Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1900 — MASSACRE IN PEKIN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MASSACRE IN PEKIN

Butchery of Foreigners Is Officially Confirmed. KILLED LIKE DOGS. Tuan and Tung Turn Their Mu derous Guns on Homes of Envoys. Representatives of All Nations Tortured, Phot, Burned and Slaughtered by Barbarians—To Save Loved Ones from Torture, Some Women and Children Were Shot by Their Dearest Friends—Allies at Tientsin Repulsed by Chinese—Many Americans Killed. There is not a foreigner alive within the walls of I'ekiu. That is the official news from Shanghai. On the night of July 0-7 the Boxers stormed the British legation, and, though at first repulsed by the gallant defense of the Christians, finally forced an entrance and massacred the whole band -men, women and children. One correspondent says that when the foreigners saw their doom was inevitable they killed with their own hands their women aud children to prevent their falling into the hands of the Boxers. The European governments have received from their representatives at Shanghai a dispatch from the governor of Shan-Tung, reporting that the European troops made a sortie -from—Pekin and killed 200 of Gen. Tung Fuh Slang’s forces and that the Boxers were mounting guns to make a bleach in the defense. The governor of wires as follows; “Native soldier? aud Boxers have been attacking The legations for some hours, lint have not yet effected an entrance. They are now all bombarding with large cannon to make a breach for a heavy onslaught. 1 fear that all the ministers and the Government as well are in great danger. The Government is intensely anxious.” Finally came the news from Shanghai that a breach had been made and the foreigners killed. The Shanghai correspondent of the London Daily Express on the alleged authority of couriers who brought the story gives a sensational account. He says; "Maddened with hunger, nfier having been without food for many days, the members of the legation and the guards made a sortie the night of June 30 and killed 200 Chinese in an unexpected attack. Gen. Tung Fuh Siang, enraged over the loss of so many men, brought up heavy guns and Prince Tuan gave the order that every foreigner must be de-. stroyed. Ilis words were: ‘Destroy every foreign vestige and make China a sealed book to all western powers.’ “Prince Tuan had discovered proyously that Prince Ching was supplying the foreigners with ammunition. He therefore ordered Gen. Tung FuSj. Siang to fire on Prince Citing’s troops, and it is reported that Ching was killed or seriously wounded.

‘Tn the final attempt to cut their way through, the legationers former a square, with the women and children in the center. When the Boxers realized that they were being attacked they became like wild beasts and shot each other with revolvers, Heavy guns bombarded all night until the buildings were demolished and in flames. “Many foreigners were roasted in the ruins. The Boxers rushed upon them end hacked and stabbed both dead and wounded, cutting off their heads and carrying these through the streets on their rifles, shouting fiercely. They then attacked the native Christian quarters, massacred all who refused to join them, insulted the women and brained the children. Hundreds of mission buildings were burned.” A dispatch from Tien-Tsin says; “A force of 2,000 foreigners— Japanese, supported by British a,d Russians- captured the Chinese fortified arsenal, two miles west of the city, making a night attack. They charged under a heavy arsenal fire, following the Chinamen and killing 400. The foreign loss was slight.”

SHOOTS HIS OWN MEN.

Seymour’s Wounded Soldiers Prefer Death to Torture by Chinese. The most horrible feature of the lighting at Tien-Tsin was that Admiral Seymour was obliged to kill his wounded in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Chinese. Bodies of some of the men who had been captured by the Boxers while still alive show that they hart been subjected to the most horrible tortures. Admiral Seymour in retreat found that he was unable absolutely to longer care for his wounded. He gave a hearing to all who had any suggestions to make, but it was impossible for the force to get away and carry the wounded men with them. Seymour, it is reported, went to the men, and with streaming eyes, asked them whether they would prefer to be shot by their own commander or left to the mercies of the Chinese. He informed them that it would be impossible for him to do anything for them and the wounded pleaded at once for death at the hands of their own men. A firing squad was made up and while the little allied force under Seymour held off the Chinese that swarmed around, a few volleys relieved the army of its burden of wounded and cheated the fanatics of their prospective victims.

APPEAL OF MISSIONARIES.

They Ask Special Prayers from Every Pulpit for Succor. The American missionaries in Shanghai ask the newspapers of the United States Vo publish the following: “To the Christian People of the United States: "The missionaries in China ask a special prayer from every pulpit for the guidance of the Uovernment and the speedy succor of Americans nnd native converts in extreme peril.”

LISCUM AND DAVIS KILLED.

Colonel of Ninth Infantry anil Captain of Marines Fall at Tien-tsin. The Navy Department Monday morning received official confirmation from Admiral Uomey of the reverse of the allied forees at Tien Tsui on the morning of tiie 13th. The dispatch i* dated Chefoo. and says; “Reported that allied forces attacked native city the morning of the 13th. Russians were on the right, with Ninth infantry and marines on the left. Losses allied forces large. Russian 100, iueluding artillery colonel, Americans over thirty, British over forty. Japanese fiftyeight, including colonel, French twentyfive. Col. Liscom. Ninth infantry, killed, also Capt. Davis, marine corps; Capt. Lemley, Lieuts. Butler and Leonard

irounded. At 7 evening allied attack on native city was repulsed, with great loss. Returns yet incomplete. Details not yet confirmed. K KM K Y." At 2 o’clock on the afternoon of the tilth 7,000 of the ttruiyl troops attempted to storny the wall of the city. The Chin ese on/the walls werejestimated conservatively! at 20,000. Tl/ey poured a terrific hail on artillery, title 'ami machine gun fire upin the attackers. The Americans suffered terribly. The chief surgeon of the Ninth infantry said u conservative estimate was that 27> per cent tn the Americans were hit. Col. Wil/on 11. Liscum was mortally wniiud“iF. as he was walking in front of the troops. Maj. Began and (’apt. Buckmiller, Wi Icox and Noyes are among the wounded. The marine losses include Capt. Davis, killed, and Butler, Leonard and several others wounded. Loyal to the United States. Wong Yee Chow presided over a meeting of 150 of the Chinese merchants and residents of Los Angeles, Cal., held to give expression to their views on the present crisis in China. Resolutions were passed pledging themselves to do all in their power to uphold nnd assist in upholding the laws of the United States so long as they are residents of this country. JTold to Hold Their Tongues. The Chinamen of Philadelphia have been warned by the lenders of ttie societies to which they belong to take great care not to involve themselves in any controversy with white men and to answer no questions and to make no reference to the troißilcs in China. Want to Go to China. The Second, Fourth and Fifth regi-’ ments of the Illinois Nntional Guard have formally tendered their services to the Government for the nation’s defense against the atrocities of the Chinese.

COLONEL, E.H. LISCUM.

MINISTER CONGER. WIFE AND DAUGHTER, MURDERED AT PEKIN