Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-06-15
4 YELLOW CRIME
HI SIEGE IN K
CHAPTER vIII.-coNTINuED.

an ~ aI u
the Russians n Americans held
the wall and Legation street. But the
Hannn Yuan in the north and the en-
tire western wall covered long stretch
es OF a hat required q constant
watch to be kept, as the Chinese were
p~arricades In their front. from which
they maintained a constant fire from
riiles, krupp guns and o bore
cannon. Until the 18th of July the
cannon doomed from morning until
night. sending their solid shot and
shrfeking shells into our midst, tear
Ing the brick houses to pieces and
crushing the tiles on the roofs to fine
powder, at the same time sending their
fragments In every direction. The very
shortness OF range prevented their
dropping with any force and saved u.
much damage, n when the muzzles
of their pieces were raised to pass over
the first row OF buildings, which they
had failed to batter down, the projec-
tiles flew harmlessly over our heads.
The building h a has suffered most
has been the constable's house. in the
south stables. This place has borne
the brunt OF most OF the attacks made
upon the British legation and is lit
orally made into a sieve. Under the
direction Of Mr.. r. ID. Gamewell all the
walls OF the legation have been SO
strengthened. often to a thickness of
eight feet, that one is perfectly safe
behind them, except at the loopholes,
n In these a large brick is kept, exs
cept when being used for observation
or firing. The Chinese have been re-
markably. bad markBmen and have
usually fired by holding their guns up
so That the points barely projected
above their barbados, and then,
pressing the trigger, Immediately
Withdrawing the gum, having never
exposed their persons in the least. But
this method OF firing does no damage.
Thousands upon thousands of bullets
have been sent whistling over our
heads, to drop into the southern city
among their own people. Doubtless
when we hear the history Of the outside
we shall learn of hundreds having
been killed and wounded q long way
from the legion district.
On July s Mr.. David Oliphant OF the
legation staff, while serving In the
Hanlin Yuan, was shot in the abdomen
n died from shock and Internal
hemorrhage In about an hour. He was
born on July IL, 1875. n had been
three years In the consular service.
Passing first In his examination he soon
showed q special aptitude for acauir-
Ing the Chinese language, SO much SO
that when he finished his term Of stu
dent-interpreter he was retained to
WOIh db NoilouldI dSSlSIdII b III the
chancery OF the British legation. Here
his services have been appreciated
most highly by those under whom he
worked, and his LOGS is q most srievous
blow to all those who came Officially
In contact with THIN. . He was one of
the most promising OF the younger
members of the British consular SER
vice, with which he was further con-
nected in the person of his uncle, Il. NJ.
Mansfield, ii. r. NJ, consul at Annoy.
During his stay in Picking David OIL
plant had endeared himself to eli who
knew his exceptionally even temper
readiness to oblige and active mind.
In sport he was the leading spirit and
manager, and he will be practically inn
possible to replace In this capacity.
When the Siege began he was among
the first 10 be active In the defence Of
the legation. Untiringly he worked at
f~ortifcations, vig!lantly he watched at
night. When a portion OF the Hanlin
Yuan vas occupied he was specially
detailed for service there, and took
part part in several brilliant sorties in
connection with the occupation. 1t was
while cutting down a tree here In an
advanced position that he was struck
down by the enemies bullets and his
promising career cut short. He died
In the arms Of his elder brother, Nigel
Onphant, OF the Imperial Bank of
China. He is deeply and sincerely
mourned by all who knew him.
Another young man, Mr.. H.. Warren,
acknowledgements, while on duty in
the Su Wang Flu, on July 10, was
struck by a shell In the face, very
badly injured and died in a few hours.
CHAPTER TX.
The Austro-Hungarian detachment
consisted Of thirty b~luejackets from
the cruiser Zenta. They arrived in Pc
king on June 3 by the last train, to.
gether with the German detachment.
Lieutenant L. Kollar was in command,
with Midshipman Baron r. Boyne
burg Won Lengsfeld and T. Mayer.
With the detachment arrived also Cap
tain Thomann o Montalman and
Lieutenant Ritter Won Winterhalter,
SO that there were 1ye officers and
thirty men at Picking. When commu-
nlcation was cut Captain Montalman
TOOK command himself. In the lega-
tion there were only DR.. A.. Won Ros-
thorn and Mrs. Won Rosthron, the min
lister having left on leave in April and
Vice Consul Natiesta being sick at
Shanghai. His successor, Mr.. Gott-
Wald, tried to come up In the relief
expedition under Admiral Seymour.
The detachment guarded also the Bel
glan legation until the Belgian minis
Ter left there n came to the Aus
TRAN legation on June l6.
June Ii q Boxer attack on the new
mint and the Imperial Bank OF China
was checked by rife fire from the east
corner Of the legation. A second at
tack was made at night and was also
repulsed. During the search following
the unsuccessful attack several Boxers
were Killed a few hundred yards to the
north on Customs street. The next day
the traffic 1on the Chang An street
crossing customs street was stopped
by an outpost and later on by a wire
renee In order to prevent the Snug
cation quarter. During the night the
at the Belgian legation were at
tackled, but beat off the Chinese. A
patrol caught some suspicious people.
who were handed over to the Chinese
A part Of the French de-
assisted them In their night
at the barracks.
On June 20 the detachment was
for marching, to escort DR.. and
Mrs. Won Rosthorn, as no notice had
been given to DR.. Won Rosthorn of the
new decision not to leave.
arriving, about 3 d. m., at the
French legation DIR. Won Rosthorn was
shown by Mr.. Pichon a letter from the
tsung-li-yamen to the ministers, prom
lsing them protection. Upon this DIR.
Won Rosthorn returned with the de-
tachment to the Austrian legation.
While all the posts were being reoccu-
pied and the ~bluejackets began to re-
erect the barricades which had been
pulied- down before leaving to prevent
Chinese from using 1t, Tung Flu
Hsiang's soldiers. who were well hid
den In the neighboring houses, opened
q fierce firing from two sides at about
$3.50 p. m.
The Austrian legation. being entirely
exposed and untenable against any SER
GUS attack, 1t nae been understood that
The charge. d'affaires and the detach-
were to retreat to the French le-
This was done under, "a calling
Ire, but there was only one man
wounded. The Austrians Immediately