The Washington times., 1906-03-04
Guns Not in Position.

Although no guns are mounted in the
American fort at the present time. they
viii be placed in position unon the
slightest trouble in Pekin or upon in
dications that an uprising there is brew
ing -Four 6-inch guns and gatIing and
machine guns are available There are
slXty-fve marines on guard at the bar
racks at the present time and II is rn-
derstood that another detachment will
be sent TO join them soon from Rear Ad-
miTdf Trains ships now on tho Chinese
coast Recent dispatches state that the
guards in the German and British Iega-
tions have been doubled since al uDrfs-
ing has become imminent
Mr.. Nealy's principal work consisted
OF constructing the minister's residence.
which is now being occupied by Minister
Rockhill; the residences of the first. sec
ond and Chinese secretaries of the 1a-
cation, the chancery and barracks. Aside
from these, there are stables. a sedan
chair house, servants quarters. and q
number Of other small buildings This
was all done for the State Department.
while the guardhouse and fort on the
wall, and the tunnel that connects il
with the barracks. were constructed at
the instance of the War Department
OHiolHS NOSI SISOyooO.
The buildings. alone, cost $4,000. The
minister's residence IS not only a fine
example of architecture, but the inter
for arrangement is said to be the envy
OF the entire diplomatic corps in Pekin.
The grand staircase already has become
famous in Pekin. and the furnishings
are said TO have cost in the neighbor-
hood OF $50 600
The masonry is all Of stone and brick.
although considerable fine marble is
used IN the interior arrangement.
The American legation compound.
which is grouped with all the other le-
cations in what is known as the Le-
cation Quarter, is surrounded by three
strong walls. First is the wall about the
American legation compound. second.
the wall about the legation quarter.
shutting all the diplomatic corps off
from the Tartar, or new Chinese citv.
and the Tartar city wall. which is a
protection against any attack from the
old Chinese city.
Tunnel Leads From Barracks.
The American legation is at the west
end Of the compound, situated on the
south side. separated only from the Tar
tar or city wall by its own wall and a
space OF elSnIF Ieet. OcCUpFing the
same position on the east end is the
German legation, similarly fortified. The
German fort, erected on the wall lust
back Of the German legation, commands
the Hata-men from the Chinese city.
and also the legation quarter and the
Imperial City. While all the walls are
strong and formidable, the Tartar city
wall. about the new Chinese city, is
forty feet high and fifty feet thick.
The guardhouse stands on top of the
wall, close b Y the new front gate, which
has just been completed, and takes the
place of the old gate, battered down by
the allied forces in 1900. The tunnel
which extends from the barracks in the
legation. compound lnder the wall and
up into the fort, affords opportunity for
the guard to rush TO the guns on the
wall In case of attack, without being
seen or running the risk of being picked
of by guns from the Tartar city.
Mr.. Nealy's enterprise has been very
highly commended. He went to China
entirely alone, totally unfamiliar with
the language or customs of the people