenogle, dated from Chi-San-Fu, the
capital of Shan-Tung. on July 2, says Cho
Ia. reformer who escaped from Peking
on June 2s, has given the writer the fol-
lowing information from the capital to
June rs:
"There were over 100000 Boxers and Man
chu troops in the capital when left, and
numbers more were pouring in from all
parts of Chilli, Shan-Tung, Shen-Si and
IIo-Nan.- Their MAN object seemed to be
plumber and hatred of foreigners. The
gates of Peking were consequently open
day and night to permit these reinforce
ments to enter the city. Those in the city
had attacked the foreign legations con-
tinuously for ten days, but were repulsed
every time, although they managed to set
fire to a number of houses adjoining the
foreign quarters, thereby leaving the lat
ter considerably exposed. / believe one or
two foreign houses had already been de-
stroyed when I left the city. No decent
person could get anywhere near the place
for fear of being called a foreigner by the
mob.
mot counting the 1000 to 5000 converts
who have been massacred by the Boxers
inside Peking, it was estimated when
left that over 1000 peaceable citizens had
also been slain in the melee. The streets
ran with blood it was awful. The Tartar
and forbidden cities were filled to overflow
ing with Boxers and Manchu troops. which
caused panic among the princes, dukes,
mobiles and members of the imperial clan
and other banners, who were afraid that
they also would be plundered as soon as
the Boxers got beyond control, and so. by
diplomacy, they managed to clear both
cities of their dangerous friends, closed the
gates and placed strong guards of banner
men to prevent further ingress of out
siders.
"The Tartar city gates are now only
opened a couple of hours a day to enable
residents to purchase things from the other
cities. To show how popular the Boxers
are with the Manchus, in front of the
palace of each prince, duke and nobleman
there are Boxer affairs or recruiting places.
''On the 18th of June Yung Lu, who had
always advocated the suppression of the
Boxers, having received dispatches from
the viceroys and Governors south of the
Yellow river, urging the same step, thought
TO back up his policy by quoting the pro-
vincial dispatches at the grand council that
morning. A great clamor at once arose
among the other grand councillors, headed
by Prince Tuan and Yang Yu, who de-
nounced Yung Lu as a traitor and liter
| ally overwhelmed him by their numbers
| Finally, in spite of the endeavors of the
| Empress dowager to restore order, Prince
Tuan and Yang Yu cried out that they
would take all the responsibility of the
| war against foreigners and rushed out OF
| the grand council chamber, all decorum an
| etiquette being thrown to the winds The
| Empress dowager left the council chamber
| in despair and has not been heard of since
nor has the Emperor. They are said to be
| under the restraint OF Prince Tuan's men
| ir the palace. When this was known to the
| eunuchs and palace officials. they raised
| the cry up with the Ia Using dynasty and
| DOWN with the foreigners which was taken
| up by the populace in the Tartar city. An
| hour afterward began the reign of Prince
| Tuan and his clique. We fear greatly for
| the safety of our beloved Emperor"