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Rt. Rev. A. Favier, Bishop of Pekin 
 
THE HEART OF PEKIN 
 
 BISHOP A. FAVIER’S 
 DIARY OF THE SIE.GE 
 MAY-AUGUST, i 900 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 REV. J. FRERI, D.C. L. 
 
 Assistant General Director of the Association for 
 the Propagation of the Faith 
 
 * 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 MARLIER & COMPANY, Limited 
 
 1901 
 
irmpdmatuc 
 
 * JOANNES JOSEPHUS 
 
 Archiep. Bostoniensis 
 
 Copyright, 1901 
 By Rev. Jos. Freri 
 
THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 A CATHOLIC BISHOP'S DIARY OF THE SIEGE. 
 MAY -AUGUST, 1900. 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 The Chinese Missions. 
 
 By way of introduction to the following pages, it 
 may not be out of place to present a few general 
 statistics of the Catholic Chinese Missions. 
 
 There are at present some ten Catholic Missionary 
 societies engaged in the propagation of the faith in 
 China. Among these may be mentioned the Society 
 of the Foreign Missions of Paris, the Franciscans, 
 the Dominicans, the Jesuits, the Lazarists, the So- 
 ciety of the Foreign Missions of Milan, the Society 
 of Mary Immaculate, the Little Brothers of Mary, 
 the Sisters of Charity, etc. A few years ago the 
 Trappists founded a monastery near Pekin, where 
 their laborious and pure lives are in striking con- 
 trast with the laziness and dissolute conduct of the 
 Bonzes. 
 
2 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 The total number of Vicariates is 40 ; there are 40 
 bishops, about 800 European missionaries, 500 native 
 priests ; and the number of native Catholics through- 
 out the whole of China proper is estimated at 
 700,000. 
 
 The Vicariate of Pekin, the mission of special inter- 
 est to us, dates back to 1288, when it was intrusted 
 to the sons of St. Francis. About 1582 it was taken 
 charge of by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, 
 when the renowned Father Matteo Eicci and his com- 
 panions made Pekin their headquarters. In 1784, 
 on the suppression of the Society of Jesus, Pope 
 Clement XIV. at the request of Louis XVI. of France 
 confided the Vicariate to the Fathers of the Congre- 
 gation of the Mission, more popularly known as the 
 Lazarists or Vincentians. They have continued to 
 serve the Vicariate ever since. 
 
 According to the last report issued by Bishop 
 Favier, C.M., Vicar Apostolic of Pekin, at the end 
 of 1899 there were 31 churches, 577 stations, 
 46,900 Catholics, 2,322 baptisms of adults during the 
 year, and 6,506 catechumens. The missionary staff 
 comprised about 28 European missionaries and 30 
 native priests ; a Trappist monastery with 5 priests, 
 18 choir religious, and 33 brothers ; a community of 
 Marist brothers, with 18 members, and also communi- 
 ties of Sisters of Charity and Sisters of St. Joseph. 
 
 In the London “ Tablet ” of Aug. 11, 1900, appeared 
 a graphic description of the mission of Pekin, from 
 which the following is taken : 
 
THE CHINESE MISSIONS. 
 
 3 
 
 “M. Marcel Monnier, in his delightful book ‘Le 
 Tour d’Asie, L’Empire du Milieu/ writes as follows 
 of the Lazarist missions at Pekin : — 
 
 *“At the missions the welcome was indeed a cordial 
 one. The road thither is easily found. Hours pass 
 swiftly by in conversing with the men who for so 
 many years have passed their whole lives in the midst 
 of these strange Chinese races ; men who have adopted 
 their language, their habits and customs, who have 
 studied their literature, their art and their annals, 
 and who possess the gift, so rare and scarce, of evok- 
 ing in their conversation, by a few ornate and vividly 
 descriptive touches, men and matters of the present 
 and the past ; men with minds alert, not given, how- 
 ever, to the fostering of illusions, convinced that 
 they are laboring on ungrateful soil ; still tenacious, 
 possessed of a joyous ardor, wholly happy in the 
 enormous difficulties of their self-imposed tasks. 
 
 11 1 It would be a mistake to look upon these mis- • 
 sions simply from the one point of view of religious 
 propagandism. Their activity is manifest in many 
 different ways. Their missions in Pekin are far 
 removed one from the other, situate at the four cardi- 
 nal points, as their names indicate : Pei-tang, Nan- 
 tang, Ton-tang, and Si-tang, — the Church of the 
 North, of the South, of the East, of the West. Around 
 these churches are grouped not only the residences 
 of the Fathers, the seminaries and the novitiates, but 
 also the schools, the workshops, where the young 
 people are taught wood and metal work. Then there 
 
4 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 is the printing-office, where the young native com- 
 positors are equally skilled in the setting up of the 
 Chinese and Latin characters. 
 
 The Hospital and Dispensary. 
 
 ‘“'Near the Church of the East, Ton-tang, is the 
 hospital where the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent 
 de Paul, assisted by the medical staff of the French 
 Legation, are ever assiduous in their care and nursing 
 of the most repulsively afflicted patients. This suf- 
 fering class of humanity exhibit afflictions, sores, and 
 complaints and suchlike pathological phenomena sel- 
 dom to be met with in European clinical institutions. 
 This institution is the only one of its kind in all 
 Pekin. Needless to say it is ever crowded. On 
 certain days there are to be seen hundreds of stricken 
 patients awaiting the arrival of the doctor. Those 
 who are unable to find room in the hospital make 
 their way to the dispensary. There their ailments 
 are seen to, wounds washed, and a large bowl of rice 
 given to each. In the neighborhood of this mission — 
 the most ancient Catholic settlement extant in Pekin, 
 one founded by the Portuguese Jesuits over two 
 hundred years ago — there is a never-ceasing influx 
 and exodus of spectral figures, disease-stricken and 
 fever-marked sufferers. 
 
 “ < The headquarters of the mission is the Pei-tang, 
 
 ■ — Church of the North. It is situated in the yellow 
 quarter of the city, close to the Imperial Palace. 
 There are two small pavilions flanking the entrance 
 
THE CHINESE MISSIONS. 
 
 5 
 
 surmounted by a dragon ; affixed to the wall are 
 marble slabs on which are inscribed the Imperial 
 Ordinances, setting forth the terms upon which the 
 concession of the land was made to France some one 
 hundred years ago. But a few years back the Em- 
 peror, wishing to enlarge the grounds of his palace, 
 took the site previously held by the Fathers, and gave 
 them the present site in exchange, and built the 
 present cathedral, episcopal residence, and all the 
 many dependencies at his own expense, — a cost esti- 
 mated at over $150,000. A huge tablet suspended 
 over the facade of the Cathedral records this fact. 
 Pei-tang is the residence of the Vicar- Apostolic, a 
 man whose name is widely known, who is much be- 
 loved by all those whose privilege it has been to 
 know and meet him, Bishop C. M. Favier. 
 
 The School of the Marist Brothers. 
 
 ((( A mile or so outside the walls, near to the old 
 French cemetery, in the village of Cha-la-eul, is the 
 wonderful school established and directed by the 
 Marist Brothers. There are about one hundred native 
 students attending the classes. This institution 
 enjoys a deservedly high reputation. Many of the 
 youngsters who have made their studies in this 
 school are now holding good posts in the Civil Ser- 
 vice and Custom House offices. One of the recent 
 members of the Chinese Embassy at Paris, the Min- 
 ister Tsing, was a student of Cha-la-eul.’ ” 
 
6 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 II. 
 
 Mutterings of the Coming Storm. 
 
 During the early part of the year, Bishop Favier 
 had gone to Europe in the interest of his mission. 
 Hearing that signs of the approaching storm had been 
 seen, he returned at once, and on May 18, 1900, 
 wrote from Pekin the following letter 1 : — 
 
 Pekin, May 18th, 1900. 
 
 My stay in Europe was very short indeed ; but no 
 amount of kindness could have kept me away from 
 my vicariate longer, and I am thankful now that 1 
 have returned. I felt, by intuition, that grave events 
 were about to happen and that a storm was brewing. 
 In case of a cyclone, a commander must be at his 
 post, even if it means to be tied to the mast. 
 
 To understand the insurrectional and anti-Christian 
 movement that has gained ground so rapidly, we 
 must investigate the causes. Permit me a few prelim- 
 inary explanations. 
 
 Seeing that the emperor, Kuang Hsu, could have no 
 heir, and that, moreover, he was plotting to deprive 
 
 1 From the “Annals of the Propagation of the Faith,” September, 
 October, 1900. 
 
MU TTE RINGS OF THE COMING STORM. 7 
 
 her of the regency, the Empress nominated a new 
 emperor, or rather an heir presumptive. This future 
 sovereign of China, twelve to fourteen years of age, 
 is a grandson of Prince Tuan, the fifth brother of 
 Emperor Shien Fong, who died in 1860. 
 
 The son of the Prince Tuan mentioned, who has 
 *the same name and is the father of the new emperor, 
 is filled with hatred against Europeans and their 
 religion. His animosity is easily accounted for. 
 Prince Kong, the sixth prince who has assumed the 
 regency since 1860, and his younger brother, the 
 seventh prince who succeeded him as father of 
 the Emperor, Kuang Hsu, were both younger brothers 
 of Prince Tuan, who by right should have governed 
 since 1860. Besides, when there was question of 
 choosing a successor to the Emperor, Tung-Che, who 
 died without issue, the son of the seventh prince 
 instead of the son of Prince Tuan was unlawfully 
 selected. These two acts of injustice so incensed the 
 latter that he retired to Moukden with his family. 
 The choice of the new heir presumptive has given 
 Prince Tuan great influence with the Empress. He 
 has returned with his old hatred against Europeans, 
 treaties, and all that has happened since 1860 ; and, 
 besides, in complete ignorance of European affairs, 
 the progress accomplished ' and concessions granted. 
 In fact, he is still imbued with all the old ideas of 
 forty years ago. The old party and all persons of 
 note who have preserved the feeling of hatred against 
 Europe and the Christian religion have rallied around 
 
8 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 Prince Tuan. The result is two decided parties : 
 that of the prince, and that of the princes and man- 
 darins who have been in power since 1860 ; these 
 have accepted progress, and issued the protective laws 
 and decrees for religion, culminating in that of March 
 15, 1899, which the Empress herself brought about 
 and signed, and which has not been revoked, though 
 the old party has since come into power. 
 
 Numerous sects under the names of Boxers , Large 
 Knives, etc., whose insurrection originated in Shan- 
 tung, have for the past seven or eight months spread 
 throughout Chi-li, directing their movements toward 
 Pekin. 
 
