Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, China, October 1,
1898.
No. 56.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm, on the
overleaf, my cipher telegram of October 1, and to inclose a copy of
letter of Rev. H. H. Lowry giving a succinct account of the attack upon
his party.
At about the same time, of at least while they were coming from the same
train, three other attacks were made by the same crowd and near the same
place—one on a couple of Japanese students, another on an English
gentleman and lady, and still another upon the English customs or postal
agent. None were seriously injured, but all were roughly handled and
their carts and chairs badly damaged.
September 30 was the great day of the mid-autumn festival; nobody at
work, and the streets, especially this highway of the railway station,
were thronged with idle and hilarious people.
As this is the first time an attack of this magnitude has occurred in
Peking, it was at first thought to have been a spontaneous movement of
the crowd, following the lead of some thoughtless loafer, and all
without any premeditation; but it was afterwards learned that, besides
the above-mentioned attacks, on the same day and in different parts of
the city, a French priest was attacked and the Marquise Salvago, wife of
the Italian chargé d’affaires, was jeered and insulted while passing
along the streets in her chair. Then it was concluded that there must be
some new and general occasion for this unexpected outburst here against
foreigners.
The attack was reported to me while yet in progress, and I immediately
sent messengers both to the Tsung-li Yamên and the gendarmerie,
demanding aid; but it was over before help had time to arrive. However,
a messenger arrived about 8 p.m. with information that six persons had
been arrested and other arrests would follow. I have by the note, a copy
of which I inclose, also made formal presentation of the case to the
Tsung-li Yamên, and demanded that immediate and adequate measures be
taken to insure the safety of our people along this thoroughfare and
also elsewhere where their legitimate business may call them.
After my note had already gone to the Tsung-li Yamên a meeting of the
diplomatic corps was called, a note prepared, unanimously approved, and
the dean instructed to transmit it to the Tsung-li Yamên.
I will inclose a copy of the note, as well as the reply of the Tsung-li
Yamên thereto, in a succeeding dispatch.
I have, etc.
[Page 227]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 56.]
Mr. Lowry to Mr.
Conger.
Peking, September 30,
1898.
My Dear Mr. Conger: To-day, as Mabel and
myself were on the way to the station to meet Mrs. Cranston and
daughters, we were set upon by an immense crowd on the Ch’ien men
great street. They began by throwing clods and then large stones and
anything they could get hold of. In order to protect my daughter
from the fierceness of the attack 1 dismounted and urged her to go
on ahead. I was struck a large number of times both by the clods and
stones. I received one very severe blow on the side and several cuts
on the head. I met some mounted soldiers led by a mandarin with a
white button. I accosted him and asked for his protection. He would
not even give me his name, but told me to go on. After he passed the
attack was more fierce than ever and the crowd followed us nearly to
the Yung ting gate. At the gate I went to the police station and
informed them of what had occurred and requested that as we returned
they should give us an escort. The policeman said it was not in his
district.
On the return journey Mrs. Cranston and Miss Cranston were in chairs.
Bishop Cranston’s other two daughters and myself and daughter were
in carts. In order to avoid the crowd we followed close along the
wall of the Temple of Heaven. When more than a quarter of a mile
away the crowd saw the chairs and made a rush for them. They at once
began stoning the chairs, and the bearers, being hit, put the chairs
down. I got out of the cart in order to give protection to the
ladies. The chairs were severely damaged by the stones. I again ran
to the police house near by and asked for protection, but the
policeman said that he could not do anything.
The ladies got through without being hurt.
Very respectfully,
P. S.—The police station that I called on for protection was,
first, the station just inside the Yung ting gate, and the
policeman I spoke to was named Chung, and on my return a small
guardhouse north of the Temple of Heaven. But friendly Chinese
went to the Tung chu and Hsi chu yamêns at the T’ien ch’iao.
I think the arrest of persons without dealing severely with the
police officials, who were absolutely indifferent, would be of
no use. In one case the Chinese friend who sought protection for
us was thrust out of the office with revilings and threats.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 56.]
Mr. Conger to the
Tsung-li Yamên.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, China, October 1, 1898.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States of America, in addition to the informal notice
sent your highness and your excellencies of the Tsung-li Yamên on
yesterday concerning the attack then being made upon a party of
American citizens quietly proceeding from the railway station to the
city, now has the honor to transmit the particulars embodied in the
inclosed copy [Page 228] of a
communication from Rev. H. H. Lowry, a member of the party attacked,
and who was personally injured by the missiles of the mob.
The undersigned is surprised that such an affair could happen at the
very door of the Imperial capitol, practically in the very midst of
soldiers and police, and that these officials should persistently
refuse the assistance and protection requested by the parties
attacked.
In view of this and the consequent danger of future troubles of like
kind, it is the duty of the undersigned to demand that such
immediate precautions be taken, by the increase of a properly
instructed police or military force, the issuance of forcible public
proclamations, arrest and punishment of offenders and derelict
officers, or other energetic measures which will insure the safety
of American subjects passing peaceably along the highway from the
railway station to their residences or elsewhere where their
legitimate business may call them.
This matter is of the gravest importance, and should have the
promptest and most energetic attention.
The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to assure your
highnesses and your excellencies of his highest consideration.
