Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-06-01

was provided by Mrs. Squiers with o
comfortable pallet, covered with a
mosquito curtain, in a little closet room,
usually occupied by the German nurse,
and so enabled to obtain a rest that
was an absolute necessity to MS con-
tinuing In service.
All of the American ladies have
worked with patience and perseverance
at making the sandbags that nave 30
efficiently protected the soldiers and the
entire community from the lever ceas-
ing fire of bullets from the enemy.
Everything in the line of cloth mas peen
used for this Handsome linen
table cloths, rich silk draperies, towels.
gowns and dress materials have peen
freely sacrificed to provide for the oe-
tense. Several sewing machines nave
been brought into the legation Dy the
missionary ladies, n these have peen
kept going night and day TO make the
sandbags that must be umpereo py
the thousands.
When the wounded became numer-
Gus in the hospital and were nightly
worried by those Internal pests, the
mosquitoes. the ladies cheerfully sent
all their mosquito curtains TO the nos
pital, to be used by their brave defeno-
ers to alleviate their discomfort. Ev-
eryone realized when we became De-
sieged that we were In a position when
only divine help and a speedy rescue
| could avail us. Surrender under any
| circumstances could only mean butcn-
cry. We had seen the survivors or the
massacre at the South cathedral come
among us with little children almost
hacked to pieces by the cruel knives
of the fanatical Boxers, and.
their hatred for us, we well knew ina
II the men were overcome the women
and children must suffer a horrible
death or worse. Many OF the men haa
resolved that at the last pinch rhey
would themselves Kill their wives ana
! To prevent their suffering at
the hands Of the incarnate devils that
surrounded us. My own wife never al
lowed me to leave her upon a night at
tack without first giving her my re-
yolver for the purpose or using IL az
a safeguard TO herself n daughters
in the event OF my non-return II the
overpowering of our forces.
The American marines led In the ex-
nedition to the South cathedral to res
cue the Catholic Christians being mas
sacred there, being accompanied py a
Russian detachment and by civilians
w. N. Pethick and w. j. Duysberg.
Here thew rescued over 300 Christians
and brought them safely to the Ameri-
can legation, where their wounds were
dressed by Drs. Lippett, Korsakon and
Coltman. Then they went into the Su
Wang Flu to be fed and cared for until
the end of the siege. the American
marines also took part In the expedi-
ton TO the Boxer rendezvous temple
north Of the Austrian legation, In
which ffty-six Boxers were cornered
and killed. Their bravery and endur-
ance has been noted by all. Their main
task--that Of holding the city wall
should render their fame immortal.
True, they have been ably helped IN
this task from time to time by both
Russian and British marines, but th'
post was theirs, and to them belongs
pre-eminently the glory OF holding the
position that, like the Su Wang Flu,
was a key to the place of last stand
the British legation. In the brilliant
sortie on the night of July 3, led by
CAPTAIN Meyers, both Russian and
British marines took part, and al
though the credit has usually been at
tributed to the Americans, the British
and Russians are equally deserving.
The Chinese forces thus attacked had
their first intimation of the movement
when hey were saluted with a deafen-
ing veil directly under their barrlcade,
as our little force gave a tremendous
shout, as instructed, when they poured
around the one open side and clam
hered over the breastwork. Many OF
them fed, SUIT the remainder poured a
hot fire into the ranks OF the invaders
Continued Next Weekly