The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-18
Rescued.

Almost like resurrection from the
dead is the rescue Of the members OF
the foreign legations at Picking. For
weeks the world has waited for this
news. hoping against hope. When the
curtain Of yellow night fell about them
and refused to lift, the stoutest hearts
faltered. We knew what to expect Of
Chinese cunning and treachery and
cruelty. We had word in the dreadful
tales carried from every portion OF the
empire to which foreigners had PEN
etrated. tales OF blood and outrage and
horror unspeakable. that the worst had
come. We could not, dared not believe
that this little band of Europeans. en-
circled by the vast sea OF bowling, hos
tile millions. would escape the common
doom.
The shutting on Of all communica-
ton with them deepened the convic-
ton that the worst had happened. Not
a government in the world saved its
faith in China's word. not one but
moved for revenge and punishment
rather than with any hope OF rescue.
BY and by word or two sifted
through. words so vague In time and
place that we knew not whether they
were the message OF a friend or the
cunningiy devised snare Of an enemy.
At last we came to understand that
this valiant little band had set their
backs to the wall and faced an empire
risen against them; knew that for
weeks they had withstood the assault
Of enemies in their very stronghold:
knew thar they had waited and were
waiting for their rescuers in the very
shadow OF a daily death.
IL was a question of the ability of
this slender garrison to hold out against
the myrlads around them. a question
% the ability OF the few thousands Of
allied forces to drive their way into the
capital Of a nation whose subjects are
numbered by hundreds Of millions. And
hearts grew faint with despair as
America thought upon the impossible
passage, the infinite delay. the victory
which, II II came at all. might come
too late. To-day the clad news rcaches
us, Today we know that hand has
grasped hand and heart beat close 70
heart In the distant city Of the pol-ho.
The iong-expeeted suecor came In time
to that heroic band. Chinese frenzy
could not reach them, could not stay
the advance os international forces
upon their errand, could not meet the
impact q civilization though the odds
were thousand 90 one
II Is something Ike that xrea, day
when We heard the bars fact 81 the
engagement IN Manila nay and waited
half luoreaulous ana All impatient fer
Tire details 2, ia enough now TO Enow
that the long strain Is ended. that COR
sorst fears were not justified. that tha
eylua q the cenuary was net consuna-
mated, The stow q that splendid de-
fence alone assinst the unnumb,erei
hos,s, and that splendid advance 20 the
rescue against a fse who could have
crushed his ssSanants BY mere brute
force hNd he but knowa how Il not
yKt tola. II viii b. reoounsed again
and again ia the his;ory 81 every coun-
try in she world. ina, drama Is vet
to "a untoidsd We have yet 70 learn
what IS 20 he the next step Of the
| powers. what Is tire actual condition
q affairs tn ChinAs capital, wha, Is to
be her relation henceforth 70 the civil
iEed world. For the present 80 Is
enough 20 know that our mission has
been successful. sRd our countrymen
| and women are safe. Fur that We