The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-05
COL. QUINTON TO. RETIRE.

q q
when the Boxer troubles there required
the presence Of American troops. Col.
Quinton's battalion had an engage
ment with the Boxers at the village Of
Yang-tsun. The Chinese had possess
sion Of the village from which they
were drivenEby the allies. They made
no further resistance till they reached
Pekin.
On August 14,sthe allies engaged un-
der the walls ofSPek Col. Quinton's
battalion was detailed to support Reil-
ley's battery All attempts to force the
gate proved Intellectual, as the Chinese
held positions from which they swept
the opening. The second battalion Of
the Fourteenth, however, succeeded In
climbing the wall and opened the gate.
On the following day the Third bat
talon, commanded by Col. Quinton, led
the assault on the imperial and for
hidden cities Pekin may be said to be
a wheel within a wheel; 1T has first the
outer wall, then an interval and an
other wall. The space between the
outer and inner wall is the imperial
city, and within is the forbidden city.
After a desperate struggle the walls
were gained. The Americans reached
the confines Of the forbidden city, but
did not enter it's precincts till the day
set. for the triumphal entry Col.
W oiiAtOu was uctdllGO " lCaO IilS <>iiiSA-
lean troops in the triumphal march
when entering the forbidden city.
After the fall Of Pekin the Boxers
withdrew into the interior of the coun-
try. A large concourse gathered at
the Pa-ta-chau temples, which had
been used by all the legations as
summer seat. These temples became
the rendezvous of the Boxers after
their fiji ght from Pekfn.
Led Exciting Race.
An expedition Of the allies was sent
to drive them from there. Col. Quin-
ton commanded his battalion Of the
Fourteenth, and with details from the
Japanese, German, Russian, and Brit
ish armies set out for the Hun-Ho river
for the temples, which We're just be-
yond range of mountains. The Brit
ish troops, consisting of native Indian
soldiers called sikhs, started out forty
minutes in advance of the American
contingent. The sikhs, however, took
the wrong road. They discovered their
error and turned towards the noun
tains. The sikIls and the Americans
met on the mountain on opposite sides
of the ravine. There was then race
for the top Of the mountain.
The British sikhs were celebrated as
climbers of the mountains of India, the
worlds roofs and the chase between
them and the Americans became lively.
The American soldiers won out, not
withstanding7 the fact that they were
burdened with blanket rolls and haver-
sacks while the sikhs were light.
Upon reaching the top they found all
the courts of the temples below crowd
ed with Chinese. The Chinese opened
fire first, but their shots were unable
to reach to the heights on which the
allies were posted. The latter replied
to the fire, and did terrible execution.
The slaughter was so great that it
seemed like murder.
Col. Quinton sent a party under
lieutenant to occupy a low mound that
commanded the main court of the tenn
pie Immediately below. The advance
Of the party was covered with lively
fire till it reached the mound which was
not two hundred yards from the court.
The Chinese were routed and scat
tered in all directions.
When the Fourteenth regiment left
Pekin Gen. Chaffee sent with it beyond
the gates detail of cavalry as an eS-
cort of honor, and when the men issued
from the gates national salute was
fired.
Col Quinton has been in ST. Paul for
several months and he is now looking
forward to the time near at hand
when he will be relieved from the SER
vice of his country, in which he has
remained faithful for nearly half CEN
fury.