Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-01
THE RIOT IN CANTON.
The New York Evening Post publishes the fol-
lowing letter from China:
No,

The New York Evening Post publishes the fol-
lowing letter from China:
CANTON, 2G,h May, 1914
On the 6 h Instant we had row with the Chinese
no foreigners taking part in it but Americans. The
new flag staff was ornamened with vane in the
form Of an arrow gled, which reflected the rays of
the rising sun, far and near MS symmetry and beau
tful workmanship excited the admiration Of foreign
ers but to the Cinnamon lis erratlc movements and
varying position, pointing north and then SOUTH
yesterday east and today west, were porten-
tons of evil dark iorebodngs were raised in the
minds of the superslitlous and excited people, in
which many Hong merchants and mandarlns par
clpnied but there was another class, the idle vaga
bonds who swarm about Canton, whose fears were
less excited than their hungry slomachs and love Of
plumber.
simultaneously with the appearance of the gded
arrow, came dry weather and sc',ly season set in.
both in the city and country and TO the charmed arrow
was ascribed the deadly effects of the cholera then
raging.
The attention of our consul, Mr.. Forbes, called
10 the circumstance by a number of very respectable
Hong mel chants and they requested HIM to have the
fatal arrow removed; at the 'ame Tine appeared an
inilnmmni0ry pacard, aScrlbing the evils enumerated
TO the gded arrow.
=.The Consul wishing 10 yield TO the superstl,ions Of
the people, decided To take down the arrow, and for
this purpose emyioved number of salOrs while they
were engaged IN lowering the top-mast of the flag
staff the mob gathered round, first throwing stones,
then rushing in and cutting the ropes in consequence
OF which The tppUlasl came down ny Inc Inc
mob ran off with The halyards, &c there being no re-
sisance offered, the tumult increased and there
every appearanccthat it would end in not when the
factories would be attacked
The destructive riots OF 1872 began in n similar man
ner no mandarns present 10 dispel the riot
ers and immediate action necessary.
At this iuncture our Consul, with dozen Amer
cans repaired to the square, armed with muske's and
ps,ols; the mob rereatcd hut threw back a voley OF
stones upon which one or two of the more exotable
of the Americans frel woundng three of the rioters
but The Consul restrained the men, using his exer
ions to confine them to acts of strictly defensive
character.
The ,quare was now in possession of the Americans
who remained i four p. NJ, when about two hun
bred soldiers arrived with the mandarns. slight
skrmsh took place, upon which the soldiers, aiming
al the mob fired in the air, and under cover of ihe
shields, charged upon the rioters who were thus dis
! persed
Early on the following morning the square wa.
again filled with rioters, Notwithstanding the presenc,
of the soldiers and was necessary again raise til,
flag staff that the flag might be holsed IN front OF lh'
Consulate.
| The Americans again turned out with mushets
cleared the square in presence of the Mandams, anC
renamed guard I'LL all damages were repaired III,
opmast of the flag staff raised 10 lis place and the as
| once more unfurled to The breeze.
! Mr.. Law, the British Consul, npprchendmq trouble
hal SOM 10 Whnmpoa for Marines; fifteen were sen
up 10 the Factories and remained inside a corps n