Report of the consul to the Assistant Secretary of State.
Tientsin China, July 16, 1900. (Received Sept. 21.)
Sir: In submitting this report I have the honor to refer you to my dispatch No. 44, dated February 17, 1900, predicting what might happen should the Chinese officials continue to give encouragement to the organization known as Boxers. Long before that, as early as September, 1899, this society had made itself very obnoxious in the province of Shantung, committing robbery and murder, coupled with threats that all foreigners should be driven from China. They had the encouragement and sympathy of the governor of that province, whose every act was sustained by the Government at Pekin, and who gave the Boxers the advice to “loot, burn, and plunder foreign property as much as you like, but do not take life.” Again and again the attention of the Pekin authorities and the Government was called to the abominable outrages committed by their especially patronized volunteers, and the removal of the governor of Shantung, Yu Hsien, was demanded by our legation. In answer to these appeals the governor was finally ordered, but only that he might be promoted, to a higher position, viz, governor of Shansi. This act of defiance only gave new encouragement to the “loyal supporters,” as the Empress termed them. From this time on the situation became more grave. Rev. Mr. Brooke, an English missionary, was captured, mutilated, and finally murdered. A pretense of trial was given to the murderers and meager punishment meted out to one or two of the perpetrators, and some recompense paid.
After the repeated protests of our legations some pretense of suppression of these outlaws was made. Yuan was made governor of Shantung, and from his general reputation the foreigners expected and hoped for great good to follow. His hands, however, were tied. Edicts were issued commending these loyal supporters, but warned them that they must not admit traitors or bad characters to their societies. Notwithstanding all this the outlaws continued to increase in number and the infection spread rapidly, and in April had reached the eastern limits of this (Chihli) province. The lives of missionaries in the vicinity of Paotingfu were threatened. On receiving this information I appealed to the viceroy, Yu Lu, and demanded the suppression of the insurrection. In compliance therewith he, the viceroy, immediately issued proclamations to that effect and sent small detachments of troops. The proclamations were torn down as fast as posted. The troops went from village to village, but offered no protection.
By the 25th of May the infection had reached Tientsin (native) city, and the situation grew so alarming that at 9 o’clock p.m. on May 27 I felt it my duty to send the following message to Admiral Kempff, who had arrived at Taku bar on the previous day.
Tientsin, China, May 27, 1900.
Rear-Admiral Louis
Kempff,
U. S. Flagship Newark,
Taku.
Sir: Part of railway to Paotingfu destroyed by Boxers last evening. Three stations already burned. Destruction of main line to Pekin threatened. Workshops and godowns at several stations from Pekin already destroyed. Boxers are in control and stations deserted by agents and employees. Viceroy promises to send [Page 269] troops to-morrow morning, but I have doubts as to their reliability. There is great uneasiness here amongst the foreigners, and the situation is most serious. Can’t you land a force of marines with Maxim or quick-firing guns? If so, bring by rail if permitted, otherwise by river.
J. W. Eagsdale, Consul.
This message was telegraphed to Tang-ku and sent out by a tug, reaching the admiral at 4 o’clock a.m. on the 28th. In response the admiral acted most promptly, as he has done in every emergency, and immediately landed 100 men with the gallant and meritorious Captain McCalla in command. These troops reached Tientsin at 10 o’clock in the evening, and were the first to arrive. They were met at the landing by the entire foreign population of Tientsin with a brass band, who accompanied the soldiers to the quarters prepared for them. Their arrival was most timely, as an attack was for the time being, at least, frustrated. Two days after 56 of these men in command of Captain Myers were forwarded to Pekin. On the 28th some 32 Belgian engineers (some having their wives and children with them) left Paotingfu by houseboats for Tientsin. An escort of native soldiers was sent with them, but on the second day out were attacked by the Boxers, when the guards promptly deserted, leaving the refugees to fight their way out as best they might. Although the distance was but 100 miles, they were six days reaching their destination, during which time they were continuously fighting for their lives. Five were killed. The greater number of those who did arrive were wounded.
On the 8th of June my Chinese writer visited the native city at my request, and on his return assured me that the greatest excitement prevailed there—that all the blacksmiths were working night and day, making spears, and that they were getting three prices for their work. I again wired the Admiral and suggested the landing of more troops, which suggestion was complied with promptly. The report from Pekin was so discouraging and the plea for relief so heartrending that several meetings of the consular body was held with a view of forwarding more troops at once. * * * At that time the various nationalities had present, ready for any emergency, 1,400 or 1,500 troops and could readily have spared 800. * * * I took the position that an immediate advance should be made. The English, Japanese, Germans, Italians, and Austrians coincided with my suggestion, but it was not until the gallant Captain McCalla declared, “Our minister has wired the consul that our people are in great distress and that unless relief is sent soon all will be lost, and I propose to leave for Pekin tomorrow morning” that the Russians and French gave in. A demand was then made on the viceroy for transportation for 800 men and unless this demand was granted that our troops would seize a train and go anyway. Consent was granted, but orders were sent out from Pekin that the road should be destroyed. * * * At 7 a.m. on June 10 our troops arrived at the station, to find that several trains had just arrived from Taku with a large number of troops under command of Admiral Seymour. With little delay 2,200 troops were under way. They arrived at the station 25 miles from here without incident, but there the trouble began. They found the rails torn up and damaged and the cross-ties had disappeared entirely. Thousands upon thousands of coolies had been at work carrying off the ties. For four or five days every effort was made to repair the road, but it was impossible to repair as fast as the enemy destroyed. On the 14th the enemy destroyed the track in the rear, and for ten days no communication [Page 270] whatever was heard from this command until June 25, when it was relieved by a force of 1,700 men sent out from Tientsin, our marines, under another most meritorious officer, Major Waller, participating. For ten days the Seymour command had been constantly harassed by the Boxers. About 180 marines had been wounded, and it required nearly 1,000 men to carry them, otherwise they might have fought their way out single handed. Fortunately for them, they had succeeded in capturing the Siku Arsenal, located some 9 miles from Tientsin, where they found large stores of rice and good forts for their protection. Before returning, the relief, assisted by our worn-out command set fire to the arsenal, destroying munitions of war to the value of several millions of dollars.
