Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1900 — STORY OF PEKIN SIEGE. [ARTICLE]

STORY OF PEKIN SIEGE.

Austrian, Italian, Belgian and Holland Legations Barned. Dr. Robert Coltman, Jr., the staff correspondent of the Chicago Record in Pekin, who had not been heard from since June 12, sends the following dispatch from Pekin under date of July 21: “Baron von Ketteler, the German minister, was murdered by Chinese troops, and his secretary wounded June 20, while on his way to the Tsuug-li-Yamen. The foreign residents are besieged in the British legation, and have been under a daily fire from artillery and rifles. The cowardice of the Chinese fortunately prevented them from making successful rushes. Our losses are sixty killed and seventy wounded. The Chinese losses exceed 1,000. t “There has been no word from the outside world. Food is plentiful, such as it is—rice and horse flesh. Yesterday, under a flag of truce, a message was sent by Yung Lu, asking if Sir Claude Macdona Id, the British minister, would consent to a truce. The minister replied he was willing, provided the Chinese came no closer. The shell firing then ceased and everything is now quiet. We hope that, having defeated the Chinese, relief is nearing us. We are all exhausted with constant standing on guard, fighting, building barricades and digging trenches both night and day. “All the legations except the British are utterly wrecked by shot and shell. The Austrian, Italian, Belgian and Holland buildings are burned to the ground. The British legation is also much shattered. '1 he United States marines still hold a vital position on the city wall commanding the legations. After a brilliant sortie on the night of July 3, Capt. Myers succeeded in driving back the Kansuh mounted troops. During the tight Capt. Myers was slightly wounded. We fear that treachery is possible when the defeated Chinese troops enter the city. Meanwhile we are living in intense anxiety and hoping for early relief.”