 The Boxers are a truly diabolical sect ; invocations, 
 incantations, obsession, and even possession, are com- 
 mon among them. Savants may attribute their ex- 
 traordinary doings to magnetism or hypnotism, or 
 may look upon them as victims of hysteria and fanat- 
 icism ; but to us they seem to be even more directly 
 instruments of the devil. 
 
 The hatred of the name Christian drives them to 
 the greatest excesses. Established, as they are, in 
 every village, they unite on a day specified to attack 
 any one Christian settlement. On Saturday, May 
 12, they burned the village of Kao-lo, and massacred 
 more than 70 persons ; several other villages were 
 burned immediately afterwards. The Christians took 
 flight, leaving all their worldly possessions behind 
 them. The city of Pekin itself is not safe. Boxers 
 are there in great numbers, and everywhere placards 
 
MUTTER1NGS OF THE COMING STORM. 9 
 
 are posted announcing the burning of churches and 
 the destruction of Europeans. The movement seems 
 to be approved by those high in authority, and con- 
 verges from all quarters toward Pekin. The stand- 
 ards of the rebels bear such inscriptions as : “ Protect 
 the dynasty and destroy Europeans ; ” By “ order of 
 the Emperor, let us destroy all Europeans.” Danger, 
 therefore, is imminent. 
 
 We have taken all the precautions dictated by 
 prudence. I have written letters to all the upper 
 mandarins. At my request, troops have been sent to 
 a number of Christian settlements ; but they are 
 nearly all inadequate and some are ill-disposed. 
 Nevertheless, I believe there would be greater evil 
 done without them. 
 
 In our pressing necessity, I have ordered public 
 prayers for peace, which God alone can grant. Be- 
 sides, I have written an official letter to the foreign 
 minister, who has convoked the diplomatic corps. It 
 has been unanimously decided to force the Chinese 
 government to prompt action under the penalty of 
 calling in foreign troops. Despite the danger, all are 
 ready at their posts. The conduct of the Christians 
 is admirable ; apostasy is proposed to them, but they 
 prefer flight, ruin, even death. Several catechumens 
 have received the baptism of blood. 
 
 May 28tli. This letter, commenced ten days since, 
 has been interrupted by ten days of sorrow. Every 
 hour brings fresh news of misfortune. The massacre 
 in Kao-lo was horrible : the victims numbered more 
 
10 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 than eighty. Small children were quartered, women 
 were burned in church or run through with a sword, 
 men were stabbed or shot ; it is rumored that some 
 were crucified. Twenty persons escaped because they 
 were absent at the time of the massacre. A young 
 man, eighteen years of age, was thrown into a well 
 where he remained forty-eight hours ; when the 
 assassins left, he made his escape and has just arrived 
 among us. In another village, two Christians were 
 cut into pieces. In a third, several were massacred. 
 Thirty villages at least have been abandoned by the 
 Christians ; six have been burned to the ground, 
 together with their churches. The poor Chinese, who 
 are pursued, take refuge in the mountains or in the 
 largest cities. We are giving shelter to more than 
 2,000. The last few days, in particular, have been a 
 terrible experience. 
 
 The Boxers united in arms, May 26, to attack 
 Cha-la, at the very gates of Pekin. Only a miracle 
 saved the place that night. We had, fortunately, 
 taken the precaution of bringing the Sisters of Char- 
 ity into the city. The next day, the terrible and, 
 unfortunately, true news, was circulated that the 
 Boxers, with unheard-of audacity, had burned the 
 Hankau-Pekin railroad for about ninety-five miles, 
 as far as the terminus station, near the capital. All 
 was destroyed, — material, stations, stores; we do not 
 yet know whether all the foreigners along the road 
 were saved or not. 
 
 The same evening our large establishment of 
 
MUTTERINGS OF THE COMING STORM. 11 
 
 Pei-tang was to have been burned. The announcement 
 had been proclaimed and posted for several days, 
 and I consider our escape miraculous. The different 
 foreign ministers have met in consultation, and have 
 decided to call in special detachments. If they do 
 not arrive within eight days, the fault will surely not 
 be theirs. 
 
 Chinese troops have taken possession of the rail- 
 way, and have reestablished communication with 
 Tientsin, interrupted for forty-eight hours. 
 
 A most insufficient imperial decree was published 
 this morning, but that protects neither religious 
 establishments nor the Legations in Pekin from a 
 coup de main. The Christian settlements in the 
 province are in the greatest danger. Every minute 
 may bring us the news of a fresh catastrophe. We 
 must hope, nevertheless ; we are in the hands of God, 
 and not a hair of our heads shall fall without His 
 permission. 
 
 Such is our position to-day, May 30. I hope that 
 I shall be able to write better news in a few days. 
 But the revolution against foreigners and the perse- 
 cution against Christians seem so well organized that 
 we may expect anything. Perhaps our prayers and 
 those of our poor Christians will appease the anger 
 of God. 
 
12 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 III. 
 
 After the Clouds had Broken. 
 
 From the date mentioned (May 30), with tne ex- 
 ception of one brief dispatch, telling of the brutal 
 murders of some religious, no word was received from 
 Catholic sources at Pekin, until the following Sep- 
 tember. Then, when regular communication with 
 Europe was once again established, among the most 
 important and interesting documents received was 
 the journal of the Bight Beverend A. Favier, C.M., 
 Vicar Apostolic of Pekin, with its accompanying 
 letter. 
 
 Tientsin, September, 1900. 
 
 The conduct of our Christians has been admirable ; 
 all devoted themselves to most fervent prayer with- 
 out fearing for their lives. The couriers sent to the 
 Legations were in danger of death ; several never re- 
 turned. On the 10th of August, one of them again 
 sacrificed himself to inform the minister of our 
 being in the last extremity of need. Poor young 
 man ! he was flayed, and the Boxers exposed his 
 skin and head within a few yards of our own walls. 
 
 It was a sad sight to behold Christian women 
 
AFTER THE C LOTTES HAD BROKEN. 13 
 
 depriving themselves of their own meager allowance 
 of food to nourish their infants ; for a long time they 
 had had no breast-milk; with small pieces of tin 
 that served as spoons, they introduced the weak 
 gruel into the mouths of their poor children. Our 
 number was increased during these two months by 
 thirty new born babes. 
 
 One morning, before Holy Mass, one of these brave 
 Christian women, who had been confined during the 
 night, threw herself at my feet, with the words, — 
 
 “ Bishop, Bishop, let me have some millet, that I 
 may have a little milk.” 
 
 I was obliged to refuse her with tears in my eyes ; 
 there was nothing more to give. 
 
 We were obliged to cook the leaves of trees, and 
 roots of dahlias and cannae, stems and the bulbs of 
 lilies ; these, stewed together, increased the small 
 pittance of food allowed to each. 
 
 At night all occupied the one place, trying to pro- 
 tect themselves against bullets, and, especially, mines. 
 Two or three hundred children were crying for hun- 
 ger ; the intense heat kept me from sleeping, and I 
 felt as though I were listening to the bleating of a 
 flock of little lambs destined for sacrifice. These 
 cries, however, grew weaker day by day, for we 
 buried one hundred and seventy of these innocents. 
 
 Misery, hunger, sickness, and bullets have more 
 than decimated the Christian population ; the number 
 of dead buried in our garden exceeds four hundred. 
 All died good Christians, saying, “ We die for our 
 
14 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 religion, killed out of hatred for the faith ; the good 
 God will give us Paradise.” 
 
 Our Sisters of Charity have behaved admirably ; 
 more tried than we ourselves were, perhaps, they 
 deprived themselves of everything for their children. 
 Excepting one or two whose nervous debility excused 
 their apprehensions, all manifested truly manly cour- 
 age. The frightful shock of the last mine was the 
 final blow to the venerable superioress, Sister Jaurias, 
 who was seventy-eight years of age, and sick ; she 
 died a happy death, for God did not call her until 
 after the deliverance. 
 
 How shall I speak of the missionaries ? My 
 coadjutor was everywhere, watched over everything, 
 encouraging, consoling, and supporting everyone, 
 crossing the most dangerous places constantly with- 
 out heeding shot or ball. The director of the semi- 
 nary with his young men watched night and day on 
 the roof of the church, on the barricades, and in the 
 trenches. The seminarians with one of our young 
 colleagues still not in Orders promptly filled the 
 places of our dead or wounded soldiers, and used 
 their guns like trained men ; several were struck by 
 balls, but, thanks be to God ! none was killed. 
 
 Our procurator continued to fulfill his duties with 
 astonishing calmness, attending to everything, and 
 though in delicate health, suffered privations with 
 uncommon fortitude. Our native missionaries multi- 
 plied themselves to establish a little order in the 
 house ; they directed the workers, watched over the 
 
AFTER THE CLOUDS HAD BROKEN. 
 
 15 
 
 distribution of food, preserved peace, and administered 
 the last consolations to the dying. Only myself did 
 nothing worthy of mention. In constant retirement 
 in my room, I prayed to God, to the Blessed Virgin, 
 to the holy angels, and to all our patron saints. I 
 tried to preserve in myself, and to impart to others, 
 the spirit of resignation, patience, and calm so neces- 
 sary in times like these. 
 
 I do not think that I exaggerate in estimating the 
 number of victims in the Vicariate of Pekin alone 
 to be 20,000 at least; 20,000 victims, dead, burned, 
 cut to pieces, or thrown into the rivers, without 
 making the slightest idolatrous prostration that 
 would have spared their lives. I do not believe that 
 two out of a hundred have saved themselves by a 
 single superstitious act where the heart was not 
 involved. Not one of our missionaries left his post, 
 though the mandarins offered to conduct them under 
 escort to a place of safety ; not one forsook his 
 Christians. At the present hour, notwithstanding 
 the arrival of troops, more than twenty-five are be- 
 sieged in their residences. May God protect them ! 
 
 In Pekin, three churches, seven large chapels, the 
 colleges, hospitals, and establishments of the Sisters 
 of St. Joseph (native) — all are destroyed. The 
 cemeteries in which missionaries have been buried, 
 from Matthew Ricci to Bishop Sarthon (three cen- 
 turies), have been robbed, monuments overthrown, 
 bones, yea, even the coffins, reduced to ashes and cast 
 to the winds. The Pei-tang (northern cathedral), 
 
16 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKItf. 
 
 damaged by shells, is the only building undestroyed. 
 Fathers Addosio, G-arrigues, Dore, and Chavanne 
 were killed in Pekin, and several Chinese priests 
 in the mission likewise lost their lives. 
 
