The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11
Prepared for the Worst That May
Happen to Our Representa-
tives in Pellin.
WALL AROUND COMPOUND
The Present Legation Buildings
and Their Defenses Built
Under Difficulties.
Copyright. 1906, by John Elfreth Wat


Rockhill, in the event of n second Boxer
uprising, would find himself In far
less predicancnt than that which con-
fronted his predecessor, Minister Conger.
In 1900. When he goes TO bed at night
his head rests comparatively easy. for
he knows that in the various barracks
Of Legation Street there now are several
thousand American and European guards;
that upon the sea- not far off. there Is a
squadron of Yankee warshps; that
within close call there are as many extra
American troops as he might need for
the protection of his little colony, and
that he and his subordinates are now
CHARTERED In modern flrc-proof buildings,
surrounded by walls that are vcritublc
for:ificatons.
Maze of Picking.
That your minds eye may first be di-
rocted to the spot where our new lcga-
tion stands. consider that maze called
Picking as two cities built ohe against
the other. and whose plan is square
resting upon an oblong. The Inter-
known as the Chinese city and which
contains approximately 100000 souls
lies to the south OF the square section
or Tartar CITY, of 100000 population.
This Tartar city Is really three cities.
built one within the other. the outer
most or Tartar city proper, containing
dwelling houses and shops. Inside .of
cupied by the government Offices and
private residences of officials, and within
the latter is the purple or forbidden city.
containing the royal palaces.
The oblong Chinese city to the south
is surrounded by a wall so feet high by
% feet thick, and the square Tartar city
to the north is protected by a stronger
fertilization. 80 feet high and 40 feet wide,
while the imperial city is separated from
,,,. rr.rtar ma IN innprmoSt or forbidden
city from the imperial each by its own
walls.
Now. to reach our legation the traveller
enters the obiong Chinese city through
deep arch in the southern side of the solid
wall, and after passing northward through
two miles of street reaches the more sub
stantial wall of the Tartar city. which ne
enters through the great arch of the main
gate Once within the Tartar city he
comes almost Immediately upon legation
Street. running parallel with the wall for
about a mile All of the foreign legation
compounds are upon this thoroughfare,
which was a struggling, unpaved broad
gutter until n few years ago wnen 1t was
ut last clcansed, leveled and macadamized
Thus 1t will be seen that our minister
lives just inside the square Tartar city,
between its south wall and the south
wall of the imperial city. through the gate
reach that of the forbidden city. when he
wishes to call upon the emperor. To be
more exact his walled Enclosure is upon
the south side of Legation Street. is near
the main gate and directly adjoins the |
Dutch legation. Across the street arc the |
Russian legation and the French Hospital
The southern boundary of the compound !
is the great Tartar city wall. whose occu-
pation-at least wherever touching the
legation compounds-was considered by /
the military commission Of the powers.
in 1901. to be necessary for the defense
of the diplomatic quarter.
Cur New Compound.
The new American legation Is sur
rounded on the north. east and west by
It's own wall, new fertilization of
stone. twelve feet in height. Inside of |
this stand-noW nearly comprehensive |
buildings constructed of the gray native
brick and faced with stone. The more
imposing of these edifices are the official
residences of the Minister, first secretary
and second secretary, which the accom-
panyingL photographs will depict TO the |
reader much more satisfactorily than a |
paragraph of penned descriptoi. These |
pictures by the way. are the first views
OF the buildings to reach this country, |
and have never been previously repro
duced in any publication. Not evoh the |
State Department has received copies.
The two remaining buildings--the office
of legation and quarters for the Chinese
secretaries and student interpreters-arc
of similar design, but less pretentous.
For the entire improvement Congress
appropriated 100000, which has been
economically expended by Mr.. Sid II.
Nealy. an architect assigned 10 the work
by the Treasury Department
Building Under Queer Difficulties
The erection of n legation building
more than one story high was distinct
violation of the ancient tradition of the
Chinese that heaven must resent cleva-
tion in houses other than those Of the
gods themselves or of the Emperor, the
son of heaven. This rule was first |
broken, however, by the Austrians who |
commenced their new legation several |
years ago, and more recently the ques-
ton OF high houses has hcen officially |
settled BY the erection of Il two-storied |
residence for Prince Su and three large
blocks of similar buildings for the Gov
eminent College Of Languages.
After Mr.. Nealy arrived in Picking with
the commission TO build our new legation,
he encountered difficulties from the start.
There was absolutely no American or
European labor 10 be found, and he had
TO resort to the native workmen. nc
soon discovered that these artisans had
definite rules for doing things and these
were NOT only quite Aicnulc, but not to |
be improved upon through either e,ucn-
ton or persuasion. For example, as the
walls progressed the masons would not
have their materials brought mp 10 them
by ladders, but by long bridgo-lte In
clines, or ramps santins gradually up
from the surrounding yii The native
bricks al came out OF the kilns twisted
and distorted, the musons having TO
square oach enc by chisel before laying
It. Moreover. the Chinese stonecutters
who excelled In their final results, labo-
liously carved n model Of each ornament
out OF wood before executing 1t In, stone.
The coolies carried tho heavy stones In
great sings. suspended from poles placed
across their shoulders, But to offset
these delays, labor was cheap, cnrpen-
tiers demanding but 20 mud bricllayers
but ls cents tsold) per day, :.
Legation Guards and Barracks.