Beleaguered in Pekin

Beleaguered in Pekin: The Boxer's War Against the Foreigner is by Robert Coltman. Chapter VI, headed Reflections, Incidents, and Memoranda Written During Siege, says one of the most noticeable effects of siege-life has been to bring out into prominence all the mean and selfish characteristics of the individual, as well as the heroic and self-sacrificing. The text says that after the so-called truce of July 18th, the native soldiers occupying the wall to the east of the American marines' barricade strictly observed the terms of the truce.

The account says that from all the other barricades the writer's side was frequently fired on, and that every night or two a vigorous attack would be made upon them. The text says that one night the author was selected by Adjutant Squiers to lead a company of ten coolies in an attempt to remove the stinking carcasses of two mules. The text says the Empress again assumed power by forcibly seizing the throne from the weak but good-intentioned Kuang Hsu, and decided at once to bring this man Tung and his Kansu ruffians to Peking.