In the meantime General Nieh’s army, to the number of 6,000, who had been sent out to protect the railroad from destruction, was ordered back to Tientsin, arriving in the native city at midnight June 14. On the morning of the 15th, at 3 o’clock, the Boxers set fires in many directions and made an effort to enter the foreign settlement, but were repulsed with great loss of life. In this engagement, as in many of those following, private citizens participated, myself and two sons, one only 15 years of age, being among the number. On the night of the 16th the Taku forts were taken, for reasons well known to you long since. * * * The presence of the armies of Generals Meh, Ma, and Sung was well known to us, but for some unexplained reason the officer in command of the allied forces did not think it necessary to capture the military college, a fortified position within 300 yards of the settlement and 600 yards from this consulate. This position was occupied by 200 Mlitary students, well armed and drilled, and who had at their command 8 large Krupp guns. Had they opened fire, the foreign concession would have been riddled and perhaps captured. * * * I hunted up the other consuls and commanders and demanded that the place be captured at once. * * * The commander * * * arranged for an attack to be made at 3 p.m. At that hour the line was formed ready for the assault, when the first shell was fired into the city from the viceroy’s fort, some 2 miles away. The position and guns were captured at once and with little casualty to our forces. Fifty Manchu students refused to surrender and were all killed. Had this attack been delayed for one hour there might have been a different story to tell. I had constant information from an intelligent Chinese, who, by the way, is a graduate of Yale College. * * *
Two days prior the Russians had landed about 1,700 troops, with one 6-gun battery, so that at the time the siege began we had perhaps 2,500 troops all told to maintain a position of 8 or 10 miles in length. It had been previously arranged that, in the event of an attack, all women and children should assemble at Gordon (city) Hall, a very large and substantial building near the center of the settlement. There we found ample cellar room, that proved very good indeed, and, fortunately so, for the enemy’s guns were trained on that particular spot. They had their spies in our midst, and evidently knew by whom the building was occupied. For eight days there was continuous shelling and volley firing. The enemy closed in their lines and eventually occupied the mud wall, a strong position some 600 yards to the east of us. Large guns were planted there, where they had easy range, and the fire was continuous and very accurate, but, providentially—it could not have been otherwise—only two or three foreigners were injured. [Page 271] On the contrary, very many natives who had been unable to leave the settlements were killed and wounded, many of them occupying high positions in life. The loss of life from the fire of the sharpshooters was more effectual. One could not cross the street without hearing the z-zip of Mauser bullets. We were completely cut off from communication with our fleets and knew nothing of the efforts made to send us relief.
On the night of the 19th an effort was made to send a launch to Taku. My interpreter, R. H. Maclay, volunteered to go on this launch with a verbal message to Admiral Kempff. Eight other men were sent for various purposes, but the launch had proceeded only 9 miles when it ran onto a pile of rocks thrown into the river by the Boxers, and those on board had to fly for their lives. They continued their journey on to Taku by land, wandering through fields of corn, swamp grass, and canals, finally reaching their destination half dead from hunger and exposure. On the 22d some 200 United States marines, accompanied by 300 Russians, attempted to enter the city, following the railroad, but when within 2 miles of their destination were ambushed and compelled to retire, the enemy being on three sides of them. Our marines in this engagement lost 3 killed and 13 wounded. Before reaching their starting place they were reinforced with 1,500 new troops, and returned on the 24th and forced their way in, much to the joy of the careworn troops and citizens. As usual, our troops led the van. The enemy withdrew from their position on the east and retired to the walled city, thus leaving communication with Taku unobstructed.
