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CONGER IS ALIVE IN PEKIN
MINISTER CABLES WASHINGTON HE IS UNDER
CONTINUOUS SHOT AND SHELL.
Officials Express Ko Doubt as to Its
Authenticity—Answer to Inquiry.
A Washington special says: United
States Minister Conger is alive in Pe
kin. An official cipher cable dispatch
has been received from him through
the Chinese minister, Wu Ting Fang.
Minister Conger cables from the Brit
ish legation in Pekin. He says he is
under continued shot and shell from
Chinese troops and that quick relief
only can prevent a general massacre.
Minister Conger’s official despatch, as
translated and given out by the state
department is as follows:
“In British Legation, Pekin.—
Ilay, Washington, care Wu Ting
Fang: Under continued shot and
shell from Chinese troops. Quick
relief only can prevent general
massacre. Congeb.”
The cablegram was received bv Wu
Ting Fang at 8:30 o’clock Friday
morning. It was in the state depart
ment cipher aud was transmitted
through the tsung li yaraen and the
Shanghai taoti. Immediately upon
receipt of the message, Minister Wu
hastened to the state department with
it, where Secretary Hay caused it to be
deciphered at once.
The receipt of the cable has thrown
Washington into a state of great ex
citement and rejoicing. Shortly after
the minister’s message had been de
ciphered the following official state
ment was made by Secretary Hay at
the state department:
“On the 11th of this month the state
department communicated a brief mes
sage asking tidings of Minister Conger
in the state department code. Mr.
Wu undertook to get this into Minis
ter Conger’s hands if he were alive.
He has succeeded in doing this.
“This reply was in the state depart
ment cipher, and it is regarded as
genuine, inasmuch as forgeries seem
under such circumstances impossi
ble.”
In reply to a question Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin said it was impossible now
to say what effect the receipt of Mr.
Conger’s dispatch would have on mil
itary operations in China or on our
preparations here. He said he did
not know but that increased military
haste might precipitate matters in
China.
Within an hour the welcome intel
ligence that Conger had been heard
from, after weeks of silence and evil
report, was flashed through the whole
country, and, indeed, throughout the
world, dispelling the gloom which had
prevailed everywhere and bringing to
the officials and to the public gener
ally a sense of profound relief.
First of all, from the standpoint
q i the administration officials, the
most welcome feature of the message
was its assurance that the American
minister himself was alive on July
18th. But with the cheering news
came the ominous statement of Minis
ter Conger that the beseiged foreign
ers were in the British legation under
continued shot and shell from Chinese
troops, and that only quick relief could
avert a general massacre.
After the first flush of thankfulness,
this graver feature of the message be
gan to impress itself upon cabinet
officials most deeply. As one of them
remarked:
“There are the poor creatures penned
up under fire of shot and shell, and
appealing to us for help.”
The consultation brought about no
pronounced change of policy, for it
was felt that already every energy had
been spent toward meeting the situa
tion, and that there was absolutely
nothing more that could be done. Af
ter all, the cabinet officials felt, and so
6tated, that the message was an evi
dence of friendliness and good faith of
the pro-foreign element of the Chinese,
and that wisdom dictated a course
which would continue to utilize this
friendship.
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
By the Southern Industrial League to
Serve the Ensuing Year.
The Southern Industrial leaguers,
in session at Atlanta, Ga., Fridas',
elected D. A. Tompkins, of Chartotte,
N. C., president of their organization,
to succeed J. K. Orr, of Atlanta,whose
term expired. Vice presidents elected
to serve with Mr. Tompkins are:
C. W. Ashcraft, Florence. Ala.
A. H. West, Madison, Fla.
P. K. McCully, Anderson, S. C.
W. J. Kincaid, Griffin, Ga.
George Winston, Raleigh, N. C.
H. H. Hargrove, Shreveport, La.
E. H. Dial, Meridian, Miss.
F. C. Collier, Dallas, Texas.
ENGLAND MAS DOUBTS.
