Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-02

CITY IN A CHAOTIC STATE.
Hundreds OF Blocks I'm AsiIeS--I00tfrs
Carry Away 1lanr Thousands III tD0i-
iars'. Worth o Plunder.

Pekin, March with onc-siXth o.
the city in ruins. disorders were still
threatened tonight and ii was feared
that President Yuan Shi Kai woult
he unable 10 control the situation
Mulinecrs were being executed b!
wholesale. but the rigorous method
of the authorities seemed only to in
crease the disaffcction among the
soldiers.
Agitators suspected Of stirring up
the mutiny were seized and dccapi-
lated without trial. ltumblingS o:
discomfort were heard even among
the most loyal members OF fuan's
guards who claimed that many inno'
cent persons had been put 10 death
So busy were the authorities III
trying 10 prevent another outbreak
that hundreds of thousands OF dol
lars worth OF loot was taken out oi
The city by the thieves tonight under
cover OF darkness.
Freight trains were seized and pill
cd with booty and without opposl-
ton the soldiers left the city, firln.
at groups OF civilians as they passed.
Pckin is 4 scene OF utter chaos.
If il had been sacked by an invading
army the destruction would hardly
have been more widespread.
Hundreds OF blocks arc in ashes
and the loss from fire alone VIII
amount TO $25.000.00o. The his
torical market place is in ruins and
even the great gate Of the Forbidden
city has disappeared. There is great
suffering among The people whose
Lores were destroyed. hundreds Of
them collected tonight about the
ashes Of their residences and search
cd for valuablcs that might have IS
capped the flames.
In many instances they were mis-
taken for lootcrs and were fired upon.
Yuan Shi kai was still in control
of the situation tonight. but even
his most steadfast supporters feared
that he would be unable TO retain
The president has been
under great nervous strain for the
last six months and it was feared the
disorders in Pckin would cause COM
pleto collapse.
Despite the discouragements under
which he has been working, Yuan
showed wonderful courage and still
insisted today that he would control
the situation. 1t was known. how
aver. that he greatly feared foreign
if any foreigners we're
snjured. Instructions were issued
that in case of another outbreak, the
foreign section should be protected
even il the entire native quarter was
ufaccd at the mercy of the malcon-
tdnts.
tTien Tsin, March "A large force
Of Chinese soldiers mutinied at pao
Ting Flu today. plundering the city
and engaging in street fights IN when
a number Of civilians were killed.
The authorities were powcrless 70
suppress the outbreak. and the SOL
diers swarmcd through the business
district. carrying off large amounts
Of iewelry and other raluables. Inc
uprising is believed to have been IN
cited by agitators who opposed the
abdncation of the throne.
Tien Tsin, March "a strong AM
erican detachment has been ordered
to proceed Immediately to Pekln as
the result of the mutiny in the army
and the continued rioting there.
Petin, March 2.-President Yuan
Shi Hai tonight practically admitted
that he was unable to preserve or
der when ne summoned the republi-
can trbops from Nankin 10 Queli the
mutineers.
general attack on the palace Is
fearedatonight. and the situation Is
gettingsmore grave as the hours &c
by.
PekinaMarch 22.-Concentrating al
Pao Ting FIJI, the Pekin mutineers TO-
day murdered several French priest:
stationed d'tbere and burned the village
They then started back to Pekin where
the PALACE OF the father OF the doWsge'
was robbed. The situation late to
uight was again critical.
IA ,o,,, r,oind's eve We can al