The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-03-07
SCORES SLAIN IN
PEk|AG MASSACRE
Iuan's Mutinous Troops Rob
Homes of Americans.
DWELLINGS OF RICH BURNED
minister Calhoun and Refugees al Ls
cation Still In PsriI-Tsn Lootsrs
Captured and Executsd-Less
to City $4,000, 900.

Peking, China, March PICKING Is
a Hades OF anarchy, arson and muir
der. Mutinous revolutionary soldiers,
broken fgee from the control OF Yuan
Sht kal, laid torch to scores OF hand
some dwellings after they had looted
gluttonOusly; they murdered right and
left with the rifles given them TO over
throw the tyranny OF the Manchu.
Ten Looters Are Executed.
Terrified, the cittzenry blindly
tramped the streets or huddled to-
gether in groups. fearing at any mo-
ment the deadly fire of the mutineerss
would be turned on them. Ten loOters
captured in the act of carrying on
property were executed on the spot by
loyal soldiers.
Foreigners are gathered in brave
band in the embassy section OF the
city. They are menaced hourly. Al
though as yet none of the mutineers
has ventured into Legation street, bull
let's from their battles have whiZZed
overhead and fattened themselves
against the very walls OF the lega-
tons
The incendiary fires have been ex-
tinguished or have died out. The loss
is estimated approximately at $751;
900, 900.
skIrmishes During the Day.
Throughout the day looting of stores
and residences went on in various
parts of the city and there were sew
eral skirmishes between the loyal
troops and the mutineers in the out
skirts.
II is not known how many casual
ties have occurred among the civilians
and the soldiers. but it is believed that
the loss OF life has been heavy-prob-
ably 100 killed.
The outbreak was a complete sur
prise. both to the government and to
the foreign legations.
Yuan Loses Control.
II is believed that Yuan Shi Kai has
lost some OF his control. None OF the
troops except the Manchus is 10 be
trusted and they evidently care only
to defend the imperial and forbidden
cities.
Yuan Sht KAT, 1t is alleged. mas been
endeayoring to retain the loyalty OF
the soldiers in Pekfng by permitting
his body guard to do as they pleased.
Only a small body Of Yusn's men re-
main loyal to him.
Peking's shops and houses are
closed Long lines OF carts continue
TO bring Valuables into the legation
quarter, where they are stored in for
eign banks and warehouses.
Space being limited in the legation
quarter, only a few Of the better class
OF Chinese are being permitted TO
take refuge there. Many Christians.
however, are being harbored In the
mission compounds. The trains de-
parting for Tientsin are crowded with
fugitiyes.
Mutiny at Fenstai.
Tientsin, China. March Chinese
troops al Fengtat, village % miles
out from Peking on the Peking-Tien.
tsin railroad, have mutinied. There
was much heavy f1ring in the native
quarter.
The foreign community, composed
entirely Of railway employees and
their families, retired to the British
military post near by, where $50 SOL
diers Of the Somerset infantry are sta
toned to guard the railway line.
Gen. Chang Kuestis troops OF the
Third division began the great mill
tary mutiny in Picking. 1t seems that
they had been ordered to cut of their
queues, whereupon they reVolted and,
with others Of Yuan Shi Kai's soldiers.
rushed down the streets. plundering
shops and shooting anybody who re-
sisted them. The shopkeepers huddled
together, frightened and defenseless.
Foreigners and other refugees from
the outlying districts soon came
streaming into the legation COM
pounds carrying bundles Of their most
woI,,ahls uOSspRRiOnS