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]