 The Vicariate possessed one hundred and seventy- 
 seven Christian settlements, of which nearly all had 
 their chapels ; hardly one-fourth have been spared : 
 the houses of Christians have been pillaged and 
 burned. I know but one in Pekin that has been left 
 standing. 
 
 In short, the ruin is almost entire, the work of 
 forty years is nearly annihilated ; the courage of mis- 
 sionaries, nevertheless, is not on the wane ; we shall 
 begin over again, assured of success in the end, for 
 “the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians;” 
 unless God design to punish unhappy China, that has 
 abused His grace for centuries. Let us hope that He 
 will grant pardon, so many persons, even among the 
 mandarins, are innocent of the atrocities committed. 
 We love, and will ever love, our poor people of China ; 
 pray for them and for us. “ Gratias agamos Domino 
 Deo nostro ! ” 
 
PART SECOND. 
 
 Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, 
 Day by Day. May- June. 
 
 The last news which I was able to forward from 
 Pekin was dated May 30. Permit me to give yon 
 a short account of the terrible siege which we have 
 sustained in the Pei-tang until the day of deliverance 
 granted" by God. 
 
 Wednesday , May 30th. — To-day we received proof 
 that the Boxers are assisted by the Chinese govern- 
 ment and regular troops. These last themselves 
 set lire to the railway buildings. The Tsung-li-ya- 
 min tried to delay troops ; but the foreign ministers 
 held out, replying that they would come on foot if 
 the railroad were not left open to them. Prom nine 
 till eleven o’clock in the evening, several small red 
 balloons, sent off by the Boxers, floated over the 
 city ; they were signals for assembling ; the Chinese 
 soldiers had possessed themselves of a supply of car- 
 tridges. 
 
 Thursday , May 31st . — My vicar-general, Pather 
 Guilloux, whom I called to Pekin, left for Tientsin 
 
 17 
 
18 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 with Father Capy. Will they be able to reach their 
 destination ? We are sure of nothing ; they say the 
 route is intercepted by soldiers. A telegram from 
 Father Dumont was received at ten o’clock; seven 
 other Christian villages burned ! At half -past twelve 
 I received a letter from the French minister; himself 
 and the Russian minister were called upon to exert 
 an unusual degree of energy in order that the French 
 and Russian marines who landed in Taku the evening 
 before might reach Pekin by rail. At half -past three 
 a mandarin from our friends came to see us ; he told 
 us that the Empress could not resist the anti-Euro- 
 pean movement. The good mandarins have been dis- 
 charged from office, or have resigned. Seventy-five 
 French, 75 Russians, 75 English, 40 Italians, 22 
 Japanese, and 60 Americans left Tientsin for Pekin 
 at half -past three; they are expected this evening. 
 
 Friday , June 1st. — Refugees from all quarters are 
 arriving ; our missions of Pa-tchoo are nearly totally 
 destroyed. The brave Father Lon Gregoire was the 
 last to remain in his residence, and escaped from the 
 Boxers by flight. Sisters of St. Joseph, Children of 
 the Holy Childhood, have been massacred. The 
 French minister came to' see us at half-past nine 
 o’clock, and told us of the coming of thirty marines, 
 who, in fact, arrived at the Pei-tang at ten o’clock, 
 accompanied by nearly all the French in Pekin. 
 The Tsung-li-yamen had specified that the troops 
 were destined to guard only the .legation s ! But M. 
 Pichon himself brought us nearly the half of his 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 19 
 
 detachment ; may he be assured of our lasting grati- 
 tude ! At midnight Father Guilloux telegraphed to 
 us that refugees from Pa-tchoo were arriving in large 
 numbers in Tientsin, and that the river was filled 
 with floating bodies of massacred Christians. 
 
 Saturday, June 2d. — We are placing posts every- 
 where ; the ensign of the vessel, Mr. Paul Henry, a 
 young man twenty-three years old, who is in com- 
 mand of the marines, is as pious as he is brave — a 
 true Breton. The news from Tientsin is bad : the 
 grants themselves are exposed. The engineers have 
 left the city of Pao-ting-fou, and the mandarins 
 would like to get our European colleagues to leave 
 likewise. They are refusing, declaring that they 
 must remain among their Christians until the end. 
 May God protect them! 
 
 Sunday , Pentecost , June 3d. — The Sovereign Pon- 
 tiff having delegated me to present a letter and a gift 
 to the Empress in his name, I proceeded to fulfill this 
 mission of confidence. His majesty not being in the 
 city, he appointed Prince Ts’ing to receive me in his 
 name ; which event took place to-day, at two o’clock, 
 in his own palace. This prince was surrounded by 
 high mandarins. Letter and presents were delivered 
 with full imperial ceremonial, and were accepted with 
 the greatest marks of respect and appreciation. I 
 had, besides, drawn up a petition for the Empress, in 
 which I explained the actual position. I asked pro- 
 tection for our Christians, and the punishment of 
 the Boxers. The prince consented to take charge of 
 
20 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 it, and I know that the next day it was delivered to 
 His Majesty. 
 
 Monday, June Jtli. — The Pei-tang, examined by 
 our commander, seemed impossible to defend with 
 thirty men. There are, in fact, nearly fourteen hun- 
 dred yards of wall ! It has been decided that in case 
 of too violent an attack, all are to unite in the church, 
 and the plan of defense is being prepared. We are, 
 besides 70 Europeans, including Sisters and Brothers, 
 about 1,000 male Chinese and nearly 2,200 women and 
 children. At one o’clock we received a visit from 
 several gentlemen of the Legation who told us that 
 the fifteen soldiers already sent to Nan-tan were 
 obliged to be withdrawn as given up to certain death 
 by the impossibility of an efficacious defense. In 
 case of attack, what is to become of our colleagues, 
 the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the 
 Marist Brothers, and so many Christians who live in 
 this parish ? To God’s protection ! In the evening, 
 at six o’clock, twenty Christians were armed as 
 guards : the danger increases. 
 
 Tuesday , June 5th. — I telegraphed since morning 
 to the superior-general u in Pekin and in Tientsin 
 peril is extreme for all.” A dispatch from Bather 
 Guilloux informs us of many fires and as many more 
 massacres of Christians. Here, everybody is working 
 on barricades, lances are being made, and the supply 
 of provisions is being increased. At six o’clock in 
 the evening, the Italian minister sent ten of his 
 marines to defend the establishment of the Sisters, 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 21 
 
 who belong to the Holy Childhood, with whom are 
 several Italian Sisters. At half-past seven the gov- 
 ernor of the city came to me and told me, — 
 
 “ You have nothing to fear : the Boxers will not 
 dare to attack the Pei-tang.” 
 
 This great mandarin is perhaps sincere, but, for my 
 part, I believe his assertion to be absolutely false. 
 
 Wednesday, June 6th. — We are multiplying the 
 means of defense. We have learned that the Em- 
 press has sent two members of the Grand Council to 
 arrest the Boxers by persuasion ! It is altogether 
 useless. 
 
 Thursday , June 7th. — We are constructing a small 
 turret to protect the eastern wall of our residence. 
 I am going to the Legations, where they still hope ; for 
 a new imperial decree, better than those preceding, 
 has just been issued. For myself I cherish no hope, 
 and do not fail to repeat that an attack is imminent. 
 At eight o’clock the Marist Brothers of Cha-La came 
 back to the Pei-tang, 
 
 Friday , June 8th. — Villages are burning on all 
 sides, fires are multiplying during the night ; the 
 firing of guns is heard everywhere, and we are obliged 
 to watch till morning. 
 
 Saturday , June 9th. — Some Boxers have been 
 seen in the ldou. (The k’ou is the northern part of 
 the large park, the southern part of which was 
 given to us by the Emperor to construct our Cathe- 
 dral.) I am going to the Legations again, where all 
 optimism has not died out. The Empress has re- 
 
22 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 turned to the city with the court, and issued a very 
 strong new decree. The governor has himself written 
 to me that he has received a special order to protect 
 the churches of Pekin; I have but little confidence 
 in his words ; they will be overridden. 
 
 Sunday, June 10th. • — I shall telegraph to Paris 
 again, because I am afraid that in a short time I 
 shall be unable to do so ; then I am going to the 
 Legations, where there is great uneasiness, because of 
 the revolt of the soldiers of General Toun-Fou-Sian. 
 Fresh troops left Tientsin this morning under the 
 command of Admiral Seymour ; we hope to see them 
 arrive here to-morrow. . . . But the Boxers have all 
 left the city ; the regular soldiers are on the walls 
 with artillery. At eight o’clock the telegraph wires 
 were cut between Tientsin and Pekin, as well as 
 between Pekin and Pao-ting-fou. These facts are 
 bad signs ; I shall be very much surprised if the 
 reliefs can arrive. 
 
 Monday , June 11th. — From the top of our church 
 we see the summer residences of - Europeans, on the 
 western hills, in flames. At a quarter before ten 
 many Boxers with their standards passed along the 
 wall of the Yellow City ; serious alarm ; everybody is 
 at his post. Nevertheless, I left for the Legations ; 
 confidence is felt there ; detachments from Admiral 
 Seymour and numerous troops are expected, because 
 the admirals have received orders to send all they 
 have as soon as the telegraph wires are cut, and that 
 has been done. I share little of this hope. Prince 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 23 
 
 Tuan/ grand chief of the Boxers, and high mandarins, 
 their friends, have just been named members of the 
 Tsung-li-yamen. At five o’clock in the evening the 
 chancellor of the Japanese Legation, going before 
 the expected troops, was massacred near the southern 
 gate by the soldiers of Toun-fou-sian. They have 
 united with the Boxers, and are trying to keep all 
 Europeans from entering or leaving Pekin. 
 
 Tuesday, June 12th. — The Boxers have set fire to 
 the stacks of straw next to the house of the Sisters of 
 Cha-La. At seven o’clock in the evening fresh alarm 
 made us take up arms, but our fears were without 
 ground. A half-hour later Mr. Pichon wrote to us 
 that the new members of the Yam en had come to 
 see him, that they had been very kind, and that 
 Admiral Seymour would enter the city without diffi- 
 culty. God grant that the words of the mandarins 
 may be sincere, but . . . we cannot believe them. 
 
