June 16, 1900.]
Liu-lo-ho and Chang-shin-tien on the Lu Han line, now in charge of the Belgians and yester- day they moved in the Peking direction and fired the stations at Lu-ko-chiao (Polo's Bridge) and Fêng-ta (8 miles from Peking),
FACTS AND RUMOURS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Tientsin, 3rd June.
THE RETREAT FROM PAOTING-FU.
Lank
from Paoting-fu is the most astounding inci- The story of the Belgian engineers' retreat dent of the momentous week. Leaving on Mon- day (May 28th) in a dozen boats the party of Mr. Norregaard early yesterday sent an engine thirty had a military escort and the company of for fourteen or twenty miles in the Pao-ting their Director Sêng, and interpreter for two days direction to bring off the Belgian refugees: it during which they made 170l. When their escort whistled long and loud in the neighbourhood of left them, the Boxers made their appearance, and, their houses but get no tidings of the men. There getting the boats stranded in a shallow creek, is a ghastly report that nine of them in a into which the fugitives believe they were en- group are on top of a hill with their wives ticed, opened fire. Among other weapons they fighting for their lives, but there is happily no
had a wooden cannon. The refugees shot a few evidence whatever of its truth. Panic is many.
and brained one man climbing into the boats; mouthed and lying-mouthed and though there is then jumping into the water they by main force cause for anxiety we do not think the case is so bad shoved the vessels across the creek, landed, as this. Mr. Norregaard on approaching Chang- and formed square (six women and one baby in Shiu-Tien saw flames at the station, and when the the centre) and then began their eighty train pulled up, about a hundred men, brandishing mile tramp to Tientsin. They had to go swords, tried to outflank it, so he at once reversed by the sun and stars, and simply kept and came back to Fêng-tai, whence, with the due east, avoiding all villages and towns, others, he came down to Tientsin. The work and fighting the whole time. They were sniped shops and engine houses at the great junction by night, and latterly had to carry the women (Feng-tai) were only set on fire in the after- and one comrade who had got shot in the feet. noon after the foreigners had left. The noon
They shot 2,000 cartridges and affirm they killed train up to Peking only went as far as Yang- at least 100 men. When they first landed the tann (20 miles); at the suggestion of the traffic interpreter was seen fanning himself and smok- manager it came back, as he suspected dangering: he is now in Tientsin under arrest, and from the fact that the corresponding down train says he had to quit for his own skin. As not had not even started. The result was that there one of them could speak a word of Chinese, they has been no communication between Tientsin could not distinguish friend from foe, and doubt and Peking to-day. The Peking military com.
Jess suffered much accordingly. Many of their mander sent out two battalions to take charge engagements were at close quarters and some of of the terminus at Ma-chia-bu (one mile from
the wounds are sword cuts and spear thrusts. the South gate), and we know so far that no- thing serious has transpired there.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE TROOPS. Some rational doubt is felt as to the behaviour of the troops, but so far there is nothing to warrant the fear that they will join the Boxers; although Peking is thus cut off, there is no cause for panic. The Chinese know as well as anybody the consequences of any violation of the sanctitas legatorum. If they can control their soldiers all will be well, both as regards the I Ho Tuan and the city mob. Poor as their soldiers are they are easily capable of taking the rebels in hand with their hocus-pocus drill and their fancied invulnerability. There are no guards at the Legations at present, but late last night the Ministers of the United States, Great Bri- tain, Germany, France, Russia, Italy and Japan telegraphed via their Tientsin consuls for one hundred men each. The Americans are to land to-day from the Newark which is fortu. nately at Taku, and the Japanese have already sent up twenty-five men from their gun-boat. The Russians, Germans and British will be here in forty-eight hours. We also have twenty British marines in Tientsin. Tientsin feels no anxiety for itself. We have a male population of at least 300 adult foreigners; nearly 100 of
these are volunteers.
TRAFFIC RESUMED.
Later.
Communication with Peking is restored. The 4 a.m. train crammed with soldiers got through to-day early, and ordinary traffic was resumed later in the day.
The Boxers have moved N. E. from Fêng-tai. The Russian Legation is sending down its ladies and children.
There is no word whatever of the Belgians on the Lu-Han line, either on this side of Paoting-fu or beyond it.
Both Chinese and foreign authorities are acting vigorously. The Boxers have im- pressed the native mind as nothing has done for thirty years.
The belief in their immunity from death and wounds is universal, but the moment facts upset it there will be a violent reaction.
Tientsin, May 30th.
A relief party of fourteen volunteers, mostly French residents, has left to rescue the Belgians from Chang-shen-tien. No news whatever has come about these gentlemen. -A native report says they are in a pagoda on a hill, and have shot
several of their assailants.
One hundred and eight men landed from the U.S. Newark last night and came up to Tien- tsin by river at 11 p.m. Thy will here await the arrival of the other six guards, and go to Peking' together. Transit difficulties are expected; the officials will probably refuse railway passengers.
THE MISSING AND THE WOUNDIÐ.
Messrs. Ossent (their leader), his sister (Ma- dame Astier) and Messrs. Pezzaro (Italian) and Cadeis (Turkish subject), elected not to come with the main body when they landed, and the Chinese have it that they have been murdered and mutilated. No hopes are now entertained of their safety, though expeditions have set out to deter- mine one way or another. On Saturday morning, when thirty li out of Tientsin, five more men separated themselves it is supposed they either wished to push on, or lost their mental balance from their sufferings. Friendly Chinese men sent in reports of their pitiable condition, and relief organizations, Volunteer and Cossack, went out. When the Chinese protested at the latter they were told that the time had now passed for such protests. One relief party met the fugitives just entering the city and found them in an unspeakable condition of misery, hunger, thirst and fever. They were quite unable to give any account of themselves, but have done so since.
