Beleaguered in Pekin 20
In the fortification of their own legation they have been untiring,
and besides loop-holing and building barricades, have dug a very deep
trench all along inside their west wall, or only exposed side, which
effectually prevented underground mines from being undetected.
Russian sentries have, all through the siege, been posted on the moat
bridge at Legation street, commanding the water-gate under the city
wall. Curiously enough, no attack has ever been made from this quarter,
yet to a foreigner it appears a most advantageous opening for attack.
The Russo-Chinese bank was held by the volunteers as long as it was
possible to hold it, but after the Chinese built a high barricade on
the wall just over the bank, it grew too hot to hold and had to be
evacuated.
Mr. Wihlfahrt’s house, directly under the wall, was made a Chinese fort
for a while, and the Americans lost several men from snipers posted
there, until, finally, a rush was made and the place destroyed.
The Russians have several times gone to other places to assist in
repelling serious attacks, on one occasion to help Colonel Shiba in
holding back the Boxer forces at the Su Wang Fu. On this occasion one
man was seriously wounded. Another time they were called to help the
German legation. They have always cheerfully rendered any assistance
when called upon, and Baron von Rahden, his fellow officers, and all
the volunteers are highly thought of by the besieged.
Few people are aware that when all the troops had left their outposts
and retired into the British legation, owing to a mistaken order, four
Russian sailors still remained alone at a barricade commanding the
Mongol market, and by keeping the Chinese soldiers from being aware of
the general retreat into the legation, made it possible for the guards
to return to the American, French, and German legations and the wall,
which otherwise could only have been done at a frightful cost of lives.
* * * * *
The United States legation, usually spoken of as the American legation,
is pleasantly situated on the south side of Legation street. It
is, however, a very small compound. There is only one building in
it of foreign style of architecture, utilized as a business office.
The second secretary had his residence in the upper portion of this
building.
[Illustration: UNITED STATES LEGATION
Dr. Coltman’s rooms were at the left, Minister Conger’s to the right.
The yard or “compound” is paved, with openings for the trees and
vegetation. The most attractive part of the house, as is the case
with nearly all Chinese houses, is that which looks upon the compound
instead of the street.]
At the commencement of the siege the following persons were residing
in the compound: His Eminence E. H. Conger, minister, his wife,
daughter, niece, governess, and two lady guests from Chicago, Mrs. and
Miss Woodward; Mr. H. G. Squiers, first secretary, his wife and four
sons; Mr. W. E. Bainbridge, second secretary, and his wife; Mr. F. D.
Cheshire, interpreter. These comprised the legation staff.
There were also the following refugees, who had been obliged to
abandon their residences and seek legation asylum: Dr. W. A. P.
Martin, president of the Imperial University and author of the “Cycle
of Cathay,” “Hanlin Papers,” and other works, both in English and
Chinese; Dr. Robert Coltman, Jr., professor of surgery in the Imperial
University, author of “The Chinese—Medical, Political and Social,”
with his wife and six children; Mr. William N. Pethick, secretary to
Li Hung Chang, and three American missionary ladies, Mrs. Mateer, Miss
Douw, and Miss Brown.
In Mr. Squiers’ family there was also a visitor of distinction—Miss
Condit-Smith, a niece of Chief Justice Field, of the United States
Supreme Court—as well as a French and a German nursery governess.
[Illustration: Inside one of the United States Legation rooms]
The marine guard of fifty men was under the command of Captains Myers
and Hall, who, with Surgeon Lippett, constituted the officers of the
detachment. Captain Hall, with twenty marines, had been for several
days at the Methodist mission compound, east of the Hatamen or extreme
southeast gate of the city, but on June 20, when it was decided to
abandon that compound, and have the American missionaries all move
into the British legation, Hall and his men returned to the American
legation and thereafter served there.
The fatigue endured by the United States marines in their constant
service on the city wall and in their barricade under the wall, as well
as the barricade at the western end of the compound in Legation street,
was simply killing. That the men did not succumb is a marvel.
To Mrs. H. G. Squiers, more than any one else, is due the credit of
sustaining them with coffee and biscuits sent out hot and refreshing
at midnight and at various times throughout the day. Indeed this lady
has acquired, by her hospitality and unfailing kindness, the affection
of not only her own nationals, but the regard of every one besieged
within the city. Many poor fellows wounded in the hospital have blessed
her with their fevered lips for a cooling drink or a nourishing broth
prepared by her own hands. Her well-furnished storeroom was placed
at the disposal of every one who was in need of food, either as a
necessity for the healthy or a delicacy for the sick. The author has to
express his own unbounded gratitude for many a tin of peas, tomatoes,
or oatmeal that has helped to render palatable the daily ration of
horse-flesh and rice that has been his own and his family’s sustenance
throughout our imprisonment.
