Evening star., 1902-02-15
When Help Came.

Wnen delp Ct,Ine.
Following the arrival Of the troops. and
The relief of legations the Japanese
troops were placed guard at three OF
the gates of the imperial city and the Unit
cd States troops had charge of the one re-
manning entrance. What little was left in
the outer city by the Boxers was soon APP
propriated by the allies but, because the
inner city closely guarded. it was
not disturbed Prince Ching had been in
trusted by the empress doWager with the
guarding of the treasure and. as soon as
he could do 50. he hurried to the allied
commanders and Informed them that
number Of the emperors cnncubines We're
still in the imperial city and, if they were
mCiested in any way. the emperor and
court would never return to Pekin. Natur-
ally enough. it was the desire of the allies
to obtain the emperorS return as soon as
possible. and. for this reason, Prince
Chinss threat had the effect of closing up
the northeastern part of the city. where
the treasure was concealed, to everyone eX
cept the palace officials. Prince Chings sol
dlerS and the eunuchS who had remained
there throughout the investment of the
city. Any reputable foreigner could OBJ
tain pass within the gat IS Of the imper-
ial city from Major Heistand, General
Chaffees chief of staff This pass was
taken up upon entrance at the south gate
and from the time he entered until he
passed out at the opposite gate the visitor
was closely watched by three or four
eUnuchS We'll by some of Prince
ChingS soldiers. A very few of the smaller
buildings We're open to inspection. but the
gates IN the inner walls. particularly Of
the entire section in which the treasure was
concealed. were tightly locked.
When Thompson had related to me the
story of the head gardener and we had
made maps Of the route taken by the cool
lts III carrying the treasure. could have
located the particular spot where the great
wealth lay in the night as easily as in the
day.
What Stood in Way.
If could only get a small part Of
that treasure" was the though; Of both of
rs. and then. as the difficulties loomed up,
the diabolical cunning of the dowager en-
press. the threat of Prince Ching and
finally, the plan whereby We might enrich
ourselves as well as force a solution of the
Chinese puzzle which was troubling the
allies, became clear. We alone had the
trump card and We proposed TO play out
the game.
All that We needed was the assistance Of
the United States troops AS look back
at 1t now 1t recalls the story of the Irish
man who had match. and all that he
needed for q comfortable smoke was a pipe
and some tobacco But we really felt that
We had a plan which, If carried out would
force the return of the Chinese court and
thus solve the problem which was harass-
ing the allies in Pekin. We knew where
the treasure was located. If we could have
the cooperation of the United States troops
We could have seized the whole amount
and after taking 10 per cent for our share
in the matter. was purpose. turn
over the balance to the allies for such dis
position in the way Of payment of indem-
nifty claims a seemed best.
With this idea in mind | approached Gen.
Chaffee and told him the whole story re-
serving only the information as to the eX-
act location Of the building in which the
treasure was stored. My circumstantial
evidence was so strong and convincing that
he became very much interested in our
plans. and believe he agreed entirely with
us that it would be the very strongest lever
10 force the return OF the emperor to Pekin
ani that the seizure would have been en-
tirely juStifiabla under the rules Of war.
After some aeliberation however Gen.
Chaffee decided that he could not take the
responsibility upon himself. and therefore
he cdhled the full facts Of the case 10
Pre- sidcnt Mckinley and asked for instruc-
lions Reply came promptly from Wash
inglon 10 the effect that Gen Chaffee should
confer with ". W. RochhiIl. United States
peace commissioner. and take such action
as dt med advisable.
At tn" outset Mr.. Rocknil was Skeptical
AMI. while he aftcrwaTd acknowledged the
value Of the plan, he was compelled be-