Press and People Think the Conger
Message Is a “Blind.”
The Conger dispatch fails to carry
conviction to either the British press
or the public. Its genuineness is not
disputed, for, as is pointed out.
the Chinese must possess quite a sheaf
of such messages, which the ministers
fruitlessly endeavored to get trans
mitted, from which they could easily
select a non-committal dispatch to
serve the reauired purpose.
The government accepted the mes
sage as authentic and Secretary Hay
transmitted it to all our ambassadors
and ministers abroad, with instruc
tions to lay it before the respective
governments to which they are ac
credited, and to urge upon them the
necessity of co-operation for immedi
ate relief of the foreigners at Pekin.
A message was sent by Secretary Long
to Admiral Itemey, conveying the in
telligence of the desperate situation
in Pekin and instructing him to “use
and urge every possible endeavor for
relief.”
The message, Secretary Long ex
plained, meant for Admiral Itemey to
himself “use” and to “urge” upon the
commanding officers of the other pow
ers the use of every endeavor for the
relief of Pekin. Secretary Root sent
a similar notification to Colonel
Coolidge, the senior American officer
ashore, at Tien Tsin, but without in
junction. This action was the result
of the conference of Secretaries Hay,
Long and Root.
It was realized that the land aud
naval forces now in China could not
single-handed push on to Pekin, aud
the other powers accordingly were
appealed to, on the base of Minister
Conger’s message, to co-operate for in
stant relief. Secretary Ilay explains
his reasons for placing reliance in the
authenticity of Minister Conger’s dis
patch, saying that it was a complete
reply in code to the code message sent
to him, and that its authenticity was
vouched for by the tsung li yamen.
“Of course” said Secretary Hay,
smiling, “I am not omniscient and
may be fooled, but I cannot see how
the authenticity of Minister Conger’s
cable can be questioned.”
BECKHAM NAMED
To Fill Out Goebel’s Unexpired
Term as Governor of the
State of Kentucky.
Governor Beckham was nominated
by the Democratic state convention of
Kentucky, at Lexington, by acclama
tion at 3:05 o’clock Friday morning,
find the convention adjourned within
thirty minutes thereafter.
After the names of Judge Black, of
Barbourville, and Judge Tarvin, of
Newport, were placed iu nomination
a roll call of the convention was he
guD. When LcLean county was reach
ed Beckham had the 547 votes neces
sary to nominate. Then Black aud
Tarvin’s names were withdrawn aud
the latter at once moved that the nomi
nation of Beckham be made unani
mous. The motion carried and Beck
ham was escorted to the platform,
where he made a speech of acceptance.
It was 2 a. m. when Senator Black
burn presented a report from the
committee on resolutions. The re
port as adopted was in part as fol
lows:
“We heartily indorse the mngnifi
cent platform adopted by the national
Democratic convention at Kansas City
July 5, 1900, aud also the splendid
ticket named by said convention and
pledge the Democracy of Kentucky to
an earnest, cordial and active support
of said ticket.
“The Democratic party recommends
that the election law of 1898, known
as the Goebel law, be so amended that
the most hypercritical can find no ex
cuse for charging fraud or unfairness
to our party in the conduct of the
election.
“The mob and the assassin shall
not be the arbitrators of the citizens
of Kentucky, nor shall the penalty of
an appeal to the law and the regular
constituted authorities be death at the
hands of assassins.”
Siucerest grief is expressed over the
death of Governor William Goebel.
Every sincere lover of civil and per
sonal liberty is invited to join in a
campaign against the forces gathered
under the banner of “A Government
by Assassination.”
In conclusion the administration of
Governor J. C. W. Beckham was
'.strongly indorsed.
LI REACHES HONO KONG.
Britishers Welcom-* Chinese Viceroy
With Salute of Seventeen Guns.
Li Hung Chang and his suite ar
rived at Hong Kong Thursday evening.