On the 26th the large and splendidly equipped arsenal, some 3 miles to the northeast, was captured by the Russians, being supported by our marines and those of Great Britain and Germany. This arsenal was splendidly fortified and manned, and commanded the railway approach; hence the importance of its capture. Arms and munitions of war to the value of many millions were found stored there. The assault was witnessed by many of our people from the housetops, and was indeed a grand sight. A few days later a new position some 2 miles to the southwest was seized, fortified, and occupied by the enemy. This position gave them unobstructed range on the city, but their tenure was of but short duration, for on the 10th the Japanese troops, supported by those of the American, German, French, and English, made an assault and captured the position and 4 guns, and killed 300 or more. Without stopping, the army deflected to the right and captured the west arsenal, but the position being of light importance and requiring a large force to maintain, our forces withdrew. In this, as in all subsequent engagements, the Japanese soldiers won the praise of all and proved themselves soldiers of first rank. They are, in fact, ideal soldiers and entitled to the greatest credit.
In the meantime the enemy continued to shell the city, foreign concession, most unmercifully. It is estimated that not less than 5,000 shells were fired into the settlement. I can not at this moment think of one house that has escaped damage, many having been struck twenty times. The very first day a shell struck my kitchen, and on the last day two entered the consular office, and a large piece entered my bedroom window. As relics I have a hatful of pieces of shells picked up in my yard, to say nothing of Mauser and gingall bullets. (The gingall is a native weapon (gun) about 10 feet long and so heavy [Page 272] that it requires two men to handle it. The cartridge used is about 5 inches long and weighs one-quarter of a pound.)
The shelling was far more terrific than any I experienced during the civil war, and I served under General Sherman. On the 13th day of July the Russians asked permission to make an advance on the right, and requested the support of other allied troops on the left. At daylight our forces marched out on the left, and after severe fighting recaptured the arsenal abandoned on the 10th and formed a line of battle inside of the mud wall and within a few hundred yards of the walled city. The position occupied by the Ninth United States Infantry was in front of a lake and without any protection whatever. They were exposed to the fire from the troops behind the brick wall, supported artillery firing shrapnel, as well as by numerous Gatling or other quick-firing guns. Their loss was exceedingly heavy, Colonel Liscum being killed early in the morning. Many other officers were killed or wounded. The troops were compelled to lie in the water all day long, and the heat was intense. Though the water was filthy and contained many dead Chinese, the soldiers had to drink it.
Early in the forenoon I visited the field many times, carrying bottles of ice water and stimulants to the wounded, and did everything in my power to make them comfortable, although it was not comfortable to me. After nightfall the Japanese drew near the south gate and finally succeeded in blowing it open, when they entered with a rush, the enemy retreating without further order. At daylight next morning our flags were flying on the walls in every direction. The Russians captured the forts on the extreme right, with 12 guns. In all, 58 guns were captured. The city was divided up into districts, the United States troops occupying the position immediately in front of their line the previous day, in which was located a large armory containing immense stores of arms and munitions of war. They also had control of the salt commissioners’ yamen, where they found a million dollars’ worth, or more, of silver bullion. The Japanese and English each found as much more in various locations. So ended the twenty-nine days of siege, during which time there was not an hour that we did not hear the shriek of shells or the whistle of bullets. The loss of the allied forces in this engagement aggregated 745 killed and wounded, the loss of the Chinese during the month exceeding, no doubt, 15,000. A visit to the native city the next day was most distressing. The streets and houses were filled with the dead and severely wounded. The wounded able to move and to be moved had disappeared. The loss to the Chinese in treasure and munitions of war can not be less than taels 25,000,000, or gold $17,500,000.
Communication with Pekin by telegraph ceased June 10, and with the outside world on June 15. Prior to that time the Chinese had control of the telegraph lines and acted as press censors, absolutely refusing to send dispatches that conveyed intelligence of their duplicity. My telegram to the Department, dated June 15, was held up (after accepting payment) for nine hours. I called in the evening to find out whether the message had really been forwarded or not, and was informed to the contrary. I then drew my revolver and forced the operator to act at once. He complied, but from a newspaper quotation I fear that the message was distorted. In this connection I desire to say that as long as communication was open I kept the minister constantly informed of the situation, who duly reported to the [Page 273] Department. Afterwards I kept the admiral thoroughly posted until the siege. I did not think it proper for so many to be telegraphing to the Department, as the stories would be more or less conflicting. This will explain any apparent neglect on my part.
At this writing the armies are preparing for an advance on Pekin, but will probably not be ready to move before August 1. We have evidence that our people in Pekin are still alive, after nearly five weeks of siege under continued shell and rifle fire. They still have provisions, but very little ammunition left. As early as July 4 they had commenced to eat their ponies. The distress of mind to them must be truly appalling. * * * The enemy occupies very strong positions some 17 miles from here, and number many thousands. We have, all told, about 23,000 soldiers. At least 5,000 must be retained here.
The destruction of property in the settlements is very great indeed. The homes of some of our American citizens have been destroyed, some losing everything they possessed. I hope that in the final settlement the Chinese Government will be made to repay them for their losses. A more uncalled-for uprising was never perpetrated. Had the authorities only heeded the admonitions and demands of our legations it would not only have escaped the condemnation of the entire world, but would have saved to itself and its subjects a loss in treasure and property almost unlimited in value. Instead, however, the Government encouraged the movement to exterminate the foreigners. It can not dodge the responsibility. We have evidence that for months the authorities had been preparing for this very event, and they should not be permitted to go unpunished. * * *
I have, etc.
U. S. Consul.