New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
GARRISON IN GOOD HEALTH.


GARRISON IN GOOD HEALTH.
Considering the circumstances. the health of
the community so far has been wonderful SO
many people cooped up in a small space without
any previous sanitary arrangements and with
bad food right in the middle Of Picking
mer would. one would think, be sure to suf-
fer from all sorts of epidemcs, but
matter of fact have. thank goodness, had
very little sickness. barring five or six cases OF
scarlet fever, a good many cases of typhoid. and
many slight cases of dysentery-very fortunately
not severe form. though Russian marine died
of it yesterday. The poor little middies have
suffered most from the want of fresh air and
decent food I know of five that have died
none Of our little Legation babies 1 am glad
to say-and all very seedy and weak. 1
only hope that poor Mrs. does not lose
her poor little child. she simply lives for it.
Sunday afternoon.
Once more may remark Now we shant be
long" message has just arrived from the
Yamen saying that they quite agree with the
Foreign Ministers desire for peace, always did,
in fact, and might they round tomorrow
to have a talk about things in general and
peace in particular? This is just about what we
expected. as the troops must he somewhere very
near indeed. just now; but what is rather mex
pIicable. in the face of this letter is that they
are blazing away at us more just now than
they have done for some time past are busy on
barbados still all around U.s. and several guns
are even reported to have been mounted oppo-
site our barbados.
FACTS HARD TO RECONCILE
They have not fired a shell at US since the
"armistice" on July 49, so it looks as il they
meant TO give us hot time tonight. This we
certainly expected when the troops got near and
the Chinese soldiers began to come into the city
but imagined from the tone Of the Yamen's let
ter that they had thought better Of it, OF
course the great object OF the Government will
be to keep the foreign troops out of the city
and il they cannot do that by force they will
of course, climb down and try to do it by peace
full negotiations This is what the Yamen want
to come around here and talk about you may
be sure. They asked If they might come in to-
day, but the Chief said tomorrow at u would
suit him best, hoping that troops may storm
the gates and come in in the mean time This
of course may account for the lively fusillade
which is going on just now but it is rather an
surd that our dear friends. the Ministers of the
Tsung Yamen. who are, and always hava
been. anxious to help and protect us in every
way, should be writing around to say that rbey
would like to call and discuss peace while their
beastly soldiers are doing their best TO exter-
inmate us.
Our Nordenfeldt is however, talking awav
merrily on our west wall, and seems to have
nearly senced the firing from that quarter a
couple of hours ago they turned II onto an
aggressive barricade. and after a few rounds
knocked the whole thing over, exposing about
thirty soldiers. Our men had time to get sew
eral volleys into them. 'annihiated the clan t"
so to speak, which was fine sweep
PLANNING THE RECEPTION
A difficulty the reception of the Yarar
Ministers will be by what gate they are to enter
Our main gate is blocked up by a large sbau
proof shelter redoubt, which projects o,,+
across the road. and in which the An,ar,oo,
Colt gun is mounted. 1t forms litt1n rom,
about four feet high. and their excelIenciee ,Iht
not think 1t compatible with their dignity -
crawl through here on their hands and knees
Ahother solution would be that they worm In
nave opened up through an old drain and nv
which We can cross in safety from here ~ ~
Flu II neither OF these entries Is consi6Arad
suitable, there remains only the side pata
through which they will probably make Ibsir
triumphant entry. provided they are not all shot