The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-03-02
LOCKED N THE LEGATIONS
Foreigners In Pekfn Look Out On a
Scene of Wild Disorder, but are
Better Prepared than I'm 1899

Pekin, March 2-Fires started in
various sections of the city and terri
tory of more than a mile in area have
burned out. This stretches from the
Forbidden City to the buildings Of the
Chinese Foreign Board, where Yuan
Shi Kai resides, the flames reaching
within half a mile of the legations
American Homes Looted
Much reckless shooting occurred. and
one shell. which fell into the COM
lpound Of the American legation, tore
Through the tent OF one Of the soldiers
tof the recently-arrived reinforcements,
but did not explode.
Among the refugees at the American
Legation are willard D. Straight, ex-
American consul general at Mukden
and now the representative Of New
York financial syndicate, and his wife,
|. who was Miss Dorothy P. Whitney
daughter of the late William c. Whit
ney, and Daniel A. de Mono de Mon.
local. representative Of the Interna-
tional Banking Corporation at Pekin
and his wife, all of whom have had
thrilling experiences as they traversed
1.-The streets in which Chinese troops
Iare engaged in looting.
| The American commandant, Major
Russell. says the Americans are all
well supplied with rifles and are able
Ito defend themselves. The Japanese Is
1.-The only legation without frontage on
1.-The Chinese city. Therefore the Jap
tanese detachment is reinforcing the
lothers and also doing special outpost
iservice beyond the sandbags.
| The Pekin garrison now numbers
about 1000, and 1t is not anticipated
that the Chinese will attack the 1ega-
tions. their principal object being pill
l1age.
| AS yet fires have not broken out
within the Forbidden City, indicatin
THAT the Manehu troops are guarding
1.-The empress dowager and the emperor
faithfully.
The American minister. Mr.. Calhoun
and Major Russell conferred with the
American missions by telephone. Al
depressed their preference not to leave
their own compounds. The Methodists
lare within a block of the quarter and
lean be rescued easily if endangered
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
Ition members have taken refuge ir
1.-THE American mission board com
lpound, where a detachment of Amer.
lican marines reinforced the mission.
larry garrison. Ihe presbyterian mis-
ision lies to the northernmost corne1
of the city, three miles from the 1e
tgation quarter. A telephone messag.
Uniformed the legation that the mission
lpeople feared to traverse the streets
because they were surrounded by mu
tinous soldiers who frequently sho
Through the iron bars of the com
ipounds gates. Major Russell Offered
Ito send a detachment to escort then
Ito the legation, but considered it mex
lpedient to detach sufficient troops t.
remain there for their protection. Tw'
or three American families have no
been heard from, but 1t is presumed n
harm has come to them owing to tn
fact that foreigners have not been mo
Tested
Occasionally there is the sound o
Maxim firing and the booming o
heavy guns. The officers have bee
unable to control the soldiers, an
among the fugitives now housed a
the legations are officials of the Chi
nese foreign board and officers of tn
imperial guards.
American soldiers have taken pos
,session of the Chem Men pagoda, an
Germans have occupied the Hata-M
Ipagoda without opposition from tn
; Chinese soldiers These pagodas over
look the legations and their posses
. sion was considered stragetically nee
leSSarv