Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1911-12-27
CHINA AT CLOSE RANGE

We were standing M the end OF the
car, our arms laden with coats. UNI
brellas and cameras. awaiting the
slowing down OF our train at Tung
Chow station. where vulgar impetus
roughly impacted MS against the door.
our friend, an enthusiastic first
alder. smelling an accident, eXtiicat-
ed himself from the press and hurried
forward, only to find a poor bnmpkin
lying beside the track minus five toes.
The engineer explained that this man
had stood on the track grlnnns at
the locomotive until topped over by
the cowcatC her, Notwithstanding the
frantic efforts Of the fireman, -
had pnllcd the whistle ropu with .i,S
hand and s,rewn coal upon him With
the other.
\ peculiar thrill attends the pull.
ing ont from the railroad and the
plunge into the interior. Even the old
mules stert ore briskly q; the first
few cracks OF the whip, The jabber-
ing OF the bystanders and the snarl-
ing of the c.Is have the saL,c oxhil-
arating effect on the mental tension
as the Chinese firecrackers on the
brass band on the German steamers
Eorr Gents Ia Cross n River.
Tung Chow claims the name OF
Port OF Pekin, because II is the head
of navigation on the small river
which connects with the great canal.
Before the railroad was built all Of
the tribute rice usei to be disem-
barked here and hauled overland 10
the capital. The river is mere
stream yet. as there Is no bridge, We
we're obliged to hire two ferry boats
aid twenty men Gall for the equiya-
lent of cents) to take us across,
with our carts mules, donkeys and
riding pony.
flnu t'lyS IN tnC EhfiOr'
The houses are all on about the
same pattern, built OF mud and straw
Their Yards are enclosed by fences
q kaoliang stalks, woven in various
designs, resembling the paper mats
made in or kindergarten At
each gate Is TO he seen n black pig,
falf a 6czrG raked childrCn and an
old Grandmother smoking her pipe.
New Years sods adcrn the gate
posts. and overhead hangs a cage
from which floats the mclodlous
notes O; a Moneolian lark.
As We neared the Ping-gu. Hsien
Flat Valley city, We left the green
wheat fields behind and found our
selves on a Quivering, fiery desert
not house in sight, not a tree. only
sand Suddenly there appeared on
the horizon a deep yellowish cloud.
extending cly from the northwest
to the south. from the dan kenod
earth. way up high above the 4
o'clock sun.
Our pack train, the donkey boys.
everything about us. became tinged
a fulvous hue. Our guide, 4 great
hulking lad. displayed considerable
nervousness, at which | was surpris.
Cd. for enc becomes Injured TO dust
storms in North Chilli. Each sue.
ceeding minute the wind increased IN
force: great blasts o. air drove the
sharp sand against our faces until
swelling tears washed their way down
our cheeks. I began to feel a bit m
comfortable myself.
Now the yellow cloud In tie west
gradually became darker and dark
err until II was transformed into the
most ominous blackness. II was
surely moving toward us with great
er rapldlty. Instlnctively we slipped
from our beasts and crouched beside
them. My animal was shaking like q
leaf. too frightened even 10 whinny.
The air was heavily charged with