The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-06

movement 10 eApei al lOlelsHeIS run
China. The German ambassador was
killed in the streets Of Picking, and the
members of the other legations shut
themselves in in the region of the city
! which had been assigned them. For
more than a month they defended
themselves against the fanatical Chi
nese who were attempting to break
down their barrlcades and get at them.
The ambassadors and their families
were protected only by few marines
and sailors, but they fought CALAMITY.
An allied force of 10000 troops was
sent to Picking. but their progress was
slow, and every day the little group of
foreigners expected that the Boxers
would break through their lines and
they would all be massacred.
But on the morning of Aug. IA, at 2
o'clock, the besIeged heard the guns
of the allied troops without the gates
and knew that their deliyerance was
at hand. A United States regiment
scaled the walls and entered the city.
followed by the whole allied army.
Now, there were number of Chi
nese connected with the foreign lega-
lions. and au English gentleman, Sir
Robert Hart, inspector general of the
Chinese customs, much beloved both
by foreigners and Chinese, had during
peaceful times organized band of the
latter. Among his musicians was one
Lung Chung. who played the piccolo.
Twice the band was mt different times
called upon to play national airs.
Chung was familiar with every one of
them.
During the breaking in Of the allied
forces Chung remained at home with
his family TO protect them in case of
lawlessness. The strictest orders had
been issued by the generals against
looting or In any way interfering with
Chinese citizens, but Chung knew moth
ing about that and the Chinese ex-
pected that they would receive no more
mercy from the foreigners than they
had granted them wherever they could
get at them. Moreover, the innocent
would suffer as well as the guilty, and
Chung was aware that the allies would
not know that he had been friend to
the foreigners.
So Lung Chung during that exciting
:. a. .raN had I'D
no one knew where-and $4,000 for
eign troops were pouring into the city
remained with his family. every mo
ment dreading that soldiers Of some
one OF the different netionalities would
come in upon them and murder them.
Notwithstanding the efforts Of com
manders II is not easy TO keep armies
Under perfect control In entering an
enemy's city. Chung was sitting in
the midst Of his family. shivering at
the firing and the tumult without
when two Russian soldiers burst opef
his door and stood looking about for
loot They were Cossaeks, and that
means they were OF that barbarous
Russian-Tartar race which for centu
ries has ridden over the Russian peas
ant. trampling him without mercy
These men began to appropriate what
ever was handy, insulting poor Lunf
Chung. his wife and his defenselesa
children. The more they took Oh
more cupidity they showed and th
fiereer they became. Chung feare
that when they departed they youl
murder him and his family If only tina
dead men tell no tales He was at 4
loss what to do But when he saw
vicious light in one Of the Russians
eyes that forecast dlabolical purpose
an idea occurred to the Chinaman
Taking up his piccolo, he began t.
play the Russian national hymn.
Now, the Russian national anthem is
a very beautiful and very impress
slve piece Of music. 1t is questionable
IL 1t is not superior to any other ma
tiOnal air. even the Watch on thg
Rhine" But. besides the beauty Of thu
music. the words contain a prayer
The effect on TIE Cossacks was in
Simultaneous. They stopped where
they were, their caps came Off, and |
their heads were reverently bowed |
Lung, realizing that not only his goods,
but the lives of his family, were at
stake, threw into the hymn all the
expression and feeling he could com
mand. His wife and little ones kept
their eyes fixed on the great rough
men, knowing that the result was
either life or death to them. The hus-
band and father played the air through,
then stopped
The men laid down not only the
goods they had stuffed in their pockets,
but what they held In their hands.
Then, turning, they left the house
This is one of the many true stories
that were enacted during that most
remarkable episode in the worlds
history, when a superstitious society,
aided and abetted by the dowager
empress-called the Old Buddha-un-
dertook to defy eight Of the most
powerful nations on the globe by at
tempting to murder their accredited
and their families 1t
was in settling the terms OF the pen
atty to be paid that Ii Hung Chang
became so well known in America The
Old Buddha was obliged to execute
the leaders whom she had encouraged,
and the Chinese people were forced to
nav large Indemnity to every nation