Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-08-03
A REVIVAL OF HOPE.
Many Evidences Of Safety of Min
listers at Picking.
SITUATION IS PERlLoUS, HOWEVER.

A1xiously Awaiting Arrival OF Relief
Forces, and Fear Their Ability
to Hold Out II These Are De-
layed Much Longer.
New York, Aug. IA dispatch to
the Sun from Tientsin, July 81, four
p. M, via Chefoo, July 80, and Shang-
hal, July 81, says that q courier
reached Hentsin with dispatches adj
dressed to Maj. Waller, the comman-
der of the American marines. These
dispatches were dated July 81, and
were from Minister Conger and the
representatives at Peking of the Brit
ish, japanese and German govern
ments. There were also several pri-
vate messages all of which corroborat-
ed previous reports. The courier also
reiterated the statements as to the
bad condition of the roads to Picking
and the numbers of Chinese who lined
the way. Minister Conger in his note
to Consul Ragsdale says: "Since July
:16 by agreement there has been no fir
ing; we have provisions for several
weeks, but little ammunition. If
they continue to shell us, as they have
done, we cannot hold out long and a
complete massacre will follow. I hope
relief can come soon. We were glad
to hear of the victory at Tientsin,
but regret the terrible cost. All safe
and WELL" The last refers to the min
listers family. Sir Robert Hart, the
imperial maritime commissioner of
customs, sent word to Commissioner
Drew and the customs staff that he
and his family were still safe.
A Feeling of Certainty.
Washington, Aug. doubt has
given way to a feeling akin to certain
ty that the legationers at Picking and
the gallant marines who managed to
reach the Chinese capital just in the
nick of time we're not only alive on
July %, but, in all probability, are
still alive and likely to remain so un-
til they r released from their state
of siege. The officials here feel GER
tain that the attack by the Chinese
on the legations will not be renewed.
They are convinced that the counsels
OF the viceroys in the great southern
and central provinces and the advice
of Ii Hung Chang have had effect, and
that whatsoever is in power in Picking,
whether emperor, empress, Ching,
Tuan or Tung, now have been made to
see the necessity for the preservation
of the legations.
Welcome News.
The official confirmation of the news
that Minister Conger is safe and we'll,
coupled with the statement that he
has provisions for several weeks and
that the firing on the legation has
ceased, was welcome intelligence,
though not unexpected in view of re-
cent news. The information from Col.
Daggett was promptly telegraphed to
President Mckinley at Canton, who
has been advised of the receipt of mes
sages always as soon as they reach
here. The last message which came
from Minister Conger was that which
was obtained through the interme-
diary of Mr.. WI, and was supposed
to be dated the 18th ult., before
which time nothing had come since
June IL, almost two months.
The Advance ON Peking.
1t is expected now that all the en-
ergies of the government as we'll as
those of other nations will be concen-
trated for an advance OF Picking. Sew
eral of the reports which have come
from China seem to indicate that this
will occur very soon, some of the dis
patches placing the date as early as
Monday. The officials here, however,
do not look for so early an advance if
the allied commanders adhere to their
original estimate of $4,000 men as nee
essary for the campaign, as the latest
reports received here do not show half
that number on the ground. Still
other reports indicating the POSSIBLE
ity of the advance being made by the
British and American armies have
come.
Waiting for Relief.
Washington, Aug. 1.-Adjt. Gen.
Corbin has received a dispatch from
Lieut.. Col. Coolidge, commanding the
Ninth infantry at Tientsin. It came
by way of Chefoo and is as follows:
AAeAlSiu, July Lt.-fOllOW1nS letter OF
Lieut.. Col. Shiba, military attache at the
legation of Picking, dated July %, arrived
Tientsin Is, at nine o'clock in the evening:
Picking, July q, evening.-We. are all
awaiting impatiently arrival of reenforc-
ing army. When are you coming? All le-
cations have been blockaded since 18th last
month. and since the 10Th we have been at
tackled continually night and day by the
Chinese soldiers from more than ten en-
campments. By a supreme effort we are
still defending. We are daily awaiting with
the greatest anxiety arrival of reinforcing
army. and If you can't reach here in less
than a weeks time it is probable that we
will be unable to hold out any longer. EN-
peror and Empress Dowager appear to be
still at Peking. Were our reenforcements
to arrive, very probable that they would
Zee to Wan Shoshan. Killed and wounded
up to date, eight killed, one a captain and
an ambassadors attache; seven seriously
wounded. the first secretary Of legation be-
ing one of the 20 slightly wounded. The
number OF Europeans killed is 60 in all.
"'COOLIDGE.'"
From japanese Minister.
Washington, Aug. 1.-The Japanese
consul at Tientsin ta1orranhed m ~.