 Wednesday , June 13th. — General Toun-fou-sian is 
 in open revolt, the Christians of Pekin are leaving 
 their homes. Three of them have been massacred in 
 the Chinese city by the Boxers. We have learned 
 through the Legations that Admiral Seymour with 
 his troops slept in Lang-fou yesterday ; this village 
 is about forty miles from here ; the railroad has 
 been burned; we can hardly dare hope that the troops 
 can arrive now. At midday we learned that the 
 Erench cemetery was burned and completely de- 
 stroyed. The watchman, his wife, and children have 
 been massacred. Bad night ; fires and cries of death, 
 
24 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 to some extent, everywhere ; women are taking refuge 
 in the church. At half-past nine o’clock we saw our 
 beautiful church of St. Joseph in Tong-tan in flames. 
 Toward ten o’clock ominous noises. The Boxers are 
 heard giving the word of command to the west of 
 our establishment. At eleven o’clock two Christians 
 confirmed the burning of this Church. We watched 
 until morning, because the trumpets of the Boxers 
 sounded on all sides. 
 
 Thursday , June ljth, Feast of Corpus Christi . — 
 At eight o’clock in the morning we saw from the top 
 of the church the constant blaze of Tung-t’ang and 
 several other fires. W e can no longer hold communi- 
 cation with any one ; the gates of the Yellow City are 
 closed, guarded by the troops of Prince Tuan. At 
 half-past eleven o’clock the old cathedral of the 
 Immaculate Conception in Han-tan, the residence, the 
 college, the hospital, the orphanage, all took fire ; 
 it is a horrible sight ! 
 
 Toward midnight much firing of cannon and guns 
 to the south ; will Lord Seymour arrive ? . . . Cries 
 of death from Boxers all around us. Cha , Cha, 
 kill ! kill ! ! ! Chao , Chao, burn ! burn ! ! ! Till two 
 o’clock in the morning everybody was up and about ; 
 then the cries grew fainter, and the Boxers seemed to 
 be retreating. 
 
 Friday, June 15th. — All the Sisters expected 
 death, and received Holy Communion ; children and 
 women have taken refuge in the cathedral. At eight 
 o’clock we learned from an escaped Christian that 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 
 
 25 
 
 the missionaries, Brothers, Sisters, and children of 
 St. Joseph, in Nan-tan, are safe in the Legations. A 
 detachment of volunteers, as courageous as devoted, 
 went to save them at one o’clock in the morning. At 
 half-past eleven we saw the Tower of Our Lady of 
 the Seven Dolors in Si-t’ang, the bricks of which are 
 reddened by fire. All is surely burned. A courier, 
 sent by us to the Legation, came back at three o’clock, 
 bringing a letter from Mr. Pichon, and one from 
 Father Addosio, pastor in Nan-tan: “ No news of 
 the detachments ; fight with the Boxers. Father 
 Garrigues, pastor in Tung-t’ang, is surely murdered. 
 Many Christians taken refuge in the palace of Prince 
 Sou, to the north of the Legations.” 
 
 At six o’clock we learned that Father Dore, pastor 
 in Si-t’ang, had been murdered. At seven o’clock 
 our establishments were surrounded on the south, 
 east, and west by a large crowd of Boxers. A half- 
 hour later, their horrible cries were heard ; we were 
 surely going to be attacked. The Sisters and all 
 their children came to the cathedral, where there 
 were already eighteen hundred women and babies, 
 maddened by fear. They were just in time. The 
 Boxers arrived by the south at a quarter to eight. 
 Their leader, on horse, is a lama or a bonze ; he pre- 
 cedes an immense red flag, surrounded by young 
 Boxers who have undergone the incantations and are 
 likewise dressed in red. They burned perfumed 
 sticks, prostrated themselves on entering our street 
 on the south, and then advanced in compact bands. 
 
26 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 The marines of our great gate let them approach 
 within two hundred yards, then sent a volley into 
 their ranks, which laid forty-seven of these so-called 
 “ invulnerables ” low, and put the thousands of 
 Boxers, who followed, to flight. We went out at 
 once and captured five swords and one lance. The 
 Boxers, driven back, at once set fire to the houses 
 which adjoin ours on the south. We have been pre- 
 served by God, who changed the direction of the 
 wind in our favor ; moreover, wet covering, pumps, 
 nothing had been forgotten to assist Providence. 
 
 Made furious by their failure, witnessed by a 
 crowd of ten thousand persons ready to plunder, the 
 Boxers redoubled their noise and ferocious yells until 
 after midnight, but did not dare to attack anew. 
 
 This first serious encounter has given us hope 
 in manifesting the cowardice of our enemies. The 
 Christians, whom we had armed with about five hun- 
 dred lances, had, besides, seven or eight poor guns ; 
 made courageous by this first success, they promised 
 to keep watch with the marines on the fourteen hun- 
 dred yards of wall. 
 
 Saturday, June 16th. — Through a fugitive, we 
 learned the admirable constancy of many Christians 
 massacred without the gate PTng-tze-men, of whom 
 not one would deny his faith ; that is very consoling 
 At half-past twelve serious alarm ; cries of Boxers ; 
 arrival of regular soldiers, who guard the gate of 
 Si-Hoa ; they are evidently not to defend, but to 
 attack us. Our purveyor refuses to sell anything; 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 27 
 
 he is threatened with death if he gives us the least 
 supply. Towards half-past four an immense fire be- 
 gins to rage in Tsien-Men ; the Boxers, after having 
 burned all the houses of Christians, are now burning 
 the stores where a few European articles are sold. 
 A courier sent to the Legation, came back at five 
 o’clock. Always no news from Admiral Seymour. 
 At half-seven every-one is at his post. • More than 
 three hundred soldiers, and numerous Boxers, have 
 surrounded our residence ; the Sisters and Christians 
 again pass a sad night in the church. An imperial 
 decree, issued during the day, announces officially to 
 all China that the churches of Pekin have been 
 burned. 
 
 Sunday, June 17 th. — From two till half -past three 
 in the morning many cannon-shots and volleys from 
 the side of the Legations. Toward ten o’clock, 
 Boxers and troops blockade us completely. However, 
 a Christian gives himself up, leaves, and brings us 
 word from Mr. Pichon : “ More than two thousand 
 houses have been burned in Tsien-Men, of which 
 twenty-six large Chinese banks.” Afternoon very 
 disturbed. The Boxers and their fires are seen all 
 around us. 
 
 Monday, June 18th . — We are fortifying ourselves 
 against a possible attack from artillery, as several 
 cannon have been brought to the south of our build- 
 ings. Prince Tuan himself is not far away. At half- 
 past four, a large number of Boxers came in vehicles, 
 a,nd preparations for attack began. A heavy rain 
 
28 
 
 THE HEART OF FEK1N. 
 
 sent by God at a quarter before six prevents the 
 attack. 
 
 Tuesday , June 19th. — A servant from Si-t’ang, 
 after having wandered about in the city several days, 
 succeeded in coming to us, and told us that Father 
 Dore was burned to death in his room together with 
 twenty Christians ; he would not make use of his 
 arms. A few days before, this brave Father said 
 to me, — 
 
 “ Bishop, if I am attacked, may I make use of my 
 gun ? ” 
 
 I answered him, — 
 
 “ Of course it is permitted in case of legitimate 
 defense.” 
 
 He added, — 
 
 “ But, if it were to defend myself alone, would it 
 not be more perfect not to make use of it ? ” 
 
 I then said to him, — 
 
 <e Assuredly ; to be murdered for God without 
 making any defense is true martyrdom.” 
 
 That is what this beloved brother has done ! 
 
 In the street ten pieces of cannon are turned 
 toward us. Are they to defend the palace, or to 
 attack us ? 
 
 Wednesday, June 20th. — A Christian has reached 
 us despite the blockade. He has informed us that 
 the German minister was killed in going to Ya-men, 
 and that the other ministers have received orders to 
 leave within twenty-four hours. 
 
 Thursday, June 21st. ( 30th anniversary of the 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 29 
 
 massacres of Tientsin .) — A brave Christian has given 
 himself np to go to the Legations again; he has 
 brought back this short message from Mr. Pichon, — 
 “The French Legation and other ministers are 
 obliged to withdraw to the English Legation; the 
 German minister has been really killed and his in- 
 terpreter wounded ; the Austrian Legation has been 
 evacuated and will be burned. The project of leaving 
 Pekin has been abandoned. Let us prepare our- 
 selves for the last journey, but let us still hope.’ 7 
 On his part, Mr. Darcy, lieutenant and the superior 
 officer of Mr. Paul Henry, has written to him: “You 
 should have received the order to rally, but remain 
 at your post for the present. 77 God permitted that 
 this order to rally never reached us, otherwise we 
 should all have been lost. The situation is grave. 
 Are we going to join the martyrs of Tientsin ? We 
 are preparing ourselves for all things. 
 
 Friday , June 22d, Feast of the Sacred Heart . — 
 We are completely blockaded, and are no longer able 
 to hold communication with any one without. 
 
 Those besieged are as follows, — 
 
 Bishop Favier, Bishop Jarlin, coadjutor, Bev. Du- 
 coulombier, procurator general of the Vicariate, Bev. 
 Giron, director of the seminaries, Bev. Chavanne, 
 professor recently arrived, Mr. Gartner, student not 
 yet in Orders, Brother Denis and Brother Maes ; the 
 Visitor of the Marist Brothers, the Superior and four 
 Brothers of the same society ; twenty -two Sisters of 
 Charity, of whom eight are native ; thirty French 
 
30 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 marines of the dl Entreccisteaux, the ensign in com* 
 mand, Mr. .Paul Henry, ten Italian marines, besides 
 an adjutant and an ensign, Mr. Olivieri ; one hundred 
 and eleven pupils of the Grand and Little Seminaries ; 
 900 men and youths, refugees ; 1,800 women and 
 children ; 450 young girls from the schools and 
 orphanages; 51 infants in the cradle; approximate 
 total, 3,420 in all, of whom 71 are Europeans. 
 
 With a pound to a person a day, we have enough 
 provisions for more than one month; our arms con- 
 sist of forty guns of the marines, seven or eight guns 
 of all kinds in the hands of Chinese, a few poor 
 swords and 500 lances, or rather 500 long sticks 
 tipped with iron. These are all. The line to be 
 defended measures exactly 1360 yards. 
 
 I had determined, in a pastoral letter, that the 
 consecration of the Vicariate to the Sacred Heart 
 should take place to-day. At half-past six o’clock, 
 the priest kneeling at the foot of the altar was read- 
 ing the first words of consecration, when a severe 
 cannon-shot broke a window of the church, where all 
 had assembled, and killed a poor woman. A panic, 
 readily pardoned, seized the people ; all crowded in 
 the chapels and sacristies of the west, as we had been 
 attacked from the east. Cannon reports succeeded one 
 another at minute intervals : the church was speedily 
 evacuated. Fourteen Krupp guns sent forth without 
 interruption the latest improved Schrapnel bombs. 
 Several small brick columns, double windows, flew 
 into pieces ; the facade of our cathedral is badly 
 
Cathedral of Pekin. 
 

