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                            BELEAGUERED IN
                                PEKING

                            THE BOXER’S WAR
                         AGAINST THE FOREIGNER

                                  BY

                       ROBERT COLTMAN, JR., M.D.


Professor of Surgery in Imperial University; Professor of Anatomy, the
 Imperial Tung Wen Kuan; Surgeon, Imperial Maritime Customs; Surgeon,
   Imperial Chinese Railways. Author of “The Chinese, Their Present
             and Future: Medical, Political, and Social.”

                           Illustrated with
                    Seventy-seven Photo-Engravings

                             PHILADELPHIA:

                    F. A. DAVIS COMPANY, PUBLISHERS

                                 1901




                            COPYRIGHT, 1901

                        BY F. A. DAVIS COMPANY


  Mount Pleasant Printery
  J. HORACE MCFARLAND COMPANY
  HARRISBURG · PENNSYLVANIA




PREFACE


IN THE following pages I have endeavored to give an accurate and
comprehensive account of the Siege in Peking and of the Boxer movement
that led up to it.

Authentic details furnished by representatives of those legations whose
work has been specially mentioned have made possible a greater detail
in those cases. I regret that others who had promised me accounts of
their work have failed to furnish the promised material.

The siege at Pei Tang or North Cathedral, coincident with that of the
legations and civilians, is not described for the reason that we were
absolutely cut off from them for over sixty days and knew nothing of
their movements. Much detail that might be interesting to many I have
been obliged to omit, as it would make the book too cumbersome.

I make no claim for the book as a literary effort, the object being
to state the facts in the clearest manner possible. The illustrations
are from actual photographs, the authenticity of which is absolutely
proved, and these carefully studied, add much to the information of the
volume.

To my sixteen-year-old son, the youngest soldier to shoulder a rifle
during the siege, I am indebted for much of the diary and great help in
copying. A considerable portion of the book was written with bullets
whistling about us as we sat in the students’ library building of the
English legation.

There are several men whose work entitles them to decorations from
all the countries represented in the siege, and their names will be
indelibly written in our memories even if the powers and ministers
concerned overlook them. I refer to F. A. Gamewell, August Chamot,
Colonel Shiba, and Herbert G. Squiers.

  ROBERT COLTMAN, JR., M.D.

 PEKING, CHINA, September 10, 1900.




                               CONTENTS


 CHAPTER                                                            PAGE

     I. Riot at Marco Polo Bridge—Men Wounded by Captain
        Norregaard—Dr. Coltman Accompanies Governor Hu
        as Special Commissioner to Investigate—Anti-Foreign
        Feeling Expressed by Generals of Tung Fu’s Army—A
        Bargain with Prince Tuan                                       1

    II. Yu Hsien Appointed Governor of Shantung, Removed
        by British Demands, Only to be Rewarded—Yuanshih
        Kai Succeeds Him—Causes of Hatred of Converts by
        People and Boxers—The Boxers and Their Tenets—The
        Empress Consults Astrologers                                  31

   III. Cables to America Describing Growth of Boxer Movement
        from January to June, 1900                                    46

    IV. Diary of the Author from June 1 to June 20                    62

     V. Diaries of the Author and His Son from June 20 to End
        of Siege 78

    VI. Reflections, Incidents, and Memoranda Written During Siege   143

   VII. Work During Siege Done by Russians—Work by Americans         167

  VIII. Work Done by Staff of Imperial Maritime, Customs, and
        British Legation Staff                                       190

    IX. Work Done by Austro—Hungarians—Mr. and Mrs. Chamot           209

     X. Edicts Issued by the Empress During Siege, with a Few
        Comments Thereon                                             221

    XI. Now What?                                                    245




Beleaguered in Peking




CHAPTER I

 _RIOT AT MARCO POLO BRIDGE—MEN WOUNDED BY CAPTAIN