One of the ladies has a bullet in her neck, another was all but nude: a third is close however done wonders, and clear succinct accounts to maternity. A day's rest and attention have can be had. The men all behaved like heroes and gentlemen. Mr. Papasse (a Greek) and Albertazze (Italian) were found on the bund this morning at 1 a.m. almost unable to account for themselves, the former with a huge gash in his head. They are two out of the five who left the party on Saturday morning. It is feared the other three have perished, making
seven in all.
courage and keeping together can do wonders. This story points one great lesson that It is a fine feat for sixteen men to have brought the women through under such adverse cir- cumstances. The missing three are French, Messrs. Deveneux, Boillon and Dillon.
THE STATE OF PEKING.
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الله
safety of foreign life has been the supreme guiding principle of the Legations and they have are new curious rumours floating round about followed identically the same policy, but there the behaviour of one Power who has offered to police and defend Chihli by 80,000 men. As this power is not Russia it can only be Japan; and if there be anything in it, it shows a new deep and far-reaching policy, viz., Axis v. Europe.
There are now nineteen war vessels outside of Taku Bar. Admiral Seymour arrived in . the Centurion on Saturday and came up to consult with Consul Carles yesterday.
THE PANIC AMONG THE NATIVES.
The native public mind is in a highly excited state; political agitators are showing con- siderable ingenuity in intensifying it: three night ago we had the curious device of dabbing the front door of whole streets of houses in the Native City with something resembling blood. Your readers may guess how this would appeal to the imaginative of a panic-stricken folk. The Boxer excitement has degenerated into fear and follies which are positively ridiculous, e.g. it is believed that the fire at the Chartered Bank last week was caused by an I-Ho, Tuan-tih' simply pointing his finger at the building.
Mean-
The reaction will of course soon come.
while the ordinary villainy of the city is reaping an increased harvest, and venturing on bigger game requiring combination and courage, knowing that it will be debited to the Boxers. A cash shop adjoining the Concessions was raided two nights ago, and there is little doubt felt that deliberate arson is common. The fire at Ma-ka-li (the second attempt in ten days; happily the main Chartered Bank) was the building was practically uninjured.
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4th June.
THE SPREAD OF THE AGITATION. The Boxers are more ubiquitous than ever and are now spread over all the country between Tient- sin and Peking. Last night they fired the sta tion at Hung Tsun, 64 miles from Tientsin, and 16 from Peking, and further broke down a bridge, so that railway communication between the two cities is now severed.
Worse than that the sedition which has been for six weeks brewing at Yung Chung near Lang Fang, the half-way station, broke out yesterday; and we are to-day notified that Rev. C. Robinson and five native converts have been murdered, while the Rev. H. V. Norman is a pri- soner in the hands of a Boxer who has already suffered punishment and vowed vengeance. Mr. Robinson came to China only two years ago with the Rev. Sidney Brooks, who was so barbarously. murdered in Shantung at the New Year. Both he and Mr. Norman knew the danger feared that would be the signal for the massacre they were in, but refused to come away as they of their people.
COSSACKS MEET WITH SOME BOXERS.
The Cossacks who went out on Saturday to seek for the seven missing Belgians were oppos. ed at a village To Li some 20 miles distance from Tientsin by about one hundred men (mostly lads) Nietz Volodolf and Lt. Blousky, had orders not armed with spears, &c. As the officers, Captain to fire unless at last extremity, they marched then made their curious passes and ges- close up to the men (30 feet). The Boxers tures and came right on, whereupon the Russians rode them down. Lt. Blousky was wounded by a spear and fell, whereupon his men charged back again, and the melee be- came a question of revolver and spear and sword. Affairs in Peking are comparatively quiet, and Sixteen Boxers were left dead and many wound. anxiety has decreased since Jung Lu with-ed; two of the Cossacks were badly out, one losing drew his so-called protectors of the peaceful. nearly his entire nose. The boys fought with The foreign guards went on without opposition. real courage and plainly showed their own con- though the orders to resist their entry were only withdrawn an hour or two before they be hoped that this extraordinary idea-the one
viction that they were invulnerable. It is to ~ arrived, after the Chinese were told that they on which the extreme popularity of the Society were coming in any contingency. The Viceroy chiefly depends, and which has universal credence in Tientsin similarly only gave permission to entrain when told that they were going in any tion may be speedy.
-will soon be exploded; when it is, the reac case and had their own drivers, &c., all ready: face was then saved by according permission for thirty-at which the officers smiled as they entrained their fifties and seventies.
It is universally believed that the reactionary members of the Government do not tell the Dowager all that is said and done at the Yamen, and that she does not know the actual state of affairs. If this be so, we shall soon see the Ministers demanding audience. Up to date the
General Nieh's troops from Lutai are all over the suburbs at important strategical positions, protecting both the Government property and the foreign settlement. We prefer to look after ourselves, and with 200 armed sailors and marines here, we have little fear of our ability to do so, as we have an adult male population of over 800.
THE DOWAGER AND HER ADVISERS. A rumour to which I attach little importance is in circulation among the Chinese to-day that
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