 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. SI 
 
 damaged; the steeples are in ruins, but the cross 
 of marble continues to stand. About half-past three 
 the attack was so violent that we believed our last 
 hour had come. Toward five o’clock an ordinary 
 Chinese cannon, leveled about three hundred yards 
 away from our large door, sent a full volley which 
 blew in a panel. 
 
 Greatly excited by so great audacity, Commander 
 Henry and Bishop Jarlin led four marines, who 
 with thirty Christians, hurried without, after a heavy 
 fire, and took possession of the cannon, which they 
 brought back with them despite a heavy discharge of 
 musketry. Two Christians met death and two were 
 wounded in this bold venture. A short time after- 
 wards all firing of cannon ceased. The Boxers 
 uttered fierce cries, and set fire to the houses of our 
 neighbors on the south ; they will not go far away, 
 and when they do they leave the place to their 
 friends, the soldiers of Prince Tuan. To-day alone 
 they fired five hundred and thirty cannon-shots 
 against us! We mourned the loss of but three men 
 and one woman. That was little for so much 
 powder burned. 
 
 Saturday, June 23 d. — The night was compara- 
 tively calm, but the attack recommenced at nine 
 o’clock, as violent as the day before. I. was seated 
 with the commander on a small bench near our 
 Great Gate, watching the marble of the facade of 
 our beautiful church being blown to pieces, when a 
 clever gunner sent a bomb even to the foot of the 
 
32 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 cross, which, broken, fell on the parvis. I felt so 
 happy in fixing this beantifnl cross of marble on the 
 top of the building only thirteen years ago ! How- 
 ever, if God spares us, it will again take its place. 
 
 At four o’clock in the afternoon, the bombardment 
 ceased ; we had received but 360 cannon-shots during 
 the day ; not a single man was wounded ; everyone 
 had prayed fervently, ready for death. God and the 
 Blessed Virgin are protecting us perceptibly. 
 
 Sunday , June 2Jfth. — The regular soldiers, sheltered 
 behind the walls of burned houses, have, since morn- 
 ing, aimed thousands of shots from Mauser rifles 
 against us ; their guns are repeaters and the latest 
 improved. Up to midday we counted only thirty 
 cannon-shots, which worked comparatively little 
 damage, throwing nothing but loaded balls. About 
 four o’clock in the afternoon a battery of four pieces 
 was stationed in the R’on to the north of our estab- 
 lishments ; the Tartars sent murderous shells against 
 the church and into the courts, taking all our posts 
 on the east by* enfilade fire. Two Christians were 
 killed. The Italians, having very few cartridges, 
 Commander Henry procured them some by a bold 
 venture with 10 Trench marines. The volleys, sent 
 at a range of 750 yards, silenced* the fire of the 
 artillery. The Tartars lost over 50 men, and 
 hastened to move their cannon. Spirits are raised, 
 the sanitary condition is excellent, divine protection 
 is manifest, and we now hope to be able to resist 
 attacks that cannot be more serious than those of 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 33 
 
 the past three days. God grant that we may have 
 enough provision, and that the army of relief may not 
 be too long in coming ! 
 
 Monday , June 25th. — The night, like the morning, 
 was comparatively calm, but it seems that a great 
 battle is being fought on the side of the Legations ; 
 the cannon of yesterday are silent behind their 
 intrenchments. We sustain well a hail of projectiles 
 sent by guns on the ramparts : we have become 
 accustomed to so much noise during the past three 
 days that we hardly pay any more attention to it. 
 The Boxers have placed mannikins on the roofs of 
 the houses ; this childish stratagem does not make 
 us waste ammunition. There remain 275 cartridges 
 to each man, and they will not be put to other than 
 good use. 
 
 Tuesday , June 26th. — The Boxers have set fire to 
 all the houses which adjoin us, and are working back 
 of the imperial wall, where they are placing ladders 
 and scaffolding, so as to be able to shoot more con- 
 veniently. They are firing on us from all sides, but 
 no one has been struck. In the afternoon there was 
 a hard fight on the side of the Legations. 
 
 Wednesday , June 27th. — Since six o’clock in the 
 morning the Boxers have been again attacking us on 
 the south ; they have entered our street with a large 
 red flag, thinking perhaps that our post at the gate of 
 entrance had been destroyed during the bombardment 
 of the preceding days. Like the first time they were 
 put to flight by well-directed volleys ; they were 
 
34 
 
 THE HEARZ OF PEKIN. 
 
 chased in pursuit, and the arms which they threw 
 down have been collected. In this sortie of scarcely 
 one hundred yards, the second mate was unfortu- 
 nately wounded by a shot in the shoulder. From 
 the tops of houses, ladders, and scaffolding, the enemy 
 has covered our courts and porches with shot for 
 more than six hours ; a young girl has been killed, 
 and a woman wounded in the head. About eleven 
 o’clock in the evening we were surprised by a large 
 band of Boxers throwing explosive bombs and burn- 
 ing arrows against our Great Gate, which, at the same 
 time, they wet with petroleum, by means of fire- 
 pumps stolen by them. During this time the 
 regular soldiers rained a shower of balls from their 
 Mauser rifles. Everybody is behaving well. The 
 Great Gate is saved, and only one Christian has been 
 wounded. Our marines are truly admirable; they all 
 wear a scapular and a crucifix, and feel themselves 
 protected by God. 
 
 Thursday , June 28th. — After a calm enough day, 
 we suffered a vigorous attack at six o’clock in the 
 evening, and counted as many as 42 gun-shots to 
 the minute ; terrible night. The Boxers began anew 
 their attack against the Great Gate. Our people, 
 infuriated, decided about midnight to venture a 
 sortie. They threw themselves on the Boxers, who 
 wet us with petroleum at a distance of less than 
 thirty yards. Ten Boxers were killed, the others put 
 to flight ; two petroleum pumps, powder, shot, and 
 even several chests of clothing, were captured. De-' 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 35 
 
 spite the terrible discharges from the regular soldiers, 
 the most dangerous houses were set afire. The 
 pumps taken still contained about twenty-five gallons 
 of petroleum apiece ! 
 
 Friday , June 29th , Feast of SS. Feter and Paul. — 
 We offered our congratulations to the brave com- 
 mander, Paul Henry ; we spoke of Angers, his coun- 
 try, and the happiness of his parents upon seeing 
 him again. He said to us, “ You will see that we 
 will save the Pei-t’ang; perhaps some of us will be 
 no more ; I shall be. happy to die in so worthy a 
 cause ; I hope that God will open Paradise to me. 
 If I am to die, I shall not die until you no longer 
 need me,” etc. 
 
 I implored him, as on every day, not to expose 
 himself. I fear for him, he is so brave, so full of 
 courage, so devoted. 
 
 It seems as though the Boxers intend to leave us 
 this day of joy ; apart from the balls which are put- 
 ting holes in our windows or flattening against the 
 walls as usual, all is quiet, and we are not called upon 
 to sustain any serious attack. At ten o’clock in the 
 evening a frightful storm broke, and the thunder 
 seemed to fall on the palace ; nevertheless, heavy 
 firing on the side of the Legations. 
 
 Saturday , June 30th. — The morning was saddened 
 by the death of the poor second mate, Joannic ; we be- 
 lieved him saved, when his wounds gangrened, and 
 occasioned his death in a few hours. Alas ! we had 
 neither doctor nor surgeon. He died like a brave 
 Breton, fortified by all the sacraments. 
 
36 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN . 
 
 At half-past eleven we were surprised to see our- 
 selves again bombarded ; a dozen bombs of very large 
 caliber burst in the air without harming any one. At 
 the end of a quarter of an hour, this cannonading, 
 accompanied by heavy firing from the east, ceased all 
 of a sudden. What did it mean? I saw on the 
 mountain of the White Tower, in the midst of the 
 lakes of the palace, twelve hundred yards from us, 
 twenty persons magnificently clothed. It was thought 
 that Prince Tuan, the Empress, and other high per- 
 sonages, had come to look on -the bombardment as 
 upon a display of fireworks. Our marines had a great 
 desire to send a discharge from their Lebels on this 
 group, but I thought I should keep them from doing 
 so in order not to excite an already too violent hatred. 
 
 At half-past five we buried the second mate, very 
 simply and quickly, in our garden, for balls rained 
 mercilessly around those present. Our brave Chris- 
 tians are all saddened, and say, “ Why not one hun- 
 dred of us dead instead of this brave seaman ? ” 
 
 Sunday , July 1st. — About eight o’clock we heard 
 a number of cannon-shots in the south ; are they the 
 reinforcements ? We still hope against all hope. 
 For the first time we begin to eat asses’ flesh ; mules 
 and horses will follow ; there are eighteen of them. 
 Smallpox has broken out among the children; seven 
 to eight are dying every day. 
 
 Monday , Jidy 2d . — The attacks are less lively 
 than on preceding days, but the food is very bad ; 
 no more vegetables, no more salted herbs, for our 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 37 
 
 poor Christians ; they commenced to lose spirit ; heat, 
 38° C., atmosphere damp; no news for twelve days. 
 What a long time ! 
 
 Tuesday , July 3d. — A very heavy rain disturbs 
 us greatly. If the rainy season has already com- 
 menced, all hope of deliverance must be abandoned. 
 As every one knows, everybody smokes in China. 
 We have no more tobacco; our people are making it 
 with leaves from pear-trees, dried and powdered. 
 Mortality is on the increase ; we are now burying as 
 many as fifteen children a day. 
 
 Wednesday , July Jfth . — This morning the Lega- 
 tions were more severely attacked. About midday 
 we saw the soldiers and Boxers erecting a large plat- 
 form of earth to the north of the Yellow Wall; they 
 evidently want to place their cannon so as to bombard 
 us from the rear, at eight hundred yards. Our gun- 
 ners struck down twelve of these bandits. 
 
 At five o’clock in the evening the Boxers again 
 appeared opposite our Great Gate. The cannon which 
 we had taken was loaded and pointed ; the Chinese 
 artilleryman, a Christian formerly in the army of 
 Prince Tuan, fired without orders and much too soon; 
 the enemy fled, with only a few wounded. Christian 
 watchmakers who have taken refuge amongst us, 
 make excellent Lebel, Mauser, and other cartridges ; 
 we shall not, therefore, lack ammunition. 
 
