The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-13
Observations Taken from n Coffin In
which He Had Been Carried
for Several Miles.
A POSITION FULL OF PERIL
NO CHANCE FOR LIFE HAD FASATI-
CAL BOXERS DISCOVERED HIM.
Cinnamon All over Kingdom Prepar-
ing To Rise Against the Allied
Troops-Danger Ahead.
Correspondents of the indianapolis Journal.

PICKING. Nov. Is. 19O.-"You so, you see
B~oxers-plenty Boxers"
And If they see me?'
You no come back"
That was the gist OF the matter, and I
am going to be frank enough to say that
1 didn't like the prospect. For days and
days. Yang. who is a speculative China
man with a fondness for American dollars.
had been at me to take a nights trip out
side OF Picking for the express purpose OF
seeing a Boxer drill. Every foreigner here
in Picking knows that all over this yellow
empire thousands and hundreds OF thou
sands of Chinese are drilling and trying
to work themselves up to the proper pitch
for another outbreak against the foreign
ers. Yang, who is far more commercial
than patriotic, has told me of these Boxer
drills and has offered to take ne to one
of them. He stipulated thai he and a
friend of his would take all the risk of
the venture, and that 1 was to pay nothing
until I returned safely to Picking after hay
ing seen the pormised sight.
1t seemed too good a chance 10 miss. At
first L really din't have the time to go. but
Yang kept at me so persistently that at
last I succumbed to his persuasion. and
81 " t0RO "a AAo ~ So 49,
last was the time set for the trip. and we
made it according to schedule.
Near my lodgings stands the little Chinese
dwelling that Yang pointed out TO me as
the rendezvous. Shortly before dark (
reached the door of the low house. pushed
il open, and disturbed Yang and Ming over
their malodorous pipes of Chinese tobacco.
You go?' cried Yang. jumping up and
-O1oIrinr Ia n tona shat frnnlfo1 dcnht -
my promise given that afternoon.
Eyes, 1 am going" I replied. as Impress
lively as 1 could. '"The life of one of the
brightest examples Of American journalism
Is in your keeping. Take the best care Of
me that you can. and. If it's just as con-
venient, bring me back alive"
Sure" replied Yang, with the greatest
cheerfulness. Sure is a word that ne
has recently picked up from the American
soldiers. He uses it on every possible occa-
SIGN, and on some impossible ones, and his
pronunciation of the word is simply excru-
ciatingly funny. Just what sure means
to Yang I haven't been able to determine.
but 1 imagine it means to him an afirma-
tive and foreign-devil oath combined.
A RELUCTANT ADVENTURE.
How soon do you want to start?" I
asked.
Now" replied Yang. Having none too
many English words at his disposal, he is
as sparing of them as he knows how TO
be. You got any money!" he next asked.
''You told me not to bring any, so 7
didn't" / replied.
''That right" answered Yang, slowly.
''To-mollow plenty time. You pay me to-
mellow"
with great pleasure. If you don't lose
me somewhere tonight"
mo lose" Yang assured me, and as I had
SO far found him a trustworthy Chinaman
where money was concerned / felt no doubt
of his ability to bring me safely through.
1--WE cally you in box" he went on. while
Ming slowly pulled at the few last live en-
bers in his queer little pipe. That had
been the understanding. These two yellow
men, who are strong, broad-shouldered fell
lows, had agreed to have a packing box in
which 10 carry me. The sides OF the box
were to be perforated with tiny holes near
the head end which were to serve me as
ports Of observation.
you leady start now?'' asked Yang.
''Yes; II this is the best time TO start"
Yang. motioning. led me into the other
room that the little house contains. Ming
rose to follow. At the threshold OF the
inner room I paused in a trepidation that
I could not help. on the floor in the mid
die Of the little room rested an object that
gave me a sensation OF cold chiIls. II
was a Chinese cofin-of the crudest. cheap
est kind.
"Am-am I TO 20 in that-thing?" I asked.
yep" answered Yang. stolidly.
"But you said you would have a pack
- 49, 60 - - II rornrpo+ro@I
same" insisted Yang.
"See here, YOUTH be hanged IL it's an
the same.
last puff OF smoke that was left in his
pipe and looking at me with eyes that
opened a little beyond their ordinary range
OF aperture.
But that thing-ughl II suggests the
idea that I may be buried I'm it"
INDUCEMENTS OFFERED.
"You 'haid. we no co. promised Ming
in his most soothing tone Then Yang be-
gan TO explain, in a little better English
than Ming could master. that there was
really less risk in exporting me in a cof-
I'm than one OF the packing cases. There
were soldiers abroad on the roads. soldiers
who represented many nationalities and
who conhscated merchandise imparfially.
A cofin-that was a very cheap one. Yang
ex-plained-would be much more free from
molestation. AS a final inducement Yang
promised 10 tell too-prying soldiers that
the deceased had died of smallpox Yang
is a plausible truth-telIer. and IL wasn't
long before he had succeeded in persuade
ing me that the coffin was the ideal sort
of vehicle 10 employ on such a journey.
Neither white trooper nor yellow Boxer
would disturb such a package. Ming did
not say much OF anything. but. filing his
pipe. gazed at me out of the corners OF his
almond eyes in a way that as much as said
he was surprised 10 find a foreign devil 50
timorous.
OF course I had TO give in. That was
after I had inspected the coffn TO my
hearts content. 1t was a eumbfous. bulky
affair. built in a way calculated wholly 70
deceive a newcomer as 20 the esteem IN
which the Chinese hold wood. The planks
were at least four inches thick. and the
ends were htted In between the sides ana
|! the bottom in a way fhaf left a few inches