The Chinese viceroy was received with
a salute of seventeen guns and, with a
guard of honor from the Welsh Fusi
leers and a band, proceeded to the
government house, where he was re
ceived by the governor, Sir Henry A.
Blake, and other officials. He stated
that be had received definite news that
the ministers and foreigners at Pekin,
with the exception of Baron Von Ket
teler, the German minister, wera safe
July 9th.
FORBIDDEN TO HOLD OFFICE.
Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company
Gives Notice to Employes.
Employees of the Baltimore k Ohio
Railroad Company have been forbid
den to hold political office. General
Superintendent Stewart, whose head
quarters are i Chicago, has issued an
imperative order stating that under
no circumstances will employees of
the system be allowed to stand as can
didates for or occupy aay political of
fice, big or little.
CHINA IS AT WAR
This Is the Conclusion of English,
Russian, German and French
Governments.
Advices from London state that the
Action of Count You Bnelow, the Ger
man minister of foreign affairs, in in
forming the Chiuese legation at Berlin
that all telegraphic messages must be
in plain language and submitted for
approval by the censor, and the sug
gestion of M. Deloasse, the French
minister of foreign affairs, that the ex
portation of arms to China be prohib
ited, which are generally regarded in
London as the first steps in the direc
tion of treatiug China as a state en
gaged in war, have been supplement
ed by the official announcement from
St. Petersburg that certain portions
of the Amur territory have been de
clared in a state of war since -Tuly
17 th.
Russian action is regarded in Lon
don as at least the foreshadowing of a
speedy unconditional recognition of
the fact that a condition of war exists
between China and civilized world,
and the general opinion seems to be
in favor of such recognition as the
best means of meeting the barbarian
upheaval, while at the same time en
deavoring to isolate the independent
viceroys from the general conflagra
tion.
The revelation of the ability of the
Chinese forces in the north %o stand
their ground against the international
interests is producing the inevitable re
sults in the south. At Shanghai it is
announced officially that foreign wom
en aud children have been requested
to leave ports along the river.
WHEELER ANXIOUS TO FIGHT.
.'lakes Application to Be Sent to Chins,
But Age Debars Him.
Desiring to add further fame to his
unique military history, Geueral Jo
seph Wheeler has made application
for service in China. It is not proba
ble that his request will be granted.
i t the same time administration offi
cials greatly admire the brave little
cavalry leader for his martial spirit,
and were it not for his age the presi
dent would gladly comply with his re
quest.
General Wheeler is at present com
mander of the department of the lakes,
with headquarters in Chicago. He
will retire on account of age on the
Ist of September, and for that reason
it will be impossible to send him to
China.
OUT-DOOR PROGRAM
Decided Upon By Bryan-Stevenson
Notification Committee.
The Bryan and Stevenson notifica
tion meeting will he held in the open
air. This is definitely announced by
those having the arrangements in
charge.
Newby Oval, where the notification
will be held, is on the edge of the
residence portion of the city and is an
elliptical amphitheater surrounding a
quarter-mile bicycle track, the center
being a level field in which football
games are played.
It will seat under cover 17,000.
With a grand stand in the center of
the field 20,000 more people could
witness the ceremonies. Half of these
could hear every word spokeu.
RUSSIA MEANS BUSINESS.
Chinese Hmlster at St. Petersburg Is
Handed His Passports.
A dispatch to The New York Journal
and Advertiser from Londou uys:
“The Chinese invasion of the Amur
province is equivalent to a declaration
of war against Russia, which, con
struing it as such, has handed the
Chiuese euvoy at St. Petersburg his
passports and requested him to leave
the country.
“The importance of this Chinese
declaration of war against Russia and
of this bold invasion of Russian terri
tory lies in the fact that as the matter
now stands it virtually releases the
Czar from his obligations to the foreign
powers to act in concert with them in
China.”
Relics Reduced to Ashes.