 Thursday , July 5th. — We have been able to manu- 
 facture powder for the cannon taken from the enemy, 
 and placed to protect the Sisters, so as to return the 
 
38 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 fire that threatens ns from the north ; but it is very 
 little compared with those who are firing against us. 
 During the whole day we were aimed at from the 
 south of the Yellow Wall, without any serious result. 
 
 Friday, July 6th. — We begin to fear famine. 
 Rice, wheat, beans, millet — all is weighed exactly ; 
 the total is better than we had hoped, — nearly sixty 
 thousand pounds. With a pound to a person a day, 
 we are safe for twenty days : at the end of that time 
 we shall have surrendered or been delivered. At 
 five o’clock in the evening an unusual noise was 
 heard : it was a fuse hurled at the church, which went 
 through a window, leaving a long train of fire in its 
 wake. We picked it up ; it was composed of a tube 
 about two feet long, of hammered copper, tipped with 
 a strong triangular point ; the end is formed of a 
 wooden handle about ten feet long. These fuses go 
 through a roof as easily as a loaded ball, and, besides, 
 are a great menace of fire. 
 
 Saturday, July 7th. — Since half-past four in the 
 morning, the Boxers have thrown explosives on our 
 roof for two hours. More than two hundred and fifty 
 of these projectiles have ignited, but our precautions 
 were well planned ; casks, bathing-tubs, buckets full 
 of water ; men provided with hooks and pumps, were 
 ready, and the fire did not spread. As six o’clock the 
 cannon on the north was discharged, and at first sent 
 simple balls against us. We answered by a full 
 volley and several shots from our set cannon. The 
 Tartars, surprised, quickly changed their cannon, and 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 39 
 
 replaced it by a Krupp gun. The first shell blew our 
 gunner to pieces ; the position became untenable ; all 
 the structures to the west of Jeu-tse-t’ang are bored 
 through. Moreover, during the whole day several 
 hundreds of fuses were thrown on our roofs. This 
 day is one of the most disastrous of the siege. Toward 
 evening only, shells were replaced by Chinese bombs, 
 many of which did not explode ; total, three hundred 
 and sixty cannon-shots in twelve hours. But one of 
 our number was killed and several were wounded. 
 Without miraculous protection all would have been 
 in flames to-day. 
 
 Sunday , July 8th. — Since morning, we have 
 strengthened the places weakened by the cannonad- 
 ing of the preceding day ; but the bombardment be- 
 gan again, more lively than before, at nine oclock ; 
 at first, simple balls, then shells. The clock tower 
 is completely demolished. Total, one hundred and 
 two cannon shots and new fuses, which like those of 
 the day before, did not set fire to anything. 
 
 Monday , July 9th . — At five o’clock in the morn- 
 ing, the Boxers again began to throw explosives ; 
 intense firing all day, and one hundred and seven 
 cannon shots ; only two Christians were wounded. 
 We are beginning to be somewhat fatigued and dis- 
 quieted, especially as the enemy is preparing, it 
 seems to bombard us from the south and the west. 
 From eleven till midnight, we heard a terrible battle 
 on the side of the legations. 
 
 Tuesday , July 10th. — After a tranquil morning, 
 
40 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 fighting was renewed at ten o’clock ; the cannon on 
 the north continued to demolish ; at two o’clock, the 
 attack became more vigorous ; two enormous pieces of 
 artillery set on the south wrought much damage to 
 our Great Gate and the church. A full volley silenced 
 them for an instant, but the Chinese artillerymen pro- 
 tected their gunners by iron masks. At the Great 
 Gate, the sailor David received a ball in the head, 
 dying a half hour afterwards, fortified by the sac- 
 raments. But five men remain at this dangerous 
 post ; the others have taken refuge in the casemates ; 
 one hundred and seven loaded balls, twenty-five 
 pounds each, have been fired ; one of these, after 
 having blown the windows of our room into pieces, 
 fell on the bed which I had just left. Still another 
 miracle ! We no longer count them. 
 
 Wednesday , Jidy 11th . — A casemate has given 
 way ; it is being speedily repaired despite the firing. 
 A Mauser ball has passed through the hat of Bishop 
 Jarlin ; a hair-breadth below, and I should have had 
 no coadjutor. The Blessed Virgin has saved the be- 
 loved and brave bishop. 
 
 The bombardment began again at half-past one; 
 a few minutes afterwards a fearful explosion shook 
 all our buildings. A column of earth and stones is 
 being raised over thirty yards high to the east of 
 Jen-tse-t’ang. We all flee to it. Fortunately, the 
 mine was not carried far enough, and we have es- 
 caped with a few damaged houses, that can be 
 propped; one killed and several wounded. We thank 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 41 
 
 God. The bombardment continues ; a shell has 
 fallen in the chapel of the sisters, on the benches 
 which they have just left to go to supper. 
 
 During the night, we set fire to houses which the 
 Boxers occupied only yesterday ; we found twenty 
 casks of petroleum, some swords and guns, which are 
 burning with the other things. 
 
 Thursday , July 12th. — The morning of this day 
 was so quiet that we thought the soldiers had left. 
 But, about half-past ten, enormous balls commenced 
 to rain down on us until six o’clock in the evening. 
 Sent at long intervals apart, but fifty reached their 
 aim ; that is to say, our Great Gate, which is now in 
 a deplorable condition. 
 
 Friday , July 13th. — The fear of mines decided 
 us to undertake an exploration about two o’clock in 
 the morning. Several holes were found and filled in, 
 that were beginnings of mines in which rolls of 
 electric wire had been placed, evidently intended to 
 set off the powder. At midday, the firing of cannon 
 began again. A sailor was 'seriously wounded in 
 the head by splintering bricks ; another was sadly 
 bruised. From seven till nine o’clock in the evening 
 bombarding and firing on the side of legations. 
 
 Saturday , July llfth. — Several Christians are going 
 to set fire to the houses which interfere with the 
 shooting from the Great Gate. At Jen-tse-t’ang, 
 about eleven o’clock, an Italian marine was killed by 
 a shot in the head. A Christian, who wanted to find 
 out whence the fire came, was likewise killed. Ex- 
 
42 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 cepting a few hundred gun-shots, the day has been 
 quiet enough. 
 
 Sunday, July 15th. — One would suppose that the 
 Chinese artillerymen had repented their not bom- 
 barding us yesterday ; from nine in the morning they 
 recommenced their work of destruction ; the cannon 
 on the south and south-west wrought the greatest 
 damage at the Great Gate and to the church ; only 
 one hundred and forty shots during the day, and 
 they continued during the night. Fresh nocturnal 
 exploration ; two unfinished mines were again dis- 
 covered and destroyed. 
 
 Monday, July 16th. — The Boxers continue to 
 throw explosives without effect. From nine o’clock 
 in the morning till ten in the evening, they sent hun- 
 dreds of balls against us. One Christian woman 
 has been killed ; a sailor has been wounded in both 
 eyes by the splintering of bricks : one is certainly 
 lost. 
 
 Tuesday, July 17th. — This day has been the most 
 quiet, perhaps, of the siege ; no cannon-shots and 
 scarcely and from guns. It seems as though the 
 Boxers are preparing a scheme. We have begun a 
 novena to Saint Ann, patroness of our brave JBretons. 
 Our beloved commander Henry will present the ex- 
 voto which we have promised if we are delivered. 
 
 Wednesday, July 18th. — We are energetically 
 pushing the work of a counter-mine already begun, 
 because, for some days, we have been hearing heavy 
 blows on the west side of Jen-tse-t’ang under the 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 43 
 
 Yellow Wall. About eleven o’clock we ascertained 
 that our enemies were moving away on the side of the 
 Pagoda of the lamas which adjoins us on the east. 
 Pifty vehicles are transporting the chests and bundles 
 of Boxers and soldiers. Is the army of relief ap- 
 proaching, or do the lamas think that the neighbor- 
 hood is going to be. blown up ? Mystery ! 
 
 Alas ! the second supposition is true. At five 
 o’clock, mine explosion — twenty-five dead, twenty- 
 eight wounded. The whole part west of Jen-tse-t’ang 
 in ruins ! We make a rush, expecting attack from 
 the Boxers ; they did not come. Unfortunately we 
 number among the dead Brother Joseph, a Marist, 
 who led the workmen of the counter-mine, a young 
 man, twenty-five years of age, as pious as he was 
 brave, loved and lamented by all. The explosion 
 occasioned a panic, and subterranean noises were 
 supposed to be heard everywhere. Women and chil- 
 dren ran about, frightened to death, and, despite the 
 danger, most of them took refuge in the cathedral, 
 which occupies the central site of our buildings. 
 
 Thursday , July 19th , Feast of St. Vincent. — Burial 
 of Brother Joseph ; exchange of fire with Boxers. 
 The marine Franc, who exposed himself too much, 
 received a ball in his head, and died almost instantly. 
 He lived just long enough to receive absolution. 
 
 Friday , July 20tli. — Our Christians are again going 
 to burn the most dangerous houses ; about six o’clock 
 the Boxers, on their part, set fire to a house south of 
 our Great Gate. Work on the mine where the Sisters 
 
44 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 were was continued ; we need not urge our Christians 
 to work ; they have not forgotten the catastrophe of 
 the 18th. 
 
 Saturday , July 21st . — Provisions are beginning to 
 get low ; with great economy they will last fifteen 
 days. The attempt was made to get some from a 
 small store only two hundred yards distant; but 
 stopped by soldiers and Boxers, our Christians re- 
 turned empty-handed. 
 
 Sunday , July 22d. — Tiring continued all night ; 
 the enemy evidently fears that we are going for pro- 
 visions ; two Christians have been wounded, and one 
 sailor lost his left eye by a ball that lodged back of 
 the ear. One of our Chinese sighted the Boxers 
 digging a large ditch back of the Yellow Wall. Four 
 men ascended the ladders, the barrels of their guns 
 well-filled, and shot down twenty of the enemy, as 
 well as two mandarins. In the evening, diluvian 
 rain ; the casemates are uninhabitable. 
 
 Monday , July 23d. — After a half-day's quiet, we 
 were attacked in the afternoon at four o’clock by 
 several thousand Boxers, and as many regular sol- 
 diers, called together by tam-tams and trumpets that 
 sounded without interruption. 
 
