To the Editor of the "Nonti-Cmtsa Datty News."
Sm,—As it may interest your realers to know the facts of the ease re the occupation and subsequent abandonment of taiyo, U send you the following account There were living at Peitaiho in the beginning of June, 1900, four military officers, Major and Mrs. Parsons, Capt. Cronin' (both officers in Civil Employ onder the Government of Burma), Capt. Erk, and Capt. Johnson, all four on leave, studying the Chinese language. There were also about ten missionaries, their wives and families, a Swedish gentleman and his wife and family, and, over at West End, a Russian officer and his wife and family.
On the 4th of June a letter came to Major Parsons from the British Consul at Tientsin, advising him to seriously consider the position, as to whether it was safe for people to reside any lenaer at Pei owing to the d's'urhed state of the comi try, and whether they ought not. to mo Tangshan or Tie On the semi evening a telegram Colonel Wogack, Military Adviser to the Russian Government in' China, to the Swedish gentleman, advising immediate departure from Peitaiho for Tientsin as the country was getting most disturbed, and to inform all others. Unfortunately, the Swedish gentleman and the Russian officer acted on the advice given in the telegram and left for Tientsin the next morning. Major Parsons consulted with the missionaries, who wore some British, some American, and asked them what they wished to do.
They were practically unarmed men, only about two of them having revolvers, Major Parsons told them it was his duty to inform them of the letter he had received and the telegram received by the Swedish gentleman, if they all wished to remain, he would remain with them, as his wife was also willing and ready todo so. He had 8 gun, a rifle, and revolver. The three other military officers also consented to re if the missionaries wished to The missionaries, after consulting together, said they did not think it necessary to hurry away from the place, leaving their homes and property to be looted and burned, without getting strong and urgent warning from their Consuls to do so.
Major Parsons saw that four annad men would not be much if a large attack was made on Peitaiho. Also the line was threaented and might any moment he cut between Peitaiho and Tangka. He therefore wired to the Consul at Tientsin to ask him, if possible, ta get a gunboat sent to Peitaiho to take off everyone if necessary. A reply came on the Sth of June to say the Consul had asked the Admiral for a gunboat, and on the 6th of June another telegram came saying H.M.S. Humber had been ordered to Peitaiho. Everyone felt {most deeply grateful to the Admiral for his kindness, and subsequent events proved that the' arrival of the gunboat, thereby allowing the people to remain on t Peitaiho, suvel the lives of all the foreigners in Tongshan and Shanhaikuan, About 6 p on the 7th of Jane HM. S. Humber, under Captain Davison, anchored about two to shallow water. on Tanded a guard of eleven marines, who were put under Major Parson's orders.
He and Captain Davison arranged signals for day and night in ease of attack. They also arranged patrols and look-out sentries.
few days Inter, on Major Parsons' recommendation, the guard was increased to thirty-six men, There were a large number of Chinese soldiers at Shanhaikuan, about 18 miles distant, and about 12,000 mes, under Generals Sung and Ma General Sung had the reputation of bei very friendly to the British, and to prove it he sent over about twenty-five soldiers to help to protect Peitaiho.
The foreigners were now all living at Rocky Point, so Major Parsons sent half the Chinese soldiers to guard property at West End, and the other half to East Cliff, on the other side of Rocky Point, On the 15th of June, General Ma and 4,000 men and 16 field guns went off for Peking tuassisthis countrymen thereagainst the foreigners. General Sung, under urgent orders from the Chinese Government, followed with the remainder of the troops on the 16ch or 17th, their places at Shanhaikuan being taken by a lage body of Mancha troops from beyond the Great Wall (Moukden), On the 16th of June, Major Parsons information that all communica: sku and Tientsin was cut beyond Tongshan, On the 17th, he received telegram in French from Me. Kinder M. G., Engineer-in-Chief, Tongshan Chinese Railways, saying his party would leave tongshan for Peitaiho that day. About 8 p.m. they reached Peitaiho Railway Station and afterwards a party of about 25 armed civilians (railway " and mining engineers) reached Rocky Point, the remainder of the force staying atthe Railway Station, which is about five miles distant Major Parsons sent two British officers (Captains Erek and Johnson) to com. municate and bring information, They returned and reported that the force, consisting of one lieutenant R. (Lieut. Roper), two midshipmen (Mr. Hemans and Mr. Clark-Hall), and forty. nine bluejackets of H.M.S. Aurora, would arrive in the early morning at Rocky Point, together with Mr. Kinder.
The bluejackets were accommodated on arrival in the Mission Hall. Lieut. Roper and his men and Mr. Kinder and his engineers had been obliged to leave Tongshan owing to the threatening attitude of General Ma's troops, and to the fact thai the railway to the South was cut.
Major Parsons informed Captain Davison of their arrival. He at once came on shore and decided that the situation was too goave to leave the women and children at Peitaiho. Sosixteen women, thirty-eight children and about ten missionaries and some of the railway and mining engineers embarked on H.M.S, Hamber on the morning of the 9th, and left that same day for Taku.
Mrs. Parsons remained at Peitaiho incase, in the event of fighting, a nurse would be required for the wounded. Dr. Moorhead and Dr. Hurst, both belonging to the railway, were prepared to act a3 medical men the force. The Shanhaikuan railway staff, under Mr. Ricketts, hud also come to Peitaiho on the night of the 18th. Th civilians who remained all put themselves under military discipline to help to defend the place, and were formed by Major Parsons into a corps under Captain Cronin.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.