The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-10-17
LOOTED IS
CHINESE CAPITAL.
ONLY THE SACRED CITY
Has so FAR ESCAPED
THE FOREIGNERS.

sensus of opinion of the American
and British ministers and generals is
that seldom IL ever in the history of
the world has any city been more
completely looted and gutted than
Pekin aud it is mainly due to the
influence of G. en- Chaffee and the British
general, Gaselee that tho sacred city
itself has not suffered the same fate
In fact. most Of the members of the
eabsssies, their families aud even the
missionaries think that q great mis.
take wss made 10 not looting il and
burning it to the ground. They
argue that il al the property of the
merchants, baakera, pawbrokers and
the houses Of the very poor have
been looted and burned. Why should
the property Of those mainly respon.
sible be saved and held sacred for
their future use s
Il 10 a. every day sight to see col
diers, camp followers sod members Of
the rif raft that 10 following the army,
selling oil sosts Of things, particularly
the silver shoes. which were used 90
cssh. valued q 81. $l8. $50 and $50
eccording to weight Hundred
dollar Watches we're selling for S..
bat now prices have gone up and
silver shoes ere selling for two thieds
Of their value aud other tblugs
accordingly 'r2 -
The proprietor Of the Pekiu hotel
hss sought. it 10 stated. silver worth
over 4uartoY Of . million dollars,
st . cost Of less than $4,000. =,
The Sikh soldiers have done . lot
Of trading in silver. buying from The
Russisos chesply snd selling .. .
profit A former street arab from
New York hss made clear $4,000
With . capital Of nothing except
unlimited cheek snd no scruples
whatever on the subject of his right
20 loot
Auction Gales take place at the
British legation every afternoon OF
looted goods turned ip by the ,roops,
bot the prices are high, fetching
sometimes more than the things arc
equally cold for in the stores in
normal times ~ E F."
Msj Wsller hes in his possession a
vast amount Of stsG large portion
Of which hss been taken from iooters
Geo Chaffse hes not yet decided with
regard to hs disposition. but il
probably will be cold q suction
American soldiers have no. been
officially allowed to loot, but only to
forage. which mesns that parties
have gone out daily over the Ameri
can quarter aud collected tho things
most needed by the troops, such ss
bedding. furniture for camp use, etc
NJ oct OF the soldiers on the march 10
Pekiu threw away their blankets and
other implements which rendered the
march under burning sun uudesira
ole At night now they would
suffer from cold II they had not been
allowed to commando. the necessary
covering. 1t is only human nature
IL the soldier boys in that duty
should pick robes Of ermiue. gray fox
skins and other warm ;urs rather
than those Of . cosrser sud uglier
appearance Some Of the most Der.
sistent looters have been The mission
sriee
Recently meeting one with Eve
carloads Of fore and antique furni
ture. Maj Waller asked The missionary
By what right be had taken the
things, and to his astouishment was
told that they had been taken by
permission Of Maj Waller He in
formed the missionary that he was
mistaken, % be himself was Mai
Waller. and that he should con6scs 9
| r. q.