Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-21

Boxers pot of fire. called pot a feu py the
French. These fire pots were simply iron bas-
kets filled with gunpowder pieces OF iron, ooil
scraps and tissue paper, bound in wire and set
off by a fuse Hundreds, thousands of these
were tossed from the walls. Their rockets
were similar to two-nch pipes, three feet long,
attached to stick and filled with powder, which
set fire to anything it touched)
But fire pots failed; nothing the Chinese could
do halted the Allies. The gates were down, and
for the first time avenues of the Forbidden City
were to be profaned by foreign troops
(PIKE and 1 marched in with our adopted
y detachment = feeling historic, tired and
strangely elated
Word came that Dr. Sun Yat-Sen-who had
tried to overthrow the Manchus in 95 and '96
was rushing to Hong Kong. He was then at
Singapore Runners had been sent to assemble
his recruits for New China Homer Lea, famous
hunchbacked general, his way to help
Sun Yat-Sen with thousands of trained troops
The Ming court had fled from Peking, left it
to the mercy of the foreign devils. This was
rumor Mobs of Boxers still to be counted
dangerous. had somewhat scattered into rowing
bands of looters
Looting-takng what you wanted-went un-
censored Furniture from the Temple of Heaven
was used for stove wood. But Spike wanted
no piles of stuff to carry his back, and we
contented ourselves by partaking of Chinese
antiques we followed the fashion and sampled
liquids We helped ourselves to Wing Fung
Hong - which wasn't bad! = and the curious
wine of 5000 fires"
while we're here" Spike said, lets see the
city, It may be long time before we get back
again."
We went to the ancient Astronomical Obser-
vatory, built by some Mohammedan astronomer
during the Using dynasty. The gigantic bronze
globe inside weighed two TONS yet was 30 per-
fectly balsnced-supported by four iron dragons
that Spikes little finger swayed it back and
forth From there we located Buddhist temple
to watch the priests whrl prayer wheels. left
Spike arguing in his limited Chinese jargon
with a yellow-robed priest. and wandered out
alone.
Near the observatory British captain
stopped me. hadn't saluted.
what outfit do you belong to-" he snapped.
I told him. He grinned at my uniform, but
objected to my lack of courtesy. AS he looked
me over disapprovingly he called the sergeant
of the guard, and off went to British guard
house until mornng-into native building OF
four rooms, containing a few British troopers
who proceeded to hold a kangaroo court over
me- 1 was fined all of my cigarettes and other
yaluables We stayed awake all night, wonder
ing what would happen to Peking and the
Dowager whether Sun Yat-Sen and General
Homer Lea would take part in forming re-
public.
Spike was running all over the city looking
for me. and heard was cooped up for neglect
of army manners. He got the ear Of senior
Royal oficer, and after much palaver, the Brit
ish drum head court paroled me to Spike. W.
were both iectured, individually and together
for having allied our persons with miltar,
forces without the formality Of enlistment Som
sort of allegiance oath went with enlisting
. which the British considered important Whel
. turned loose we were aP In on our own re