Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-05-11
4 YELLOW CRIME
THE SIEGE IN PEKIN.

If our troops are defeated they will
turn on us n slaughter us. In the
meantime we have a resting spell OF q
few days.
On July 16 the Chinese sent a reply
to Sir Claude's letter Of the 18th, In
which they explained hat the reason
for suggesting the removal of the le-
cation STATS to the tsung-li-yamen
was that the Chinese government
could AFFORD more efficient protection
to them IL concentrated there tina IL
scattered, as at present. AS the for
eign ministers, however, do not agree,
the Chinese will, as in duty bound. do
their utmost to protect the legations
There they are. They will bring rein
forcements and continue their efforts
to prevent the Boxers from firing, and
they trust the foreign ministers on
their part will restrain their troops
also from firing.
July II (%morning). Sir Claude re-
piled to the effect that the foreign
troops had all along acted entirely In
self-defense n would continue to do
so. Sui the Chinese must understand
that previous events bad led to a want
of confidence and that IL barbados
were erected or troops moved In the
vicinity of the legations the foreign
guards would be obliged to fire on
them.
July II (afternoon). The Chinese re-
piled, reviewing the situation and
ascribing the present hostilities to the
attacks previously made by the lega-
tion guards. They noted with satisfac-
ton that q cessation Of firing Is agreed
to on both sides, but suggest that as
foreign soldiers here have been firing
Men they should be removed from that
position.
July IS (noon). Sir Claude replied
,rtkh n raxyiar ~ Tho cittta fion from the
foreign point Of view. On une 10 the
yamen lac given the legations notice
to quit Picking and the foreign repre-
sentatives had replied, pointing out
that there were no facilities or trans
portation. The yamen had then re-
piled, extending the time, but In spite
of this fire was opened on the legations
on the following day, and they had
been under constant fire ever since
from the Chinese government troops,
a condition of things unparalleled In
the history of the world. He alluded
to the incident Of the board displayed
on June rs, the free moving OF troops
during the cessation of hostilities thus
caused and the renewed attacks made
after the completion OF the prepara-
lions thus facilitated. He hoped that
mutual confidence would gradually be
restored, but meanwhile he again
pointed put that cessation OF hostile
preparations as well as of actual fir
Ing was necessary on the part of the
Chinese forces to secure that the for
eign troops shsould cease firing. AS
for the suggestion that the foreign
troops should leave the city wall, 1t
was impossible to accede to 1t, because
q great part OF the attacks or the le-
CATION had been made from the wall.
He concluded by suggesting that sell
ers of fruit or Ice should be allowed to
~~. ~ IN 1nNfnr nddrnGCnd HI
same day TO Jung Lu the substance Of
Sir Claude's previous letters was re-
peated and q suggestion was made
that communications would be facili-
tated IL a responsible official were sent
to the legation,) In response to this
suggestion a yamen secretary arrived
his afternoon with a card from Jung
Lu. He had no special message, but
promised to see whether Picking Ga
zettes could be procured n a market
established for ice, fruit, eggs, etc.,
and also to ascertain whether tele-
grams could be transmitted on behalf
of the foreign ministers TO their gov
ernments. He mentioned that tele-
graphic communication was interrupt
ed. He expressed the concern OF the
Chinese government at the doings Of
the Boxers who had caused the whole
difficulty between China and the for
eign powers
July 10. A very quiet day. No fir
ing on either side. About $50 eggs and
a few vegetables were brought in by
chinese soldiers for sale. The yamen
sent another message asking that the
ministers leave here for Tien TSin.
July 20. Several copies Of Picking
Gazettes of the past mont were pro-
cured from the Chinese. TRANSACTIONS
of q number Of edicts contained therein
are given In another chapter. The
ministers replied to the yamen's re-
quest of yesterday, saying that as the
Boxers were so numerous outside the
city they would not dare to trust
themselves on the road. Four cart
loads of watermelons and vegetables
were sent to the ministers by the va
men as q sign of good feeling (?). No
firing all day, except for a few shots
fired by Boxers In the south city
against our men on the wall.
July "a. Mr.. Narahara, second secre-
tary of the Japanese legation, died In
the early morning of lockjaw from a
wound. a. m.-Following received
from Colonel Shiba: A Chinaman
who came to our barricade this after
noon says that IN the 18th OF this
month Yangstung was occupied by the
foreign troops, and on the 18th a bat
tie took place around the same place.
About $50 wounded Of Tung Flu
Hsiang's troops have just been
brought to Picking. The foreign troops
were about forty II this side OF Yang
stun when the wounded men started.
July 26. Colonel Shiba reports: A
Chinaman states that about IL o'clock
on the Gath instant the Chinese troops
under General Chang were attacked
by foreign troops thirty III south Of
Hosiwu (half way between Tien Tsin
and here by road) and driven back at
midnight to the latter place. At 10
a. m. yesterday Hosiwu was attacked
and the Chinese troops driven back
with heavy loss to ten II north Of the
latter place. The force of 1890 men
who came from the west with nine
guns left Picking at 6 o'clock yester-
day morning for Hosiwu. Since the
beginning OF the truce, on July Is, the
those fronting us on the north wall
and on the west Of the legation nave
started sniping again. The latter are
Tung Flu Hsiang's troops.
July 25. Chin Tsu-hsi, a messenger
who left our lines eigh days ago car
rying an official letter to Jung Lu, re-
turned today. He says that he deliv-
cred the letter at Jung LUIS head
quarters and was locked up there
seven days. Jung Lu goes to court
every day. The emperor and empress
dowager are still here in the city. Box
ers patrol the streets In small bands.
Four days ago a ragged, dirty for
eigner, hatless n coatless, of general
disreputable appearance, was captured
by Tung Flu Hsiang's men and brought
to Jung Lu. He was of medium
height, blonde mustache and beard.
n spoke Chinese. CThis referred to
a Swede named Nestergaard, who on
some slight offense left the legation
n went over to the Chinese.) He
said he went out to find food. Mean
while Boxers assembled around Jung
LUIS house and demanded the foreigner
but Jung Lu sent him off under guard
to the yoemen Of the Shun T'ien Flu for
safekeeping.
A messenger sent out on July 4 to go
to Tien Tsin returned today, bringing