Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-06-08
4 YELLOW CRIME
H SIEGE IN PEKIN.
CHAPTER

verely wounded In the knee by a spear.
Corporal Gregory of the British ma
rines was shot through the foot and
two Russian soldiers were wounded by
bullets, but the position was captured
and the retention OF the post on the
wall assured, as ~henceforth II would
be possible to ascend the ramp with
out being exposed to Chinese FIRE. The
Chinese fed to their second barricade
a few hundred yards nearer the Ch'ien
Men, which they lave held ever since,
and although they have shelled for
days the American position captured
from them. have never been able to
dislodge them.
When the United States minister and
his family left the legation and sought
refuge In the British legation they were
given the house OF the British legation
physician, DIR. Poole, for a residence,
and into this six-room house were
crowded -four men, ten women and nine
children. Mr.. Squiers, Mr.. Cheshire and
Mr.. Pethick continued to remain at the
United States legation. The legation
building was peppered with bullets the
llvelong day and shelled at intervals
with three-inch shells from both city
gates, east AVID west. until all the roofs
were full OF holes and the gatehouse
completely demolished, the flagstaff be-
ing cut through and the flag falling to
the ground. 1t was speedily picked up,
however, and nailed to a tall tree near
the gatehousa from which II still
floats, though riddled with holes. DR..
Lippett, the surgeon OF the guard, re-
ceived a bad wound In the thigh. frac-
turing the bone and completely dis
aiding him. on June 20. and has been in
the hospital ever since. DR.. Q. ID.
Lowry, a medical missionary OF the
Methodist mission, Immediately took
lis place.
Sergeant Tanning, Corporal King and
Privates Kennedy, Tutcher and Fisher
were killed in the barbados, and Pri-
Yates Silva, SHREDDER, Mueller and Hall,
early in the siege, were wounded. The
Americans killed were all buried in the
Russian legation compound, just across
Legation street.
There were no American civilians
serving as volunteers with the Ameri-
can guard, but DIR. Coltman, his son,
Robert Coltman Cd, and Mr.. w. e..
cambridge served guard duty in THE
British legation among the interna-
tional volunteers.
Mr.. II. G. Squiers, who was selected
by Sir Claude Macdonald as his chief
Of staff, and second In command after
the death Of Captain Strouts, has been
ipdefatigable in his service, not only at
the American legation, but In general
oversight of the situation at all points.
That the United States government will
recognize his unusual ability by a pro-
motion in the diplomatic service, for
which he is Sc well fitted and to which
he has devoted his talents, Is not to be
doubted.
He 1t was who conceived the plan OF
occupying the city wall and insisted on
its being regained when abandoned.
This, as q key to the whole position,
was recognized in its full Importance
by Mr.. Squiers. He, too, with Captain
Wroublevsky, forced a way down the
wall TO the Ch'icn Men and let in the
Sikhs that came through the gate.
CHAPTER VIII.
At the same time hat the tsung-li-
yamen sent dispatches to each Of the
ministers requesting them to
cave Picking within twenty-four hours,
they sent a communication to Sir Rob-
Hart, t8rt, inspector-general OF
notifying him OF their COM
munieation 10 the ministers. One would
have supposed that the customs staff,
being employed by the government TO
collect their own revenues, would either
have been given q place of safety and
separated from the foreigners who
w tIc 10 NC dtldChtu anu tAlttI IllldlCu,
or their safe escort out of the country
guaranteed. This should also have APP
piled to the staff of the Imperial uni
but beyond a simple notifica-
ton to Sir Robert Hart. no further &C.
count was taken of them and they
were left to seek either the protection
Of their respective legations or remain
together In the offices Of the inspector
where all had gathered upon
the entrance into Picking Of the Box
nrs, and attempt to defend their lives
and those of their families as best they
AS the Austrians had been driven out
Of their legation before any OF the
others had yielded, and as their COM
pound overlooked and commanded the
compound, how
aver, that place had become u~ntenable
June 20, and Sir Robert Hart reluct-
retired with all his staff and their
families to a building allotted to them
the British legation. This building
S situated just within the main gate
If the legation, north OF and adjoining
he gatehouse, and consists OF three
and three small rooms with
IN clubhouse kitchen. Into this narrow
accommodation the following staff
we're obliged to crowd themselves: Sir
Robert Hart, inspector-general; Mr..
Robert Il. Bredon, deputy Inspector
general, his wife and daughter, Miss
Juliet Bredon; Mr.. A. T. Piry, commits
ioner, his wife, governess and four
,hildren; Mr.. j. r. BraZier, his wife
md two children; Mr.. G. II. Brewitt-
and wife; Mr.. G. II. oliver, sis
and two children; S. M. Russell and
wife; G.. B. Mears and wife. besides the
GLOWING single gentlemen: Messrs. p.
'on Rottenfeld, j. II. Macoun, j.. w.
richardson, T.. Wagner, E. von
N. Konoraloff, B. l.. Simpson,
/. p. Destelan, II. Bismarck. u. F.
Nintour, j. III. Smyth, j. w. III. Fergu-
on, l.. Saudercock. A. G.. Bethel, l..
lie Luca, G. l.. Lauru, r. b. de Courcy,
:. O. Nj. Diehr, w. s. Dupree, e. E.
j. de Pima, +. J. Oreglia
nd S. Sugi.
AS it was simply impossible for all
hese people to sleep within such mar
quarters, Messrs. Brazier and
3rewitt Taylor and their families Sc
ured rooms with some friends at other
The remainder all messed to-
ether excepting Mr.. Bredon's family,
n which were Included Messrs. b. l..
simpson and c.. l.. Lauru. The single
nen slept in blankets on the narrow
rick yeranda when not on duty at one
f the many posts. With the exception
( Sir Robert Hart, whose advanced
prevented his doing military duty,
ir. II. L. Bredon and Mr.. G. III. Oliver,
II the others regularly enrolled them
as a volunteer corps known as
he customs volunteers, and did most
xcellent, arduous and effective work.
Ir. T.. Won Strauch, having served as
rst lieutenant in the German army for
-ly1
Ir. Macoun was made second officer.
.fter Macoun was wounded and until
gain able to go on duty, Mr.. b. l..
impson acted as second.
Adjoining the British legation on the
orth lies the Hanlin Yuan, a large
ard full Of many buildings, containing
ne of the most famous libraries extant,
ne Hanlin library. BY the Chinese this
brary has always been regarded as
of their most valuable possessions.
Iere were stored thousands OF volumes
Z Chinese history. essays and records