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Again and again the Chinese government endeavored to cajole or force the legation to leave their defences, under pretence of giving them better shelter, or escorting them to a place of safety; unquestionably with the purpose of their extermination. And all the while the government was sending our reports that the legations were being protected and provisioned, even when they were eating their horses. The firing upon the legations continued forty days, with a few short intermissions, and when the relief column started from Tien-Tsin, the endeavors to get at the foreigners and massacre them, before the rescuers could arrive, were redoubled in vindictive ferocity. It was at this very time that Li Hung Chang telegraphed to foreign governments that the legations had all arrived in safety at Tien-Tsin, under Jung Luh's escort.
Two violent and well-planned assaults were made upon the defences on the night of the 13th, the last of the siege, by the Shansi contingent of Imperial soldiery, whose general had vaunted that he would "finish the foreigners within five days." Had they succeeded in entering the compound, the throats of not only the official foreigners, but their hundreds of women and children, and thousands of native converts would all have been cut, or perhaps more exquisite tortures have been inflicted upon them.
On the afternoon of the 14th, Generals Gaselee and Chaffee, at the head of the rescuing column, entered the legation grounds, the Chinese soldiery having fled at their coming.
The particular incidents of the campaign that form a part of the Wild West entertainment, are the landing of the Allied Troops, adn the Storming of the Gates of Tien-Tsin, which led to the final Capture of Pekin and the relief of the beleagured legaitons that had been so bravely defended by the overmatched Legation Guards.
The first scene is located near the city of Tien-Tsin, and illustrates the massing of the Allied Troops for the attack on that city. The cavalry drill in full uniform is introduced to add a picturesque interest to the scene, and also to show the difference in the cavalry manual of each country represented.
The second scene narrows the time down to the actual attack on the walls of the native city.
The large double gates shown in the center of the picture are the ones that were defended by a few determined Chinamen, who finally gave way under the rush of the gallant 9th Regiment, U. S. Infantry, assisted by a mixed force of all the allies that participated in the actual attack on the native city.
The management of the Wild West have taken a little dramatic license in massing troops where there was only desultory fighting. Of course the difficulty in charging a thirty-foot wall defended by a moat is obvious, but is it desired to show the fraternal spirit that actuated all the allies in the initiative engagement of the campaign, that ended with so much credit to the fighting abilities of the men who endured the stress of battle and the hardships of a forced march, to the rescue of their compatriots.
The forces represent the United States, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, East India, Japan and France. The uniforms are those of the 9th Regiment, U. S. A., Legation Guards, U. S. Marines, Japanese Regulars, British Marines, Welsh Fusiliers, East India Sikhs, Russian and French Regulars.
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HEROES OF STORM AND WRECK.
LIFE-SAVERS DETAILED BY THE UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT FOR A SEASON WITH THE WILD WEST.
Considered simply as a novel, surprising and thrilling spectacle, far beyond anything of kindred sort ever before attempted, the exhibition of the Life-Saving Service in the Wild West (Buffalo Bill's) arena, is of extraordinary interest. But it has much higher claims upon public attention. It is an invaluable object-lesson in the actual work of one of civilization's noblest endeavors for the benefit of humanity.
The public already knows approximately all there is to be known about the work of the Light House Department. Its light-houses and vessels may be visited and inspected by anybody a good part of the year, and some of them on the eastern coast are popular show-places. The glows and flashes of its lights and the eerie howls of its syrens are seen and heard of all men all along our coasts, from the St. Croix River, Maine, to Perdido Entrance, Florida; from Alaska to Point Loma; along our principal rivers and dotting the shores of our great lakes. Descriptions stories, poems and news articles innumerable have familiarized the world with all belonging to the Light House Department, and enabled a full comprehension of the value of its service.
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