 The attack was made simultaneously on the north, 
 east, and south. The death of several marines and 
 the serious wounds of some others deprived us of five 
 guns. We had trained and drilled so many of the 
 Marist Brothers and Chinese students of the seminary 
 not in orders, so that our thirty Lebel guns were all 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 45 
 
 in constant use, besides the ten Italians defending the 
 Sisters. The attack was extremely vigorous. Boxers, 
 lamas, and regular soldiers, to the number of more 
 than one thousand, tried to scale the wall. They left 
 one hundred and fifty dead on the ground, and took 
 to flight. Enraged, the soldiers of Prince Tuan dis- 
 charged all their ammunition on the side of our 
 Grand Gate, and, without exaggeration, during one 
 hour sent five thousand Mauser bullets that did not 
 wound a single one of us. The trumpets then sounded 
 a retreat, and we were left undisturbed. It was nine 
 o’clock in the evening. 
 
 Tuesday, July — In the north-east near the 
 
 Pagoda we see a number of Boxers wearing yellow 
 turbans and belts. These are the brigade of lamas. 
 They carry a Erench flag. This puerile ruse makes 
 us laugh despite the sadness of the hour. About 
 half-past four tam-tams again united the Boxers, and 
 we anticipated an attack which did not take place. 
 Yesterday’s iesson was profitable. Three Christians 
 were wounded during the day, and a new mine dis- 
 covered on the south. From the top of the church 
 large numbers of flags were seen, and at night as 
 many lanterns on the walls of the city. 
 
 Wednesday , July 25th. — Quiet enough day. Our 
 Christians went out and burned several embattled 
 houses without being disturbed. The Boxers dug 
 very deep trenches back of the Yellow Wall; we do 
 not know why. Our marines killed a dozen of these 
 brigands. 
 
46 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 Thursday , July 26th. — At one o’clock very lond 
 explosion. An exploded mine was the first thought 
 of all, and every one ran to his post. It was nothing. 
 A bold Boxer had carried a large bomb to our eastern 
 wall, and it exploded without doing any damage. At 
 three o’clock Bather Chavanne, a Lazarist priest, 
 died almost suddenly. A few days before he had 
 been wounded on guard at his post by a ball probably 
 poisoned, since it brought on black smallpox which 
 caused his death. 
 
 Friday , July 27th. — We hear very severe cannon- 
 ading distinctly on the south and east ; we always 
 hope to see the army coming. Several fuses thrown 
 at night made us think that the Legations are com- 
 municating by signals with troops outside of the 
 city. What is hoped for is easily believed. . . . 
 
 Saturday , July 28th . — We are again very seri- 
 ously concerned about provisions ; we have fixed the 
 rations at eight ounces a day for a person. We can 
 thus survive ten days. Cannon were again heard 
 about ten o’clock. One was set only 100 yards away 
 from Jen-tse-t’ang ; the gunners were quickly shot 
 down, but the cannon was moved farther away and 
 sent 75 projectiles against us. The enemy seem to 
 be short of ammunition, and are loading their cannon 
 with almost anything, even stones. During the 
 night we received 35 bombs and numberless shots 
 frojn guns on the ramparts. 
 
 Sunday , July 29tli. — The bombardment continues ; 
 the soldiers have shot off 115 filled balls, and bullets 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 47 
 
 have been so numerous that all our battlements are 
 demolished ; three Christians were killed. 
 
 Monday, July 30th. — The night was bad ; they 
 continued to fire on Jen-tse-t’ang. From seven 
 o’clock in the morning, the cannon commenced their 
 work, assisted by heavy firing on the part of regular 
 soldiers. Commander Henry is descending the break 
 with twelve men; Boxers enter in large numbers, 
 carrying fagots wet with petroleum, which they light 
 against the northern wall. 
 
 Commander Henry multiplies himself ; several hun- 
 dreds of the Boxers have been killed ; unfortunately, 
 two sailors were wounded by a ball which entered 
 the commander’s neck. He then descended from the 
 scaffolding, and received a second mauser bullet in 
 his side. Notwithstanding these two mortal wounds, 
 he still kept up ; finally he succumbed under the 
 veranda, in the arms of a priest, who administered 
 the last Sacraments to him. At the end of twenty 
 minutes, he died as a brave soldier and good Chris- 
 tian. We shed tears but once during the siege, and it 
 was on this day. Never before have we been so low 
 down ; the simple quartermaster Elias took command 
 of the detachment; but Bishop Jarlin is there to 
 watch over our Bretons, who cry like children over 
 the death of their leader. One hundred and fifty 
 shots from cannon were fired during the day. One 
 hope is left to us ; the commander had told us, “ I 
 shall not die until you no longer need me.” He 
 will protect us from Heaven with St. Mauritius and 
 St. George, whom he has joined. 
 
48 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 Tuesday , July 31st. — The Boxers have sent arrows 
 against ns, to which writings of similar character 
 have been attached. They contain about what 
 follows : — 
 
 “ You, Christians, shut up in the Pei-tang, reduced 
 to the greatest misery, eating leaves of trees, why do 
 you resist with so much animosity when you are 
 no longer able to do so ? We have leveled cannon 
 and set mines against you, and you will be destroyed 
 in a short time. You have been deceived by the 
 devils of Europe ; return to the ancient religion of 
 1 Eono,’ deliver up Bishop Favier and the others, and 
 you will have saved your lives, and we will give you 
 to eat. If you do not do so, you, your wives and 
 children, will all be cut into pieces.” 
 
 It is needless to say that not one of our brave Chris- 
 tians was so much as tempted to accept these offers, 
 and yet each received but ten ounces of food a day. 
 
 To-day eighty shots from cannon were fired against 
 us without much damage, excepting to our roofs, 
 which are nearly all riddled. 
 
 Wednesday , August 1st. — Since six o’clock in the 
 morning the Boxers have returned to the north ; they 
 are only three to four hundred in number. They 
 were quickly routed ; at least fifty were killed. 
 
 A short time afterwards we heard on the side of 
 the Pagoda of the lamas, cries and firing. It seems 
 that there was a quarrel between the Boxers and the 
 soldiers, and that the latter killed some of their 
 opponents. 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH . 49 
 
 Thursday , August 2d . — We are lessening our 
 own rations and those of our Christians ; weakness is 
 general. We have only just enough to keep us from 
 starving to death. The dogs that are feeding on the 
 dead bodies of Boxers are hunted, killed, and eaten ; 
 our unfortunate people are adding this miserable 
 food to leaves of trees and roots of all kinds. The 
 time for the rainy season has come long since, but no 
 rain falls. God has left the roads passable for the 
 army of relief. 
 
 Friday , August 3d. — It seems as though we are 
 no longer watched, shots are so rare. There is even 
 some talk of venturing a sortie at two o’clock in the 
 morning in quest of grain ; but for this we would be 
 obliged to expose the lives of two-thirds of our 
 marines ; we shall not do so until there is absolutely 
 nothing more to eat in the house. 
 
 Saturday , August 5th. — As usual, for four days 
 we have been left undisturbed during the day ; but at 
 night severe firing always begins again. The Boxers 
 and regulars know that we are in the very last 
 extremity of need, and are trying to keep us from 
 going out. Urged on by hunger, several Christians 
 escaped, entered burned houses, and brought back a 
 little burned rice found among the rubbish ; it is very 
 sad. 
 
 Sunday , August 5th . — The question of food is the 
 only one that now engages our attention : we can 
 resist balls, bullets, and bombs, but we can make no 
 resistance against famine. We have carefully weighed 
 
50 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 all that there is to eat ; the total a*mount is 7,000 
 pounds. It is decided to distribute 1,000 pounds a 
 day among 3,000 persons. Thus we can survive seven 
 days. We fervently hope that the army of relief 
 will arrive this week. God has granted us such 
 strong protection until now. 
 
 Monday , August 6th. — A few Christians, unable to 
 suffer the pangs of hunger any longer, again ventured 
 out ; three were captured by the Boxers, who led them 
 away to be cut into pieces. To this sad occurrence 
 another is added : the sailor on duty at the Great 
 Gate has had his right eye shot out. There are already 
 three among our poor soldiers blind in one eye ! 
 
 Tuesday , August 7th. — Severe cannonading has 
 been heard in the distance. Soldiers and Boxers are 
 attacking us feebly. This makes us hope that the 
 army is approaching ; but our Christians are so weak- 
 ened that they are sleeping under the verandas, thin, 
 pale, and as if in a faint. If the enemy were to attempt 
 an assault upon our five hundred armed men of the 
 start, hardly twenty-five would be in a condition to 
 repulse them. 
 
 Wednesday , August 8th. — Always the same quiet, 
 without a total cessation of firing. A Christian gath- 
 ering leaves on a tree was struck by a ball, and fell 
 like a poor bird pierced by an arrow. 
 
 Thursday , August 9th. — We are constantly on the 
 watch, as the Boxers have promised that we shall all 
 perish ; in face of the danger, east of the Great Gate 
 is being explored. One Christian has been killed, and 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 51 
 
 two have been wounded, but a mine was discovered, 
 and just in time to be destroyed. 
 
 Friday , August 10th. — We acknowledge with terror 
 that in two days our provisions will be exhausted ; we 
 have set aside four hundred pounds of rice and a mule, 
 so that our defenders may survive ten days. 
 
 The question was proposed whether anything shall 
 be reserved for ourselves and the Sisters. The answer 
 was unanimous, — “No: we shall die with our Chris- 
 tians.” Some one, however, remarked that we de- 
 served greater pity than the poor people, since they 
 could eat the leaves of trees, and we could not. It 
 was then decided that a two-pound loaf of bread 
 should be given to each one of us. This last reserve 
 was kept in our rooms. 
 
 The rations have been reduced to two ounces per 
 person. Six days are thus assured ; but what days ! 
 Still water is plenty, and with it, life can be preserved 
 some time. 
 
 At midday the cannon on the north was again fired 
 against us, as well as that on the east, — only fifty balls, 
 however. The aim is poor. The Boxers, inexpe- 
 rienced, are handling the pieces. About three o’clock 
 a captive balloon was seen on the south : our confidence 
 increases. 
 
 Saturday , August 11th. — Sixty shots from cannon, 
 to-day again. Instead of balls they are firing any- 
 thing at all, — old iron, nails, stones, even brick. In 
 the evening, we discovered and destroyed another 
 mine on the south of the Great Gate. 
 
52 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN, 
 
 Sunday , August 12th. — At quarter-past six in the 
 morning, violent explosion, a mine more terrible than 
 the others burst where the Sisters were. All, at 
 once, ran to the scene. Happily, most of the chil- 
 dren and religious were at Mass in the chapel, other- 
 wise half would have perished. The damage done is 
 fearful ; all the eastern part of Jen-tse-t’ang is a heap 
 of rubbish. A hollow seven yards deep and forty in 
 diameter marks the place of explosion. Five Italian 
 marines and their officer disappeared ; more than 
 eighty Christians, including fifty-one children in the 
 cradle, have been buried forever under this ruin. 
 Notwithstanding a shower of balls, we go to help the 
 wounded. 
 
