59



CHAPTER III

THE SIEGE OF TIENTSIN

While at Chefoo, where we had been taken by
the Yik-sang, we dispatched many cables. I also
received cables from many parts from people who
had friends in Tientsin and Peking. Some I was able
to answer, but to many it was beyond my power to
give the information asked for. Here are some
examples : " Where Lowry family, names, places? "
" Wire particulars entire family. — Father." " Send
names our missionaries, safe, killed." " Are Peking
Tientsin safe? — Leonard." "Give location of mis-
sionaries, anxiety intense." " Our missionaries to-
gether decide families coming home." " Cable
names Methodist missionaries murdered." Unfor-
tunately, by the omission of a name, some misunder-
standings arose. When I mentioned the names of
^ the missionaries in the siege of Peking, for instance,
I forgot one, and the inference was that that one
had been murdered, and her friends, in great dis-
tress, prepared for a memorial service. Since I
acted as a correspondeht, I have been able to appre-
ciate the demand for sensational news. Several
cables reached me asking for abnormally thrilling
incidents ; but these I could not give without invent-
ing them. It is to be feared that some corre-

60



The Siege of Tientsin

spondents send sensation because it is demanded at
headquarters.
