THE PEKING EXPRESS: The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China

In May 1923 Populist rabble rouser Sun Mei-yoo had taken notice of the new train from Shanghai to Peking. He launched a plan to make a brazen political statement: he and a thousand fellow bandits descended on the train, capturing dozens of hostages. The Peking government soon gave chase. At the bandits' mountain stronghold, a five-week siege began. Illus.