The times., 1901-06-23
THE KEY TO PEKIN'S GATE
An Interesting Relic of the China
Relief Expedition.
on Exhibition at The National Mu-
seum-One Among Many Rnre Gu
riositics A Proclamation of AB-
uinnIdo-Many Poisoned Arrows.

uinnIdO-Nany Poisoned Arrows.
Interesting additions to the historical
! collection at The National Museum, in
Guiding the only relic of the China re-
lief expedition so far received, have re-
| Gently been made TO the institutions
| treasures. The relic which has just
been placed upon exhibition is the lock
and key to the gate of the city of Pekin,
known as the front gate, directly oppo-
site the Emperor's palace. This entrance
was taken by the United states Marine
! Corps, August IA, 1900. The lock ana
/ key were presented to the museum by
| the Rev. w. T. Hobart, through b. ii.
| Conger, the American Minister TO
I China. The lock is a ponderous aftalr,
/ weighing about eighty pounds, ana Oh
very curious workmanship. 1t had
| hung upon the portal of the Chinese
| city for several centuries, and is thick
ly coated with rust one side, that con-
/ tanning the spring, resembles small
antique cannon, re-enforced with rings
of steel. The remainder is solid, and
the whole appears forged from one piece
of metal. The key is much the same
size and shape as a pump handle. 1t is
expected that other mementos of the
war with China will be received at the
museum.
A striking relic of the civil war, re-
ceived recently, is mounted in the space
in the main hall devoted to objects
commemorating that event. This is the
torn remnant of the Union flag that
surmounte1 the fort at Salem Heights;
| there are only few shreds of the ban
ner left clinging to the staff to tell
of the fearful hail of lead that beat
upon the stronghold.
The Philippine war collection has
been enriched with some notable ad-
ditions Among these is a proclamation
I of Aguinaldo S, written in English, and
signed by the insurgent chief. This
! document was designed to be placed on
the stockade surrounding the American
| camp at Manila. The unlucky Filipino
/ who was assigned to the task of dis
playing the proclamation in the re-
! quired place was detected in the act and
/ shot dead by a sentry. The paper is
/ worded as follows:
/ "A Notice of Justice-Emilio Agui-
naldo Y Tamy, President of the Philip
pine Republic, Captain General and
/ Commander in Chief of His Army-Be-
/ ing now in the second half of the year
ending the XIX century and wishing TO
I bid a solemn and worthy adieu to this
! century Of the lights, in which we sue
! ceeded in breaking the hard chain OF
/ slavery; have proclaimed the irdepence
| 0ndependence) of the Country; have
| taken a solemn oath to support our
/ National Constitution; have promul-
gated the Uritary Republic of the Phil
ippines. with a Government of our own,
and wishing also to duly salute the in
coming century that it may be the
1 bearer of news that will inundate with
! happiness and prosperity this our un-
fortunate but fertile and vigorous land;
In consideration of the present circum-
stances and in virtue of the faculties
with which l am invested 1 Order And
Command:
Act lst: Confirming my last order,
| every prisoner of war whatever at pres
ent in the philippine Military hands
of the Guerrillas win be Immediately
liberated and freed from all compromis-
ing promises after surrendering their
arms and ammunition. Facilities will
be given them for their lives and suf-
ficient money for their journey to the
nearest place.
Act end: All imperialist soldiers that
fall prisoners or surrender will receive
from the Philippine Military Authori-
ties eighty dollars for every rife. They
will be well and CONSIDERABLY treated
and will be given immediate liberty
with the assistance mentioned in Ac;
lst. If they should wish to remain in
the place they will enjoy the benefits OF
ts, following article:
Act 3rd: All Imperialist soldiers whC
present themselves to any Of the Guer-
rilias will receive Twenty Dollars from
the corresponding Commander of the
Guerrillas for every rife with ammuni-
ton they deliver, noting that they are
. not invited nor will anyone be permit
ted to enter our ranks. If they wish Il
stay in the territory they will live sep
arately, being maintained by the inhab
itants of the place and under the safe
guard and protection of the Heares
Guerrilla.
Act 4th and last: From this date the
. Commanders-in-C Chief of the Guerrilla:
In their respective districts will tak'
note and give the strictest compliance
to the present Decree, keeping a bool
in which TO enter the name and rank O
those to whom the above articles mal
refer, and the signatures of those wh'
have received the money paid for th'
rife and ammunition delivered.
by this Decree, all former DEGREES II
any way opposed to this are Cancelled.
: Given in the Office of the Captain
General this third day Of August, of tn
! year one thousand nine hundred
(Signed) Emilio Aguinaldo."
. The document Is stamped with tn
seal of the Philippine insurrectionar!
{ government, and signed by members o
{ Aguinaldos staff.
Several quivers full Of poisoned ar
: rows in the Philippine collection are ar
e ticles which strictly require to be han
! died with care, as the steel points o
t these arrows are as sharp as knives an
( covered with a poison so deadly tha
Z the merest scratch would mean destruc
4 ton. The method of preparing thi
poison is as follows: A liver of fow
s is allowed to be bitten by a venomou
t serpent. The poisoned meat is then lef
: | to become putrid, and the points of tn
T arrows are then dipped in the mixture
A uniform Of a Filipino soldier woul