The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-29
ARMY QUARTERS IN PEKIN.
The American Troops Amid Lux
uriOus SURROUNDINGS.

| The American Troops Amid Lux
| urious Surroundings.
PEK1N, Sept. 12.-since the capture o.
Pekin there has been little for the Ameri-
| can troops to do but patrol their pre-.
cincts. arrange their quarters. and forage
for food. 1t has fallen to the lot CT the
| United States troops to govern the south
west corner Of the southern or Chinese
city and a part of the Tartar City, three
or four miles in area. lying in the south
| western corner. Although the work OF
the patrols is tedious, 1t il not ardu-
Gus. for SO meek and fowly a set Of in
habitants never existed before as the
meagre population of Pekin at present.
To those who witnessed the turbulent
break of the Filipinos,i Pekin at the pres
ent day Is revelation. Although there
is nothing to hinder Boxers and desper-
ate characters from sneaking in and in
esting the acres and acres Of habitations.
which can be likened to great collections
Of ratholes, the city at all hours now is
as quiet and peaceful as country viii
lage Chinaman dare not consider an
attempt to pot the guard. for he knows
that the firing of a single shot means al
most the wiping out of the quarter from
which 1t comes and the shooting OF every
Chinaman who, shows his head. Such
vengeance, perhaps. would not be in
f1icted by the Americans, but the lesson
given by the European troops in other
parts of the city has been too terrible to
permit the natives to attempt any foul
play even in the American quarter.
A small body of troops, composed OF
French and Russians, while advancing to
the relief of Pei Tang mission in the west
ern city, received an unexpected and spite
ful fire from a number of houses on their
flank. Retribution speedily fell upon the
snipers and the innocent people around
them also suffered, for, dashing into
the buildings. the soldiers began dragging
forth every male they encountered. With
their queues as halters the prisoners were
led with little ceremony to an open space
and executed by sharp, quick blows Of
heavy sabres. When this horrible slaugh-
ter was completed and the quarter from
which the firing emanated had been purged
of its bellfserent as well as its innocent
upward Of three dozen corpses
lay about the execution ground within
radius Of twenty-five yards. For several
days these bodies remained there, all in
the postures in which the victims fell.
Such lessons as these. 1t seems, have
been appreciated. and they were plentiful
enough throughout the city in the days
its capture to make the patrol
Of the place a mere formality at present.
The main camp of the United States
troops is situated at the Temple Of Agri-
culture. a vast estate of grassy pastures,
graceful elm trees and gaudy buildings in
the southern or Chinese city. On either
side of the wide macadamized road which
leads out of one of the southern gates to
the railway station are the Temple of
A agriculture and the Temple Of Heaven,
great domains shut off by high walls
whose precincts were sacred to the En-
oeror. He issued forth from the palace |
once each year to worship at the Altar |
If Heaven, the mosi sacred temple in the |
;ity, and he also went once each year to |
he Temple Of Earth, where he suppli- |
,ated for the prosperity of the crops of |
he kingdom and with his own hand, SO |
hey say, plowed furrow.
About a thousand acres Of land sur |
.ound the huge buildings which lift their I
,reen-tiled pagoda roofs above the grace
ul trees. Few handsomer parks could be
ound anywhere. The green of the grass
md the stately trees blends beautifully
With the terra Gotta Of the walls and the
,ateways every few hundred yards. to
say nothing of surprising little round
here and there, evidently the
testing place of some holy image, or one
If the many shrines.
Potatoes and sides of bacon are piled on
he huge stone platform which fronts the
building Of the main temple, and
n the cool cavernous interior among tiers
4 cases Of bareback and great piles OF
rmy provisions commissary sergeants are
orrd
n Pekin. Beyond the building and across
huge paved court is the main temple, and
his has been cleared Of its paraphernalia
o make room for the cots Of sick men.
between 125 and 150 men are In the hos
ital at present. and they are comfortably
established. The flooring is Of stone. Great
oors fold back and leave the place almost
n the open air. The great beams and raft
rs Of the ceiling are gorgeously painted
n the usual rich style Of Chinese temples,
nth purple, red, and gold dragons and fig
res of every description.
The duty meg and the officers are en-
amped in tents on a grass-covered area
ordering on an inviting elm grove. and
ne tents. especially those of the men,
;ould make study for a painter. They
re mostly OF looted materials. nearly all !
he shelter halves of the command having
cen lost or abandoned during the march
rom TientsiR to Pekin. Large sections of
rating have been built into tepees and
ranged according to the fancy OF the
len. Some of the tents are made of big
ections Of blue canvas awning. These
how up gorgeously with their sides COW
red with large white Chinese characters,
hich can be read all over camp.
The strict line drawn on looting cover
d jewelry and valuables, but did not ex-
end to tenting materials. bedding and
amp furniture. So the American buck
rivate stretches his weary limbs at night
nder fluffy silk coyerlets intended for
he couch of some slant-eyed beauty with ,
my feet. His tent is hoored with tiger
kin rug that would grace the hallway or
rawing room of some New York, resi- Z.
ence Instead CT sitting crosslegge1 On )
he ground at mess time he draws heavy ..
aryed mahogany chair up to a table en-
meled in red and gold over which a !
reat paper parasol has been hoisted to ,,
eep off the suns rays. and he proceeds ,
, consume camp hash or cooks nys-
cry" strips of bacon, hard bread. and
offee from delicate porcelain dishes He
arms himself of the approach of drill
our, for drills are again required. by q
lance at a costly gold enameled clock
e has in his tent without the knowledge
( the officers, for clocks are contraband
nd must be given up or returned to the
lace they were taken from, il ii yet ex-
ITS.
meal with the officers of the Four
zenith in the little grove where their
.nts are pitched. during one OF these
lnny autumn days. is pleasant eNpe-
encc With the branches Of the trees
n a canopy we sit at some massive ia
lie the strikers have lugsed in and cat
led chicken or roast goose from fire
Unaware. Perhaps the cook has adorned
lie board with handsomely embroidered
.blccIoth ard supplied the diners with
rims Of irne;nmeI muslin for napkins