Dhameystir weedha soo socota: 1898 iyo 1899 dhaqdhaqaaq ka dhan ah ajaanibta ayaa ka dhashay gobolka Shandong. Mid ka mid ah adeegayaashii halkaas joogay, oo laga yaabo inuu ahaa Smith, ayaa ku magacaabay ka qaybgalayaasha, oo u badan beeraleyda, <unk>Boxers<unk> sababtoo ah xafladaha cayaaraha. Dhaqdhaqaaqa Boxer ayaa si dhakhso leh ugu faafay dhowr gobol oo ku yaal waqooyiga Shiinaha, ugu dambayntiina, waxay heshay taageerada dowladda Shiinaha. Smith iyo xaaskiisa waxay ka qeyb galayaan shir ka socda Tongzhou bishii May 1900 markii dhammaan adeegayaasha Waqooyiga Shiinaha ay u arkeen inay lagama maarmaan tahay in laga badbaado Boxers iyagoo u cararay Beijing ama Tianjin. William Scott Ament ayaa badbaadiyay Smith, 22 kale oo Mareykan ah iyo ilaa 100 Shiineys ah oo Masiixiyiin ah oo ku sugnaa Tongzhou wuxuuna u kaxeeyay Beijing. Waxay magangalyo ka heleen xaafada safaarada xiligii
go'doominta safaaradaha 20-ka Juun ilaa 14-ka Agoosto, 1900.