Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-06-17
fire and the whole outpost broke and


The Yankee had by this means got
within the Chinese outposts, but be-
inc at some distance from the city it
was essential for him to proceed, which
he did under cover of the darkness.
Leaving the road, he walked in the
fields for a time, directing his course
to the dark walls of the city that loom
ed in the distance against the sky line.
At times he would come upon camp
fire with Cinnamon lounging around it
or eating their suppers. These he would
go around, leaving the chattering Chi
namen in his rear
Suddenly he stumbled upon one OF
these groups where there was no fire
and the men were asleep. He trod on
a slumbering Chinaman. The fellow
growled and sat up. Another who had
been awakened lighted a bit Of infam-
mabIe wood and held it in Meacham's
face The latter had battery over his
stomach and was well strung with
wires. Closing an electric key, his eyes
(or glasses he pulled down over them)
shone with a brilliant green. The yell
the man with the torch gave awakened
the rest, and one and all took to fight.
Thus did Meacham work his way dur
ing the night toward the city. At mid
night he was directly under the walls
and as luck would have it near one Of
the principal gates. A drowsy sentry
standing by the portals reused himself,
and there before him stood Satan all
agloW, leering at him. The apparition's
eyes were red, but turned green, then
a bright yellow. The sentry dropped
on his knees and hid his face on
the ground. Meacham, without waiting
for him to finish his salaam, pushed
through the gate and entered the city.
Meacham, after various adventures,
found himself among the besiegers Of
the embassies. Being a nondescript,
when not plainly seen he was not no.
ticed. When seen he had only to draw
a fiery circle about him with his cane
or put himself agloW or cause his hair
to stand straight upon his head to
send all who saw him as far away
from him as they could get. In trying
to get into the embassy lines he came
very near being shot. Crawling near
to a battery, he stood up. A ball sang
by his ear and he dropped. He was
among the besiegers, but they did not
understand English, and he cried out
to the embassy force, "a friend!" This
changed matters, and, showing himself
to the Cinnamon about him as an
Illuminated devil, he scattered them,
then ran into the embassy lines Of their
enemies.
Meacham asked to be conducted to
the American minister and told his
story. He was directed, if he could
make return, to inform the allies that
the besieged Europeans had held out
as long as they were able and if help
did not come at once they would be
overpowered and murdered. Meacham,
desiring to leave the city before day
light, departed Immediately. An Amer
lean soldier, who had done some scout
ing duty, led him to a point the be-
siegers had left uncovered and showed
him the way to the gate by which he
had entered. The Yankee passed the
sentries by the same means he had
used in entering, and found himself
when dawn was breaking on the plain
surrounding the city.
He now had some miles to go by
daylight which rendered some Of his
devices useless and he was obliged to
rely on others. He could no longer
brighten the Boxers by Illuminating
himself, and this rendered his return
far more perilous than his going. True
he was still Satan, but without Satan's
terrifying methods. His route lay
along the road by which he had come
and it would now be useless to leave
it, for he could be seen. He went on
till he came to an outpost. They
caught sight of him coming behind
He kept on and as he drew near some
! of the Cinnamon fed, while others
| stood their ground. One more valiant
| than the rest called out something,
i which Meacham took to mean an order
| to halt. But the Yankee kept right on.
! The Cinnamon raised gun, and Mea-
| cham, uttering a loud "Ha, hap whirl-
ed his cane about his head, enveloping
| himself with smoke, which came from
OLc cuu VI IL. C1l1CC Tie
| could not see him he did not hit him.
| The cloud of smoke drove off all but
| their brave leader and three other Chi
| namen. The leader stood firm; the 9th
| ers fell on their faces. Meacham still
| advanced. The nan who opposed him
could not shoot at him again without
reloading. Drawing a knife, he re-
ceived Meacham when he came up by
thrusting it against his breast. Instead
of hurting his enemy he was knocked
back on the ground. Meacham wore a
breastplate which, when the knife
struck it. was charged with electricity.
The Ch1Daman was rising for another
| attack when mis- cosarades chung to him
to prevent his trying to conquer the
devil. Meacham passed them with a
sardonic 'Ha, ha," and was not fol-
lowed.