 Brother Julius Andrew, Visitor of the Marist 
 Brothers, met his death in trying to save a half- 
 buried woman. He was a man of great courage, who, 
 during the whole siege, manifested intelligence, devo- 
 tion, and bravery beyond compare. 
 
 The French marines, who at once appeared on the 
 scene of disaster, killed fifty Boxers that tried to 
 force an entrance; the others took to flight. Until 
 evening we worked trying to save the buried. We 
 rescued Mr. Olivieri, commander of the Italian de- 
 tachment; he is covered with bruises, but he will be 
 spared. Of his five marines, two were discovered liv- 
 ing, but their wounds leave no ground for hope. A 
 post of French marines is stationed at Jen-tse-t’ang 
 with some seminarians to defend, in case of need, the 
 break, which is eighty yards long. Since eight o’clock 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 53 
 
 in the morning the cannonading has not ceased; we 
 have received more than one hundred projectiles. 
 We are at the very last extremity. 
 
 Monday , August 12th. — All are suffering very 
 much from famine; despondency is general, but the 
 repeated firing of cannon heard in the distance leaves 
 us a little hope. At eleven o’clock a new mine ex- 
 ploded in Jen-tse-t’ang ; thanks be to God! it was not 
 carried far enough, and the damage done is compara- 
 tively insignificant. 
 
 In the evening we heard the Boxers cry, “The 
 devils from Europe are approaching : we will die if 
 we must, but yon shall perish before ns.” 
 
 At four o’clock in the evening the brave marine, 
 Bobours, was killed at his post by being shot in the 
 forehead. We have only enough food to last two 
 days, and what food ! 
 
 Tuesday , August llfth. — A terrible battle is being 
 fought on the south-east ; we hear cannon, mitrail- 
 leuses and volleys, fron the top of the church ; the 
 Chinese flags are seen to disappear from the walls. 
 At eleven o’clock the bombardment is stronger; we 
 see fugitives making their escape, people who are 
 moving away. Despite the balls sent against ns 
 from all sides, hope reigns in our hearts. We are 
 again able to speak, smiles come to our lips, for the 
 army of relief is evidently attacking Pekin. At five 
 o’clock in the evening we see at a long distance five 
 strange officers on the walls and a marine signaling to 
 the east ; not far from there, an American flag is 
 
54 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 waving. Until nine o’clock missiles are multiplied; 
 we see two to three hundred wounded Chinese carried 
 away. 
 
 Wednesday , August 15th, Feast of the Assumption. 
 — Before daybreak, a gate of Pekin, on the east, was 
 in flames. From seven till nine o’clock, noise of can- 
 non, volleys and firing of mitrailleuses are incessantly 
 heard. The army is probably making an assault. 
 Numbers of European soldiers are seen in the place 
 where the five officers were yesterday. 
 
 Until nine o’clock in the evening we hoped that 
 they would come to deliver us. The Blessed Virgin, 
 who has led the troops into Pekin on the day of her 
 glorious Assumption, will send them to us to-morrow, 
 please God! Four hundred pounds of food are left 
 for three thousand persons ! Providence seems to 
 have counted the grains of rice ; could He have 
 counted more exactly ? 
 
 Thursday , August 16th. — I had just celebrated 
 Mass at six o’clock, and was making my act of 
 thanksgiving under a veranda, when I heard severe 
 firing from a large band approaching from the south. 
 About half -past seven the shots came perceptibly 
 nearer, and before eight o’clock were heard about 
 three hundred yards away, behind the gate of the 
 Yellow City called Si-Hoa. This gate had been 
 closed, large numbers of regular soldiers occupied it, 
 and in the street which leads from this gate to the 
 Imperial Palace, several strong barricades had been 
 built of sacks of rice which were defended by at least 
 
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. 55 
 
 fifteen hundred men armed with repeaters, not count- 
 ing the Boxers and regulars stationed in the embat- 
 tled houses provided with embrasures. 
 
 Our people, who climbed the walls, thought that they 
 recognized some European soldiers stationed behind 
 the gate of Si-Hoa; others, Chinese soldiers ; we did 
 not know whether it were a last attack or deliverance 
 that was in preparation. At all events, I sounded 
 the Casquette du Pere Bugeaud on the bugle three 
 times. Ho response, no hurrah, came back from 
 without; but from within, a rain of projectiles poured 
 down upon us. A bomb exploded at my feet; I had 
 time to shelter myself back of a brick column. At 
 the end of a half hour, a bold Christian, who climbed 
 the wall of the Yellow City, came ruuning to me and 
 said : 
 
 ' “ They are surely Europeans; I saw an officer dressed 
 in white, with stripes.” We had already raised a 
 large French flag on top of the church, with the sig- 
 nal, “We ask for immediate relief.” The director 
 of the Seminary, and his students carried another new 
 flag two hundred yards farther north and repeated 
 the bugle-calls. The officer seen came up to the flag ; 
 a ladder was passed to him, and he pressed the hand 
 of my coadjutor who had gone to that side. It was a 
 Japanese captain. He asked, “ Can you open the gate 
 of the Yellow City ? ” 
 
 It was impossible considering our small number. 
 
 “Very good,” he replied; “I shall try to force it.” 
 
 And he went down on the other side of the wall. 
 
56 
 
 THE HEART OF PEKIN. 
 
 At this moment we saw a new band of soldiers, 
 dressed in blue, quickly approaching with cannon. 
 
 “This time,” they called out to me, “we are no 
 longer in doubt ; they are French.” They ran directly 
 up to the flag, set some ladders on their side, and we 
 placed others on our side. In a few minutes, fifty 
 of Marty’s company with their commander were 
 among us. During this time the Japanese, scaling 
 the wall farther south, had opened a panel of the gate ; 
 the French artillery, stationed opposite, finished the 
 work, and despite the fire of several thousand shots 
 to the minute, the barricades were attacked. 
 
 The marine infantry that had entered our lines had 
 time to cross our ground, and take the large barricade 
 in the rear after having scaled and burned the embat- 
 tled house, and met their defenders at the point of the 
 bayonet. 
 
 The battle was over. More than eight hundred 
 dead bodies of Boxers or Chinese regulars were strewn 
 on the ground. We had cause to mourn only the loss 
 of two killed ; three were wounded, among them Com- 
 mander Marty. 
 
 It was about ten o’clock. The French Minister, 
 Mr. Pichon, and General Frey had been in the Pei- 
 tang for a quarter of an hour. Needless to say that 
 mutual greetings and congratulations were offered 
 from the depths of our hearts. We were saved ! 
 
 * A. FAVIEB. 
 
Planjdf the New Pei-Tang, 
 
PLAN OF THE NEW PEI-TANG. 
 
 I. BUILDINGS OF THE MISSIONAKIES. 
 
 1. Cathedral of Pekin. 
 
 2. 2' Imperial Pavilions. 
 
 3. Esplanade. 
 
 4. 4' 4" Gates in Wrought Iron. 
 
 5. Entrance Court. 
 
 6. Principal Entrance. 
 
 7. Court of Honor. 
 
 8. St. Joseph’s Court. 
 
 9. Our Lady’s Court. 
 
 10. St. Vincent’s Court. 
 
 11. Seminary Court. 
 
 12. Prep. Seminary Court. 
 
 13. Office Court. 
 
 14. Vegetable Garden. 
 
 15. Park. 
 
 16. Brothers’ Court. 
 
 17. Printing Department. 
 
 18. Visitors’ Department. 
 
 19. Band Stand. 
 
 20. Monument. 
 
 21. Kiosk. 
 
 22. AVells. 
 
 a. High Altar and Sanctuary. 
 
 b. Altar of Blessed Virgin. 
 
 c. Altar of St. Joseph. 
 
 d. Altar of St. Vincent. 
 
 e. Altar of B. Perboyre. 
 
 f. Altar of St. Michael. 
 
 g. Altar of B. Odorick. 
 
 h. Altar of St. Peter. 
 
 i. Altar of St. Philomena. 
 
 j. Privileged Altar of the Pas- 
 sion. 
 
 A. A', A", A"', Missionaries’ 
 
 Quarters. 
 
 B. Private Chapel. 
 
 C. Bishop’s Apartments and 
 
 Clock Tower. 
 
 D. Drawing Room. 
 
 E. Grand Parlor. 
 
 F. Treasurer’s Office. 
 
 G. Main Library. 
 
 H. Refectory. 
 
 I. Chinese Library. 
 
 J. Recreation Room. 
 
 K. Store House. 
 
 L. Museum. 
 
 M. Warerooms of Printing De- 
 
 partment. 
 
 N. Chinese Warerooms. 
 
 O. Pharmacy. 
 
 P. Business Offices. 
 
 Q. Brothers’ Workshops. 
 
 R. Kitchen. 
 
 S. Printing, Binding, and Ma- 
 
 chine Shops. 
 
 T. Visitors’ Quarters. 
 
 U. Servants’ Quarters. 
 
 V. Seminary Dormitory and Class- 
 
 room. 
 
 X. Seminary Refectory. 
 
 Y. Seminary Chapel. 
 
 58 
 
PLAN OF THE NEW PE I- TANG. 
 
 59 
 
 Z. Class Rooms of Prep. Sem- 
 inary. 
 
 W. Dormitories of Prep. Semi- 
 nary. 
 
 -f- Stables, Sheds, etc. 
 
 The line . . . shows the 
 
 area occupied by the old Pei- 
 Tang. 
 
 R. R/ Street separating buildings 
 of the missionaries from 
 those of the Sisters. 
 
 II. BUILDINGS OF THE SISTERS. 
 
 1. Catechumen’s and Dispensary 
 
 Court. 
 
 2. Sisters’ Court. 
 
 3. School Court. 
 
 4. Orphanage Court. 
 
 5. Service Court. 
 
 6. Church Yard 
 
 7. Court of the Novitiate. 
 
 A. Church of the Immaculate 
 
 Conception. 
 
 B. Apartments of the Superioress 
 
 and Novitiate. 
 
 C. Schools. 
 
 D. Orphanage. 
 
 E. Sisters’ Quarters. 
 
 F. Catechumen’s Quarters. 
 
 G. Dispensary. 
 
 H. Infirmary and Store House. 
 
 I. Sundry Apartments. 
 
 J. Chapel of the Children of 
 
 Mary. 
 
 K. Store House. 
 
 L. Laundry, Nursery, etc. 
 
 M. Entrance. 
 
 N. Wells. 
 

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