Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-18
CHINESE MISSIONARY TELLS OF
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE DURING
THE SIEGE OF PEklN.
EIGHT WEEKS IN DREAD
Surrounded by Fierce Fanatics, At.
tackled Night and Day 1000 White
and Native Christians Awaited Their
Fate--Was In the Thickest Of It.

tue CnlneSe Boxers yelHng at inc
top OF their voices outside the walls"
said Rev. J. Walker, a missionary
from China, last evening, while talk.
Ing on the siege OF Pekin at the First
Methodist Episcopal church. Rev.
Walker was In the company Of mis-
sionaries surrounded by the boxers
for eight weeks during that memor.
able Siege in 1900. The address was
very interesting and well appreciat-
ed.
He said in part: "The American
government representatives were
warned by the missionaries of the fact
that the Chinese were preparing for
an uprising. but they did not think
seriously of the matter. The Chinese
government thought the same. In
small villages near Pekin the Boxers
had already begun their work. Wom-
en- and children were burnt to death
while the men were hiding in the
swamps thinking that they would not
harm the domen and children. When
these men found out what had hap
pened they brought the word to the
city OF Pekin. The same word came
from other villages.
"At this time the Christians In Pc
kin we're making efforts to escape
to Tein Sein. Trains were secured
by the missionaries and as many as
possible made their escape, passing
over burning bridges and meeting Box
ers at different stations. Those that
were left in Pekin could do nothing
but hope for the best. A meeting was
called Of all the Christians to prepare
for protection. as the Boxers were ex-
pected at any moment. On June IL
they came, setting fire to small
chapel, but were latter dispersed 10
other parts Of the city. Soon all the
missions of the city were burning.
Thought It Day Of Doom.
1--WE thought it was the day Of
doom.
"Mobs outside the city could be
heard crying, Kill! kill! kill the for
eign devils A messenger came and
told US that place has been found
for us at legation Just outside the
city. While passing to the legation
we we're met by a body of Chinese
| Boxers who let US pass on believing
we were going into trap, and could
not escape only by death.
i There were about 1000 In our
party. 900 of whom we're white and
the other Chinese converts. We had
plenty Of supplies as the people Of the
legation when we came ran away and
left their stores. The meat supply
was small and we were compelled to
eat horses and mules, eighty OF which
we're consumed during the eight weeks
we were at this place. All the people
were assigned duty to fill and the
legation was fortified in the best pos
sible manner. Every evening after
the Fourth Of July up to the thirteenth
our legation was besieged, and the
Boxers tried to burn us out. We
we're in danger Of our lives all the
time. After July 13 when a large num-
her of the Boxers were killed no at
tempt was made to break OF climb
our walls.
Wait in Vain for Relief.
1--WE were expecting relief all the
time, but could not get any word from
he outside All the messengers that
had been sent out had never returned.
Word was finally sent to the Ameri-
can council at Tein Sem by small
boy bagabond who had volunteered IT,
go as Chinese Ecggar, carrying the
message wrapped up In rag around
his thumb which he pretended was
cut. Later another man went with a
message placed In his hat that had
double crown which the Boxers did
i. not detect. Word came back on the
tenth of August that relief would be
there four days later. The people
were giving up Lone. When we heard
the troops coming we thought that
/ God was answeria fu1 prayers.
1 Shots Make Must.
4 me mue'c OF tn ~ shots sounded
like the music of angels. Ii. Boxers
were Killed in large numbers arid
driven from the city Of Pekin in a
/ few days"