The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-01-25
By the American Troops
at Seoul.
MARINES ARE ACTIVE
American Trolley Car Killed a
Native and the Accident Ex-
cited the POpulace.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.--The state
department has received official infor
nation Of an attack by mob Of native
Koreans on an electric car on the troll
ley line owned by Americans in the city
of Seoul because of the fact that it had
killed a Korean. The news came in the
following cablegram received from
Minister Allen at Seoul:
ION the American electric railway
here a Korean was accidentally and
unavoldably killed. ThereupOn mob
of natives attacked and partially de.
stroyed the car. The operators Of the
car would have been injured had it not
been for the presence of mind and
prompt action of our marine guard for
the American legation. What might
have been a serious riot was quickly
crushed"
Although there have been previous
reports of disturbances in Korea, this
is the first mob attack made thus far
ON property of Americans. The rail-
road is owned and operated by Ameri.
cans. H. r. Bostwlck of San Francis
co and II. Collbran are its principal Of
ticers. 1t runs through the heart Of Sc.
oul, the Korean capital.
The guard which made the rescue
came from the American legation. II
consists of 100 marines, who were 9osit-
there some time ago to be on hand for
the protection of Americans and their
property. The reinforcement of this
guard has been urged and could be
made in a weeks time by details from
the Philippines, but nothing has been
decided on this point. Conditions in Ko-
rea are recognized to be critical, and
the state department is keeping in close
touch with the situation.
The Korean government has notified
its legation here that II has issued a
formal declaration Of neutrality as be-
tween Russia and Japan in the event of
war, and Minister Min Hui Cho has
formally advised the state department
Of this action.
A cabegram from st. Petersburg says
that Russia disapproves of Korea's dec.
laration of neutrality.
Advices from ST. Petersburg say that
while the Russian government under
stands the situation in Korea to be dis
turbed and possibly threatening it has
no information of a situation grave
enough to warrant the landing OF a
large Japanese force there Russia free
ly admits Japan's right under existing
- lrv H.
able number of soldiers to preserve or
der, but the landing Of an army at this
stage of the negotiations could not be
viewed with equanimity.
An outcry over the reported sending
of Chinese troops TO Manchuria has
been raised in St Petersburg, and IL IL
is true that these troops so with the
purpose OF threatening the railroad be-
tween Port Arthur and VladivOstok it
might mean war with China and not
with Japan a
The government has placed an en-
barge upon all horses at Port Arthur
and has forbidden the sale of provi-
sions without the consent Of the au-
thorities. Troops are pouring into Port
Arthur from the north, and the entire
garrison has been employed in maneu-
vers. Viceroy Alexleff is suffering from
angina pectOris and was unable to at
tend the military conference held SUN
day.
Advices from Tokyo relate that par
ty of Russian marines landed at Vladi-
vostok and subjected the Japanese resi-
dents to great violence.
The Russians wrecked twenty-four
houses, assaulted women and wounded
old women and children.
The riot lasted twenty hours. The
rioters were accompanied by officers
and were not restrained by the civil
authorities.
The japanese press asks what may
Be expected during war when such
things take place in time of peace. The
newspapers urge the withdrawal Of all
Japanese from Siberia.