Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-04-19
MAY HAVE DEEP MEANING.
Speculation as 10 Cause Of Burning Winte
Palace at Pekin.

| Of state received Il cable message. this
morning. from Mr. Squiers. United
States charge at PelSin, dated at Pckin.
April IS. saying that Winter palace
occupied by Won Waldcrsee accidentally
destroyed by fire: General Schwartz
| kopf. chief of staff. fatally burned"
This incident may prove more seri
Gus than appears on the surface. 1t IL
known from diplomatic communica-
| tons received In Washington that in
tense feeling has been aroused among
| the Chinese over the occupation Of the
| Empress Dowager's palace by Count
| Won WaIdersec and his military staff.
| This was graphically set forth in a
| letter recently received here from one
| of the foremost officials at Pckin. lie
| described in detail the manner in
| which the palace had been turned over
| 10 military uses. and commented upon
| the indgnity which II involved to tn"
Chinese people and the imperial family.
Moreover. IL is known that this mill
| tary occupation of the Imperial palaces
| was moving cause for the rejection
| of all ovcrturcs for the return Of the
| imperial family to pekin. From the
Chinese standpoint II was Impossible
| even To consider the return of the i'm
| pcial family so long as the command
| erin chief of the allied forces was in
actual occupation Of the Empress
palace.
Now that the palace IL entirely dc
stroyrd ID may have Il bearing on the
return Of the imperial family.
Pckin. April lS.-The Germans are
greatly gricycd at the loss OF G.-n.
Schwartzkopf Count Won Waldcrs"r
| ana most ~ his stnf escaped Ia thrir
night clothing. the lire having brok- ~
, out about midnight Many valuable
treasures were lost ana also III" Ger
| ran records ~ the allied forces. Gen.
Won l.c4sr. Whu VAS 10 hav" tax u
charge ~ the Eao Ting Fu expedition.
lost An his clothing ana VIII be- delay
ed until Saturday.
Before the FIRE had been discovered
It had attained uncomfortable dimrn-
Sious. ana 4, spread with great rapid
| ity over the area Of buildings contain
ing unique art treasures. Invaluable
~ cscuts destined Tor Emperor william
were destroyed Tho appliances for
lighting nrc were Inadequate and ia"
flames w-r" not cXtinguishcd until =
y NJ.
II is reported that a German sentry
rerishcd. Count Won Waldersee Is suf-
| feying considerably from shock
Berlin. April Is-FicId Marshal Won
| Waldersee reports that the best part
| Of the winter palace at p"iin was de
Stroyed by fire. yesterday evening.
| Gen SChwartzkopn met his death in
| the fire. the cause OF which IS not cX-
planned He adds that the French and
| Japanese troops gave the most prompt
| assistance Tn" field marshal ana the
| other officers lost nearly everything.
4 special dispatch from kiel to the
I.okaI Anzeigcr says Emperor William
received the news of the Pekin disaster
on board the Kaiser Wilhelm II while
brrakfasting. His Majesty was Nisibly
| moved.
| Count Won Waldersce escaped from
the burning palace through 4 window
| with great difficulty. Major General
Schwaltzkopn. Count Won Waldersee's
| chief of staT. appears 70 have lost his
life by returning 70 the burning build
| ing after having escaped from IL.
| The body of General Schwartzkopf.
| il was announced. this evening. in 4
/
1 The body OF his dog was first found
| and ii is supposed the general re-en-
| tered the palace TO rescue the dog.
| The suspicion OF inCcndiarism IS not
| born out. It is believed the fire origi-
| mated in the pantry near Won Walder-
| sees kitchen.
| Lieut.. Col. March2nd. the French Of
| ficer who came into prominence at the
| time of the Fashoda inc oident. distin-
| guished himself in the work of rescue.
! London. April l9.-The Daily News
publishes the following from its ShanS
| hai correspondent: y learn that Prince
| Tuan and Gen. Tung Flu Hsiang last
| January sent n deputation to the Rus
| ;ans in the vicinity of Lake Baikal
praying for aid ANA protection and Do
| ,larinS their readiness to acknowledge
| the suzerainty Of Russia II the Rus
| slams would help their project Tor re-
| ,onpuerng the northern provinces n
| china II is expected that the palace
! fire vii! give the Empress Dowager
| another excuse for delaying the return
| Of the court TO Pekin.
Russia's Offer to China.