Among the boats destroyed in a fire
at the navy yard at Boston Thursday
were several of the Olympia’s, among
them the barge formerly used by Ad
miral Dewey. Another victim of the
flames was a cutter captured by the
old Kearsage from the Albabama in
the memorable fight thirty-five years
“go.
ADDRESS TURNED DOWN.
Committee of Southern Industrial
League Asked to Try Again.
Delegates to the Southern Industrial
League in session at Atlanta wouldn’t
have the public address reported from
tho special committee. On its pre
sentation for adoption in the conven
tion Thursday it was characterized as
a political instrument, a direct in
dorsement of the Republican platform,
and was hastily sent back by an over
whelming vote of the delegates on the
floor to the committee that framed it,
with instructions to tear it up aud
bring in an address on industrial lines
in keeping with the aims and of
the league.
CUBAN ELECTIONS
For Delegates to Constitutional Con
ventto*i Occurs September ig.
It is understood that the presides*
and General Wood have agreed upon
’feptember 15 as the time for holding
the election in Cuba for delega'es to
the constitutional convention that it
to be called for the purpose of forma- I
lating a constitution for an indepen I
dent government for Cuba. 1
ROCKHILL GOES
TO INVESTIGATE
President Names a
Envoy to Cf^fl
on mmumjM
McKinley Returl
sunies His m
cusses ■
President H
ton
C)., where
."Kill's \
eeiv.d from (V
Ins presence lifl
Before leuvfl
appointed W. H
commissioner M
i. ■ H .JrivSsjjj
ger is heard of
of Mr. Conger is rufl ■
aide Mr. Kockhill
minister to China in
The cabinet wns in
hours Thursday morning.
phase of tlu- Chinese
carefully gone over by the
There was a general feeling of hoJBI
fulness noticeuble among the mem
bers of the cabinet, and they inclined
to believe the dispatches which have
been received by Mr. Wu, stating that
the foreigners nre safe.
Secretary Hay himself inclines to
the belief that friendly natives have
hid the foreigners aud that nothing
can be sent out from them for fear
of disclosing their hiding place. This
hope, however, is not very strong and
is not based on recent information.
The decision reached by the cabinet is
practically the same as that agreed up
on two days previously-that there is no
need of an extra session of congress.
It is felt here that there is no im
mediate likelihood of Russia declar
ing war upon China, hut if such a dec
laration should result from the alleged
outrages committed in northern China
it is stated that tho othe powers would
bo obliged to join in the declaration
or withdraw their troops from Chineso
soil. Mr. W'l and Mr. Wollant, tho
Russian charge, called at the state de
partment Thursday morning and were
closeted with Secretary Hay forashort
time. It is stated that neither of them
lmd any news from China and it was
also stated that there is no confirma
tion of the alleged outrages upon the
Russians in northern Chirm.
This government is not disposed to
follow the example of some of the for
eign powers in restricting in any
measure the Chiuese minister here.
Administration officials generally have
confidence iu Mr. Wu and think it is
to the best interest of Americans in
China to allow him free communica
tion with the viceroys and titular Chi
nese government.
riESSAGE FROH wTlde.
Oregon Arrives at Kure and Will Be
Temporarily Patched Up.
The navy department Thursday
morning received the following dis
patch from Captain Wilde, commander
of the Oregon, dated Kure, July 18:
Secretary of the Navy—Oregon and
Nashville arrived at Kure at 2 o’clock
this morning. Expect to dock on
Shall I make permanent or temporary
repairs? I would suggest putting on
steel patoheS which can he done in a
very short time hud the ship can go
hack to her duty at Tuku. To make
permanent repairs it will require at
least sixty days, probably more. Not a
single man iujured. Wii.de.
To this dispatch Secretary Long at
once replied:
Universal rejoicing over snfety of
the Oregon. She is the Constitution
of this generation. If safety of Oregon
permits, patch and go to Taku. 1
commend your preference for s< rvice
there. Long. *
Reciprocity Treaty With Italy.