[Illustration: A corner in the United States Legation]
Under the most trying circumstances Mrs. Squiers has preserved a
cheerful demeanor, and, assisted by the ever calm and always sociable
Miss Polly Condit-Smith, has daily entertained at her hospitable board
the officers, civilians, diplomats, and missionaries with the same
cordiality.
When Dr. Velde, the able German surgeon in charge of the hospital, was
worn out with fatigue and unable to find a quiet place for a night’s
rest, he was provided by Mrs. Squiers with a comfortable pallet,
covered with a mosquito curtain, in a little closet room, usually
occupied by the German nurse, and so enabled to obtain a rest that was
an absolute necessity to his continuing in service.
All of the American ladies have worked with patience and perseverance,
constantly making the sand-bags which have so efficiently protected the
soldiers and the entire community from the unceasing fire of bullets
from the enemy. Everything in the line of cloth has been used for this
purpose. Handsome linen table-cloths, rich silk draperies, towels,
gowns and dress materials have been freely sacrificed to provide for
the defense.
When the wounded became numerous in our quarters, and were nightly
worried by those infernal pests, the mosquitoes, the ladies cheerfully
sent all their mosquito curtains to the hospital to be used by their
brave defenders to alleviate their discomfort.
[Illustration:
Mr. F. D. Cheshire Mr. H. G. Squiers Mr. E. H. Conger Mr. W. E. Bainbridge
Interpreter First Secretary Minister Second Secretary
The United States Legation Staff]
Every one realized when we became besieged that we were in a position
that only divine help and a speedy rescue could avail us. Surrender
under any circumstances now could only mean butchery. We had seen the
survivors of the massacre at the south cathedral come among us with
little children almost hacked to pieces by the cruel knives of the
fanatical Boxers, and, knowing their hatred for us, we well knew that
if the men were overcome, the women and children must suffer a horrible
death or worse.
Many of the men had resolved that at the last fight they would
themselves kill their wives and daughters to prevent their suffering at
the hands of the incarnate devils that surrounded us. My own wife never
allowed me to leave her upon a night-attack without first giving her
my revolver for the purpose of using it as a safeguard to herself and
daughters in the event of my non-return, and the overpowering of our
forces.
The American marines led in the expedition to the south cathedral to
rescue the Catholic Christians being killed there, and were accompanied
by a Russian detachment and by civilians W. N. Pethick and W. J.
Duysberg. Here they rescued over three hundred Christians, and brought
them safely to the American legation, where their wounds were dressed
by Drs. Lippett, Korsakoff, and Coltman, and they were then sent into
the Su Wang Fu to be fed and cared for until the end of the siege.
The American marines also took part in the expedition to the Boxer
rendezvous temple, north of the Austrian legation, in which fifty-six
Boxers were cornered and killed. Their bravery and endurance has been
noted by all. Their main task—that of holding the city wall—should
render their fame immortal. True, they have been ably helped in this
task from time to time by both Russian and British marines, but the
post was theirs, and to them belongs preëminently the glory of holding
the position that, like the Su Wang Fu, was a key to the place of last
stand—the British legation.
In the brilliant sortie on the night of July 3, led by Captain Myers,
both Russian and British marines took part, and, although the credit
has usually been attributed to the Americans, English and Russians are
equally deserving. When on the point of springing over our barricade
to attack the Chinese position, Captain Myers addressed his men with
ringing words of encouragement.
The Chinese had their first intimation of his movement when they were
saluted with a deafening yell directly under their barricade, for our
little force gave a tremendous shout, as instructed, as they rushed
around the one open side and clambered over the breastwork.
Robert Coltman, 3rd, 16½ yrs. Rev. R. Coltman Dr. R. Coltman, Jr.
Eva D. Coltman, 15 yrs. Chas. L. Coltman, 9 yrs. Alice C. Coltman, 13 yrs.
Mrs. R. Coltman Mrs. Dr. R. Coltman, Jr.
Wm. P. Coltman, 1½ yrs. Mary O. Coltman, 4 yrs.
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