The feeling that my experiences were out of the common, and present new aspects of famous events, during which I was, to a certain extent, at the same time on the stage and behind the scenes, has induced me to publish the following pages. They are taken from letters, owing to circumstances never sent, and my diary, written spasmodically throughout the siege. While trying to introduce something of the lighter side of life, and speaking of various incidents, humorous and otherwise, I have endeavoured to avoid all that can give offence or displeasure to those mentioned. If in any case I have unwittingly failed in this endeavour, I crave pardon.

My thanks are due to Mrs. Woodward for giving permission to reproduce her unique siege photographs.

MARY HOOKER.

September, 1910.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

TO FACE PAGE
SIR ROBERT HART[frontispiece]
WHITE PAGODA IN THE TEMPLE OF LINGUA SU[2]
HERBERT SQUIERS[14]
RUSSIAN MARINE GUARD[16]
CAPTAIN McCALLA COMMANDING THE AMERICAN MARINES[16]
CH’IEN MEN GATE[24]
BARON VON KETTELER[26]
BARRICADE BETWEEN THE AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN LEGATIONS[30]
READING THE SENTENCE OF DEATH TO THE BOXERS CAUGHT IN THE RUSSIAN LEGATION[30]
THE TSUNG-LI YAMEN[44]
BARRICADE ACROSS THE CANAL TO THE FU[50]
SANDBAG BARRICADE IN AMERICAN LEGATION[50]
MRS. R. S. HOOKER[68]
CAPTAIN JOHN T. MYERS[100]
MRS. SQUIERS[110]
LOADING THE “INTERNATIONAL”[116]
AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN MARINES AT WORK ON THE BARRICADE. BARON VON RAHDEN ON THE RIGHT[116]
SIR CLAUDE MACDONALD[120]
EDWIN H. CONGER[136]
A GATE INTO THE IMPERIAL CITY[154]
GENERAL A. R. CHAFFEE[160]
GENERAL SIR ALFRED GASELEE[176]
THE RESULT OF THE SIEGE: IN THE AMERICAN MINISTER’S HOUSE[192]
THE RESULT OF THE SIEGE: FRENCH LEGATION RUINS[192]
MRS. HOOKER, MISS ARMSTRONG, LADY MACDONALD’S LITTLE GIRLS, FARGO SQUIERS, AND COLONEL ARTHUR CHURCHILL[196]
COAL HILL[202]

THE FORBIDDEN (PURPLE) CITY IMPERIAL CITY