A reciprocity treaty has been signed
by tbeUnited Statesand Italy aud made
public Thursday by the stat 3 depart- J
meut. The treaty is similar to the one
agreed to between the United States I
and Germany a few days ago.
, IN PURSUIT OF CHANG.
Brltlah Cruiser Said to Be On Watch- 1
| out For the Old Han.
A Shanghai dispatch states that the
British cruiser Bona Venture left Woo
Sung early Friday morning, it is, re
ported, to Fejze the An Ping, with Li
Hung Chang 0119 board. A triumphal
arch, erected in Li Hung Chang’s
honor, has been ordered by the coun
cil to be removed.
The announcement of the alleged
pursuit of iLi Hung Chang, comes
somewhat as a surprise after the hon
ors paid the Chinese viceroy at Hong
Kong, but (Confirmation of the news
will meet the approval of a latge ma
jority.
M’KINLE/Y’S ACT APPROVED.
London Standard Commends the Mis
g/ion of Mr. kockhill.
A London dispatch says: “The
Washington idea of sending Mr. Kock
hill to/China," says the Standard edi
to“iall/y. “is au excellent one and
m.ght/ advantageously be imitated by
the j’Jritish and other governments.”
Tl/e Standard then proceeds to com
men/ upon the great ignorance preva
lent/ in Europe, not only of recent
aveJita, but of general Chinese affairs.
"i
that SO,(Ml)
tlie campaign?”
“That is tho old story,” wns
ply. “Admiral Kempff cabled
week or ten days ago—sixty thousand
men for tho forward move on tho capi
tal and twenty thousand to protect
Tien Tsiu and communication with
Pekin.”
Asked as to the possible effect of
the Chinese attack of the Russian
towns along the Manchurian border,
the reply was:
“This may complicate the situation.
I cannot say whether or not it means
actual war between the Chinese gov
ernment uml Russia, The matter is
between those two governments. We
have nothing to do with it. We do
not know either what the uctual facts
a*e in the case.”
WILL COGPLKX I B. SITUATION.
Report Current That Chinese Have
Invaded Russian Territory^
A London special says: If thffnews
of a Chinese invasion of Siberia pr'oves
true it will, of course, immensely com
plicate the situation from the interna
tional point of view. As stated in the
Associated Pres* Kt. Petersburg dis
patch of July 8, the Chinese had al
ready peremptorily ordered all Rus
sians to quit Manchuria, but no one
imagined they would he audacious
enough to go outside their own coun
try aud attack Russian territory. Such
an attack, if it has been made, of
course, constitutes in itself a declara
tion of war, rendering formal nojiliea-.
tion needless.
A separate attack by the Chinese on
Russia means giving Russia, accord
ing to the views expressed in Europe,
additional excuse for au isolated de
scent on Pekin, and an additional
claim to assert greater influence than
the, other powers and greater compen
saQon when the time of settlement, ar
rives. Hence a greater uneasiness
has been created in the chancellories
by this latest development.
NEITHER IS SATISFACTORY.
Gold Democrats Denounce Both flc-
Kinley and Bryan Tickets.
In response to a call issued a few
days ago, a number of gold Democrats
and anti-imperialists met in New York
City Wednesday night to discuss the
methods of bringing a third party
ticket before public.
An address *vas adopted assailing
President McKinley for his Philippine
policy and his Scandalous appoint
ments” to federal office; characteriz
ing Governor Roosevelt as the “frank
embodiment ’of militarism,” and de
claring that the Republican party
stands for all forms of special privilege.
Mr. Bryan, the address says, is as ob
jectionable ns President McKinley, as
a vote for the Democratic ti*ket means
a vote for free silver.
SHIP CUT IN I WAIN.
Steamer Campania Collides With a
Vessel In English Channel.
