BEHIND THE SCENES IN PEKING ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIRST EDITION . . . . . . . . _November, 1910_ _Reprinted_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _March, 1911_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _Photo, Elliott & Fry_ SIR ROBERT HART _Frontispiece_ ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BEHIND THE SCENES IN PEKING BEING EXPERIENCES DURING THE SIEGE OF THE LEGATIONS BY MARY HOOKER WITH ILLUSTRATIONS LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1911 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE It does not fall to the lot of every woman—or man, either—to go through a siege, especially one so remarkable, and, indeed, unique in many of its features, as that of the Legations in Peking. 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 M^cCALLA 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 30 THE RUSSIAN LEGATION