New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
BARGAINS IN PEKING.
SELLING THE LOOT TAKEN BY THE Elk
petition

petition
Pekins correspondence of The London Express
Here are two rolls Of mandarin silk X about
DARN DARN six! 9aS now nO'n snAi' say ''' '"' man
Three dollars
Amy advance on s.? Going for -! GOIngi Gone
Then Captain PeIi brings up another article out
OF Of, the heap. and the a1etiqnser old Dick Her
another sip of whiskey and water then stands
erect at six-foot-two and holds up warm blue
silk coat full length from shoulder to ankles lined
throughout with foxskin and embroidered on the
We are expecting the winter here shortly. and
How much SHAH j say for this beautiful fOxskin
His phrases are not much varied: in fact you
mouth Se Tong Cloak bsck Psms ad
vice versa. and his white shirtsleeve drops down
ground
less prodsality The article is worth $50. fs in
any part Of the world.
-. Three dollars" says corporal of marines from
-Four says a colonel seated on one of the
Five, from American war correspondent It
respondents were men of means, but this loot auc-
ton draws them cut.
'Sixi'' shouts Dr. Dudgeon from the form He
knows the value of things. and people smile So
the eCi 9li9dln "a runs t1 up to twenty
I Dr; ,9dqLdgeon Didn't know il was you, sir.
not the man tC pay too much Then there is put
soup. solid and dirty or Manchu Woman's hair
pin and though half dozen articles may have just
market value this trihe win be run up to ridicu-
pean than that OF a single bracebutton (whch in
oeeu Is sometimes precious possession in the cir
S Suls. ahSeSl put the company is seized with the
oc Every afternoon except sundays these
Legation; Sir Claude Macdonald is frequently
Barrow the Officers Of the stan. together with
c9lonels' majors. captains and subalterns warrant
I md Rny1l
Marines. Royal Engineers and Welsh Fusiliers.
Japanese. Punjabis and Baluchs and Indian camp
followers. Chinese traders and even coolies with
sprlnking of American officers and men. and Ger
chooses TO come. The Russians and the French do
That is loot systematic This China expedition
sLIalT mas been the biggest looting excursion since
looting and other nationalities have not pursued
me English way. but all are agreed that loot is
wealthy and populous city fun Of big houses. busy
crowded pawnshops Half the popuIation rushed
neiterskelter through the northern and western
eastern caste Those who fed took with them what they
the best part OF what they had to leave behind.
but thousands Of pounds worth Of property
coming claim it. On the entry Of the troops an
no keeP S po ads by the
Indian troops in particular, required a tight rein
property and meanwhile Russians French a PlS
Germans were freely gathering 1t in. well as the
age to invade the empty houses
II became clear that the ViTtuouS abstinence OF
the British troops from the appropria Of goods
would not in the least help the former rightful
/ owners, and many OF these must have been mar
uclpators In the Boxer attack their goods would
/ IN any case. be liable cOnfscaton This was
the situation when the British troops were given
/ permission TO bring in what they could find
w nile the wealthy houses and the Crowded naN-n-
SHOPS were stripped of their silks and furs the
| poor mans cottage was spared. and men found
Iooting beyond bounds were court martiaIIed The
| coones necessary goods and chattes his baskets
mis- wretched clothing, his needles and thread even
ms paltry ornaments of artificial flowers and cheap
vases were lett as they stood. Though gratitude
| is not perhaps the strongest point in the Chinese
character, cannot but think that this step which
ala no one any harm, did something to enhance
lie reputation Of British troops
There is another method OF dealing with the
thlnese. l Will not now make mention Of par
tlcular nationalities- There have been cases and
many thousands or them, where houses have been
entered and every single article which could not
| be carried of has been Wantonly smashed the
occupants or the houses beaten and sometimes
Killed, the women grossly treated mules and
donkeys bayoneted, and dogs shot.
British soldiers have had no share in such
pillage.
The property taken by British troops has not
oeen LETT in the hands OF those who seized H. but
guard 1t has then been placed in charge OF
Prize Fund Committee who have made a selec-
uon each day OF various kinds OF goods which
nave been ana are being put up for auction
Upward of $4,000 fl0000 has been realized so
/ far and there is as much yet 70 be sold.
Ihere Is still one other matter which must be
mentioned. There is the matter Of private lOoting
1acetlous suggestion has been made that, after
paper correspondents here should set UP a journal
with the title of The Daily Lutte" The sugges-
| ton has point. There has been a good deal of
| looting by civilians But I do not wish to in
crlminate all my friends. / mention the subject
only 10 leave II alone