A London cable dispatch mys: A
deuse fog hung over the Irish channel
Saturday morning and the Cunard
line steamer Campania, en route from
New York for Liverpool, struck the
Liverpool hark Emhieton, hound for
New Zealand, amidship, cutting her
in twain.
The Emhieton sank immediately.
Seven of the crew were rescued, but it
is believed the other eleven members
of the ship’s crew, ilicluding tho cap
tain, were drowned. The Campania
had her bow stove in. but arrived safe
ly at Liverpool fire hours late.
Ready For Fourth Round.
The Washington artillery, one of tho
oldest and most prominent military
bodies in Louisiana, with a record of
three wars, h tendered its service to
President McKinley in ease volunteers
are needed for China.
Japs Landtng at Taku.
A dispatch received in London Wed
nesday from Shanghai stated that
the disembarkation of 15,000 Japanese
troop* was proceeding at Taku.
push on ut, iukv; cult
its base if need be, and
way to PekiD, leaving the
xuents now steaming toward Taka
from every quarter of the globe to re
establish the base and to reopen com
munication.
It is possible to draw two conclu
sions from a failtrtfe of the foreign
commanders to do thus. First the Euro
pean governments haye allowed their
skepticism ns to the authority of Mr.
Conger’s dispatch to carry them to the
point of deciding coolly and deliberate
ly upon the first supposition, namely,
that there are no foreigners alive to be
saved; consequently there is ho need
for haste.
The other conclusion is that, friction
is developing among the internationals
in spite of the earnest endeavors of the
powers, whose motives to China are
so far unimpeached, to prevent it.
Color is lent to this latter theory by
the fact that the governments have
so far been unable to agree upon an
international commander for the expe
dition to Pekin, and this, too, in spite
of the fact that Admiral Remey, acting
by the instructions of his government,
is exhausting every, effort to induce
the other commanders at Tuku and
Tien Tain to hasten their movements.
ENGTjAND not ready.
A London special says: The rquest
of Secretary of State Hay at Washing
ton to the powers to make uu immedi
ate forward movement’ upon Pekin is
not likely to meet with any success in
England. Lord Salisbury is just as
eager ns the American secretary of
state to adopt such a step, hut he is
practically convinced that it will be
impossible until September, owiug to
local conditions and the allies’ lack of
equipment.
Beyond a courteous reply that Eng
land is willing to co-operate in any
movement that the commanders on the
spot may deem advisable, nothing is
likely to come of the latest American
effort to reach the Chinese capital, for
all official advices received indi
cate that a dash toward Pekin in the
immediate future would be military
suicide. The government’s attitude
may tie described us philosophic de
termination to grin and bear it, hoping
fer the best, yet fearing the worst, un
til troops and climatic conditions en
able the powers to euter Pekin and
ascertain without a shadow of doubt
the extent and cause of China’s pres
ent disintegration. Until that is ac
complished all is suspended, not only
regarding the future of China, but
also as to the nature and severity of
the retribution to be exacted.
RECEIVER TAKES CHARGE.
.Mutual Benefit Association Has a
Tangle In Affairs.
The Chicago Guarantee Funa Life
Society, a mutual death benefit Asso
ciation, which began business seven
jears ago with such men as Senator
Patrick Walsh, of Augusta, Ga., and
Warren F. Leland behind it, passed
into the bauds of a receiver Thursday.
Three Thousand Chinese Slain.
A dispatch from Shanghai received
in London Thursday reports that the
losses of the Chinese in the fighting
at Tien Tsin was upward of 3,000.
BELGIUM GETS NOTICE
That Ministers In Pekin Were Safe
On July 20th.
The minister of foreign affairs, at
Brussels, Mr. Fabreaux, has received
the following telegram from Shanghai,
dated July 21:
• “A telegram from the governor of
Bhan Tung anuouaces that the minis
ters were safe July 23th. They were
under the guardianship of the Chinese
authorities. Li Hung Chang has ar
rived at Shanghai.”