Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-04

under Il promised escort. within tw,p,y
four hours. To gain time they rcn,inJ
asking prolongation Of tho time. which
was afterwards granted. and reousstino
an interview with the Tsung-Ii Yame,
on the following day. No reply being re
ccivcd. on the morning of the oNh tb,
German minister. Baron Won Krttc,er
set out for the Yamen to obtain \ rc
Spouse. and on the way was murdered
An attempt by the legation guard to r,.
cover his body was foiled by the Chinese
Armed forces turned out against the Iero
tiuns. Their quarters were surrounded
and attacked. The mission comuoundS
were abandoned. their inmates ,nkip.
refuge in the British legation. where MI
the other legations and guards altered
fpr more effective defense. -Four hun
dred persons were crowded in its narrow
compass. Two thousand native converts
were assembled in Il nearby palace IN
der protection of the foreigners. Lines
of defense were strengthened. trenches
dug, barlca,lcS raised. and preparations
made to stand Il siege. which at once
began.
From June 10Th until July 18th. writes
Minister Cunger. there was scarcely an
hour durn. which there was not firing
upon some part OF our lines and into
some Of the legations. varying from a
single shot TO Il general and continuous
attack alon. the whole line. Artillery
was placed around the legations and ON
the overlooking palace walls. and thou
sands of 3-inch shot and shell were fired.
destroying some buildings and damaging
all. So quickly did the balls rain that.
when the ammunition OF the besicged
ran low. five quarts of Chinese bullets
were gathered in an hour in one COM
pound and iccast.
Attempts were made to burn the Legal
lions 10y setting ncighboring houses on
fire. but tl,e flames were successfully
fought off. although the Austrian. Bel
gian. Italian. and Dutch legations were
then and subsequently burned. With the
aid OF .he native converts. directed by the
missionaries. TO whose helpful coopera-
ton Mr. Conyer awards nnstinted praise,
the British legation was made IL veritabe
fortress The British minister. Sir
Claude Macdonald. was chosen general
commander Of the defense. with the Sec
rotary Of the American legation. Mr.. e.
G. Squic,s. as chief Of staff.
TO save life and ammunition the be-
sieged sparingly returned the inccssant
fire of the Chinese soldicry. lighting only
10 repel attack or make an occasional
successful Sortic for strategic advantage.
such as that of fifty-five American. Brit
ish. and Russian marines led 10y Captain
Myers. of the United States Marine
Corps. which resulted in the capture of 4
formidable barricadc on the wall that
sravely menaccd the American position.
1t was held TO the last. and proved an
invaluable acquisition, because COM
handing the water gate through which
the relief column entered.
During the siege the defenders lost IL
killed. 49, wounded. and 10y disease
the last all children.
On July 18th the besicged had their
first communication with the Tsung-li
Hamcn. from whom 4 message came in
wiling 10 conference. which was de-
clincd. Cores sondencc. however. en-
sued and Il sort of armistice was agreed
upon. which stopped the bolnbardment
and lesScncd the rifle fire for Il time.
Even then no protection whatever was
afforded. nor any aid given. save To send
to the legations a small supply OF fruit
and three sacks of flour.
Indeed. the only communication had
with the Chinese Government related to
the occasional delivery or dispatch of i
telegram or to the demands of the -TSung
Ii Iamen for the withdrawal Of the icga-
tons 10 the coast under escort. Not only
are the pr0tc>tatiOns of the Chinese Gov
rrnment that it protected and Succored
the legations positively contradictcd. but
Irresistible proof accumulatcs that the at
taCks upon them were made by Imperial
troops, regularly uniformed. armed. and
eiticercd. belonging to the command Of
Jung Lu. the Imperial commander i'll
chief DEGREES encouraging tho Boxers.
organizing them under prominent I'M
perial officers. provisioning them. and
even granting them large sums in the
name of the Empress Dowagcr. are
known 10 exist. Members Of the T>unG
Ii Gancn who counseled protection Of the
foreigners were behcaded. Even in the
distant provinces men suspected of for
ci:n sympathy were put to DEATH proui-
ncnt among these being Chang Yen
hoon. formerly Chinese minister in Wash
ington.
With the negotiation of the partial
armistice of July 14th. proceeding
which was doubtless promoted by the
representations of the Chinese envoy in
Washington. The way WAS opened for
the conveyance to Mr.. Congcr of test
message sent by the Secretary Of State
through the Kind Offices Of Minister WI
Ting-fang. Mr.. Conger's reply. dispatch
ed from Picking on July 18th through
the sam" channel. afforded to the out
side world the first tidngs that the in
mates of the legations were still alive
and hoping for succor.
This news stimulated the preparations
for n joint relief expedition in numbers
sufficient to overcome the resistance
which for Il month had been organizin.
between Taku and the capital. Rein
forccmenfs sent by all the cooperating
governments We're constantly arriving.
The United States contingent. hastily
assembled from the Philippines or dis
patched from this country. amounted to
some 1000 men. under the able command
first of the lamentcd Colonel Liscum and
afterwards Of General Chaffee.
Toward the end Of July the movement
began. y severe conflict followed ut
Tientsin. in which Colonel Liscum was
Killed. The city was stormed and partly
destroyed. Its capture afforded the base
of operations from which to make the