The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-12
YUAN SHI KAI
PRISONER IN
own PALACE
President of Chinese Gov
ernment Fears Assassina-
ton Should He Venture
Abroad
Streets of Pekin HideOus
With Bodies of Decapitat-
ed Coolies Killed for Loot
ing.
Especial from United Press.)


Pekin- March 12-President Yuan
Shi Kai is prisoner in his own pal
ace. The fate of the Great Repub-
lie of China still hangs in the bal
ance. Three regiments of Manchu
troops guard the entrances to the
palace where the newly installed rul-
er of the nation remains, afraid to
venture forth because of the danger
of assassination. Foreigners are vir-
tual prisoners in the legation COM
hounds. The outcome Is impossible
TO forecast. tonight. but the final test
must come before many days.
, The streets of the city are hideous
with headless bodies in advanced
stages of decomposition. The stench
As friehtful and the danger of plague
very grave. The bodies are those OF
the men punished for looting during
the recent rioting. Few were guilty.
Not a single body observed in an ex-
tensive tour of the city was In uni
form. All were of civilians, the ma
jority being coolies. They were slain
because it was necessary to provide
victims to back up Yuan Shf kaI
decIaret ton that bandits were being
punished.
And. while these helpless victims
were being decapitated by the heads
men armed with their long, heavy.
razor-edged swords. the real thieves,
all garbed in uniform and many bear
ing on their collars the insignia show
ing they were officers of the 1mper-
ial Army, were carrying out OF the
city thousands Of wagonloads of the
most valuable loot Gold. silver. silks
and other treasures, taken from the
houses looted, have been stored in
safe places. And the majority of the
Iooters are back with the regular
army. defiantly waiting for the sig
nal to turn again to 1ooting and muir
der.
The old style. troops, with their pic
turesque uniforms and equipment.
have been banished. They were or
Gerea to Turg Hc~ Ger they had torn
from the walls OF .Aae city the flag
Of the Great Republic raised In hon.
or of the taking of oath OF office OF
President Yuan. The- were bitter
against the republic ana the repub-
lican leaders Brit Yuan dares not
Sdisband them. He does not know
what minute he may be called on to
summon them to aid the loyal forces
of the 3rd Division who stand be-
fpen him and another uprising.
The legation quarter here is clos
ed and carefully guarded. Cannon
and rapid fire guns have been mount
ed where they can sweep the ap-
proaches to the gates. Picked gun
crews are on duty night and day.
There is general understanding
among the legation qua ID that if
trouble comes, it will find the for
eigners ready to defend themselves.
The situation at Canton is very
grave. The mutineers have captur-
ed the river forts and say they will
sink any vessels that try to pass.
Fighting has been in progress for sew
eral days and the native city is in
the possession of the rebels. In ad-
dition, they hold the admiralty build
ings and have mounted guns to re-
tain possession. The rebels at this
point are commanded by LUX, the
noted brigand.
There is grave doubt of the position
OF DR.. Yum Yat Sen and the republi-
can off1cials at Nankin. Legation Of
ficials here say that they have lost
caste with their troops by their poll.
cy of inaction and that most of their
soldiers are discOntentec.
The southern army cannot go into
the north to aid Yuan Shi Kaf be.
cause of the bitter fee''ne hetwaan
the imperial and republican troops.
The only hope. it was said here, to-
cessful in floating the loans he is
now negotiating. With plenty of
money he could pay off most of the
soldiers and bring around himself an
army that could be depended on to
restore order as long as he keeps it
well supplied with money.