The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
Poor Bowlby died the fifth day, in the same way as Anderson, then
De Norman and several of the men. All appear to have kept noble
hearts, and to have cheered and encouraged each other, but no less
than thirteen sank under the horrors of this captivity. Brabazon
and a French Abbé, who were taken with the escort, were, still
unbound, seen to leave the party, on the way to Pekin, saying they
were going to the Chinese Commander-in-Chief to procure the release
of their companions. Their mournful fate was, we rejoice to know,
less horrible. They were beheaded, by order of a Chinese General,
on the 21st September, in revenge for a wound he had received
during the action of the day; but their bodies being then thrown
into the canal, were unhappily never recovered.
Parkes, Loch, and their Sikh orderly, had been taken off straight
to Pekin, and never saw anything of the rest of their party. Parkes
was known by sight and reputation, and his position and that of
Loch was, in a manner, recognised. Their cords were unbound after
eight hours, when they were heavily ironed, separated from each
other, and each put into ward with sixty prisoners--murderers and
felons of the first class--with whom they ate and slept and lived.
By day they were allowed to move about in their wards; at night
their chains were fastened to staples in the prison roof. They
represent their fellow prisoners to have behaved uniformly with
kindness towards them, sharing with them any little comforts they
possessed, and carrying their chains when they moved. But they were
treated with extreme rigour, and their allowance of food was scanty.
After the 29th September a change of treatment was adopted.
Parkes and Loch were taken from prison, and confined together in
a temple, where they were treated with every consideration. Their
dinner was furnished by the Véry of Pekin, and mandarins visited
them, bringing little presents of fruit. During this time the
diplomatists were trying to turn Parkes to political account.
They wrote to Lord Elgin to say that the prisoners then in Pekin
were very well, and that the basis of a treaty was being arranged
with Mr. Parkes, which would no doubt be satisfactory to all
parties. And thus matters went on until the joyful day came of the
prisoners’ release.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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