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

heauS LOT Two InOIln5 hiubt nave idi~
len among themselves.
They attributed TO our good shooting
a large mortality that we know is "A
result, certainly in part, OF their bad
shooting. In the sortie "a on the
city wall the night OF July 3 under
Captain Myers, which resulted in cap
turing the Chinese ~barricades and sew
eral banners, and some ammunition,
the Russian sailors ably seconded the
United States marines. Captain Wrou-
bleysky on one side found Il Impossible
TO pass In, and Joined the marines In
forcing entrance into the other side.
In this sortie Baron Won Rahden was
struck on the hea with a brick and
two sailors were wounded. or the
Americans, Captain Meyers was Sc
verely wounded and two marines
killed.
Some good work OF the Russians was
that done In burning many native
houses and then pulling down the walls
In the Mongol market that concealed
sharpshooters OF the enemy. Had THIS
not been done the entire southwestern
part OF the British legation would have
been under a constant sniplng nre,
such as they really were exposed 10
during the first few days of the siege
and until the Russians made a sortfe
into the Mongol market, drove out the
Chinese and burned down their over.
The Russians also Joined In an unsuc-
cessful sortie, during which an attempt
was made TO capture a cannon In the
Su Wang Fu. But owing to incorrect
information as to its whereabouts the
Italian officer commanding led his men
in the wrong direction, and after hav-
ing several men wounded, the party re-
turned without having accomplished
anything.
In the fertilization of their own le-
cation they have been untiring, n be-
sides loopholing and building barrl-
cades have dug "a very deep trench all
along inside their west wall or only
exposed side, that effectually prevented
underground mines from being unde-
tected. Russian sentries have all
through the siege been posted on the
moat bridge at Legation street, ana
thus commanded the water gate under
the city wall. Curiously enough. no
attack has ever been made from this
quarter, yet to a foreigner 1t appears
a most advantageous opening for at
tack.
The Russo-C Chinese bank was held
by the volunteers as long as II was pos
sible to mold It, but after the Chinese
Quilt a high barricade on the wall just
yer the bank 1t grew too hot TO hoid
and had TO be evacuyated. Mr.. Will
fahrt's house, directly under the wall,
was made a Chinese fort for awhile
and the Americans lost several men
from shippers posted there until finally
q sortie was made and the place de-
stroyed. The Russians have seVerai
times gone to other places TO assist
In repelling serious attacks, on one oc-
casion to assist Colonel Shiba In re-
pelling q serious attack at the Su
Wang Flu. on this occasion n man
was seriously wounded. Another time
hey were called to help the German
legation. They have always cheerful
ly rendered any assistance when called
upon and Baron Won Rahden and his
fellow officers as well as all the Volun-
teers are highly thought OF by all
the besieged. Few people are aware
that when al the troops had left their
%outposts n retired into the British le-
Eation owing To a mistaken order four
Russian sailors still remained alon9 at
n barricade nding the MonBol
market and by keeping he Chinese
soldiers from being aware OF the gen
eral retreat into the legation made 1t
possible for the guards to return TO
the American, French and German le-
cations and the wall, which otherwise
could only have been done at a fright
full cost in lives.
The United States legation, usually
spoken Of as the American legation, is
situated on the south side of Legation
street and is a very small compound.
There is only one building in II Of for
eign style of architecture. the business
office. As there is no residence for a
second secretary that official was
oblige to live In two rooms over the
Office building. At the commencement
OF the siege the following persons were
residing In the compound: III. E., K
II. Conger, minister; his wife, daugh-
ter, niece, governess and two lady
guests from Chicago, Mrs. and Miss
Woodward, Mr.. ii. G.. Squires, first
secretary; his wife n four sons; Mr.
w. L. Bainbridge, second secretary anG
his wife: MI. +. D.. Cheshire, inter.
preter. These comprised the legation
staff. There were also the following
|, refugees, who had been obliged tc
abandon their residences and seek le'
CATION asylum: DIR. w. A. p. Martin
president of the Imperial university
and author OF the "Cycle of Cathay,'
"Hanlin Papers" and other works, boil
In English and Chinese; DR.. Rober'
". Coltman. jr., professor OF surgery IL
the Imperial university, author of "Tht
Chinese-Medical, Political and So
cial" with his wife and six children
Mr.. William n. Pethick, secretary t
Ii Hung Chang, and three American
missionary ladies, Mrs. Matter, Miss
l. 1)DnW ana MISS bTOWD. III u1
Suuires' family there was also a visitor
Of distinction, Miss Condit-Smith, {
niece of Justice Field of the Unite,
States supreme court, as well MS {
French and q German nursery govern
css.
The marine guard of fifty men wa
: under the command of Captains Mey
| ers and Hall, who, with Surgeon Lip
petit, constituted the officers of the de
tachment. Captain Hall, with twent,
marines, had been for several days a
l the Methodist mission compound, cas-
of the Ha TIA Men or extreme southeas
cate OF tho city, but on June 20, when 1
/ was decided to abandon that compoun'
: and have the American missionarie
all move into the British legation, Hal
I and his men returned to the America
2 legation and thereafter served there
: The fatigue endured by the Unite
: States marines In their constant sery
: ice on the city wall and their barricad
l under the wall, as we'll as the barri
cade at the western end of the com
: pound in Legation street, was simpl
r killing. That the men did not sue
cumb Is a marvel. To Mrs. H. G
y Souiers more thar any n else is du
[ the credit of sustaining them with cot
, fee and biscuits sent out hot and re
= freshing at midnight and at variou
times throughout the day. Indeed TIL
lady has acquired by her hospitalit
). and unfailing kindness the affection nc
: only OF her own nationals, but the re
= gard of every one besieged within tn
: City. Many poor fellows wounded 1
= the hospital have blessed her wit
! their fevered lips for a cooling drin
= or a nourishing broth prepared by he
: own hands. Her w~ell-furnished store
room was placed at the disposal of ey
. eryone who was in need of food, eithe
as q necessity for the healthy or
a delicacy for the sick. The author has
express his own unbounded gratituo
q for many a tin or peas, tomatoes {
q oatmeal that has helped to render pa
q atable the daily ration Of horsefiesh an
4 rice that has bee his own and h
n family's throughout II