West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-02-13
SGwooD PRESTON COUNTY, THURSDAY FEBRUARY R 1902

not seem to be coming to our destination
very rapidly. Presently we saw mai
with lantern coming toward us We
found that we had turned OF at cotne,
and was a considerable distance from the
compound; SO the gentleman said that h,
was going over right by that place and
that he would gladly show us the wa,
back. The streets OF Pekin as the streets
OF all Chinese cities, are very irregular
you start out on a street which leads you
think. in a direct course TO certain place.
and the FIRST thing you know you are
perhaps, going at right angles to the way
YOU should so. Besides being crooked
they arc cut up by the carts. and if the
weather is the DIT muddy they are
impossible.
The filth of two OF three hundred years
has been aeeumula,ing until, in many places,
the houses are below the streets. One Of
the many streets leading through the center
of the city is SO badly cut up ,ha, in many
places the carts will sink in To the axle aud
besides, the houses are so splashed until
you can hardly tell what they arc made Of. +.
On the lower side Of the street the side-w walk
when there happens TO be one, is away be-
low the sheet. The Chinese sign-boards
almost shut out the view of the houses
The evening We spent in most pleasant
manner in conversation and in games We
left about ten thirty aud had no trouble in
getting back 70 our 'Grand Hotel" The
night was spent in pretty good sleep. for we
had become rather accustomed to the har-
rangue outside.
The next morning we got up before il was
quite day, for we lad to make connection
with train going down to Ia Ku, which
left the station about four aud half miles
from where We were, three. miles down
through the Chinese clty aud about mile
and half down to-.
The morning was crisp aud cold; the mud
was frozen as solid as a rock and we were
really compelled 10 walk briskly to keep
from freezing. We got out through the
gates little bit after six, a few minutes
after they had opened the gates leading out
of the Tartar city. As we were gong out
we met hundreds Of Cinnamon coming into
the city, wheeling bauows loaded with all
manner Of vegetables and produce The
Chinese arc among the best market garden
ers, The poorer people aubsisi mainly on
vegetables and rice cooked together in a
kind of soup When they cook rice by It.
self they put 1t in pan and steam it until
the grains swell Up quite plump. On the
way out VIC had fears that we would miss
the irsiu, but we kep; making the best speed
possible II we had seen any horse or cart
we should have cndeayored to hire them,
but We did not, so we were compelled 10
carry our luggage and make about four miles
an hour We arrived at the station about
two minutes after the train had pulled out.
This was comforling(7) but when we got in
to the station we found MIR. Squires and his
family in the station we felt quite cousoled.
The family were starting home in Iowa ON
visit. lie said there would be another train
in about two hours. We put in the time
watching some Chinese pa, in a side track
We got into ren Tsin, and as "Lule
Fit" had gotten sick he thought he had
better 60 on home instead Of continuing
with MS. We were then compelled 10 90
over 20 the S. S Office in Ticn Tsin and
get another ticket for our German fiend
who had decided TO 90 with us and as we
were coming back it was our pleosuret2) to
see the train pulling out just as we got near.
ly to the station. "Big Fiiz' and could
l,asr a. f..f.
Filz" being sick we did not think it would
be best for two Of us to 90 and leave the
other two.
We got into Ia Ku about half past six.
We were wondering how VIC we're going to
get out to the vessel but 10 our pleasant sur
prise we found Mr. Squires and daughters
in the hotel. Mr. Squres had gone out on
a hunt foo launch in which wc could get
10 the vessel While We we're waiting
"Ldule Fiz" had tooth pulled, which had
been boibering him for several days About
nine O'Clock Nlr squires came in and an
nounccd that he had been successful in find.
ing launch and invited US to out to the
vessel with him. Besides We four toys,
there was another young gentleman, Mr..
Fowler, with whom we had travelled going
from Nagasakia up through Korea aDd to
Pekin. About 1890 we started to the
wharf we boys assisting with the ladies bag.
gage. We found the launch quite COM
Portable affair. II had saloon which
would accommodate several persons Mr.
Squires told us that wc would be compelled
TO 60 part of the way and then wait until
two O'Clock when The tide would come in
and give water enough 70 set out over the
mud bank in the mouth Of ihe river We
boys assisted rs best wc could IN making the
lalics comfortable. We put down our army
blankets and The shawis aud furs which they
had were sufficient and in few minutes
they we're tucked away quite snugy. We
boys went intothe engine room and cfouchcd
down over tbc iron grating over the engine
We fell quite comfortable and AS we had
been ont BOB the wind aud had become quite
cold, when wc got thoroughly warmed We
fsli asleep The ffg thing we knew was
the machinery moving In about an hour
and half we came in sight Of the vessel
which lay oui about seven miles Of the
land. IS the sea is quite choppy and ihe
wind cold we knew it would De quite disa-
grcea5le fof the ladies 10 being transferred
% the vessel The sailors put up gang
plank and we boys helped 20 gei the ladies
over on the vessel. 10 transferring The
ffu0La fha fEfnnl.lar lea r,n.. - fha i.,i,..f
steamer trunks fal' Into ihe water but they
hshsd it ont before The water got toto &,
much. We boys were clad 10 assist Mf
squrcs for We thonght we were under many
Obligations 20 him Tor allowing us Co 60 ont
with him Then, too, ibis was The frs,