Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-04
THE CHINFsF RPnEILToN.

L
Fall Of suohan-Uapture OF HnnE-ehsn-
Horrible Destruction Of Life aud Prop,
erty-Biny 90 Eighty Thousand Human
Beings Sacrificed.
The Shanghai correspondent of the New
York Times writes on the 14th of June in
regard to the progress of the Chinese rebel
lion. The eEmperor Of China appears to be
in a critical condition, the important city o.
Suchan is in the hands Of the rebels, and the
Imperial army-which was relied upon fol-
its defence-is practically annihilated. Su-
chan is the first city Of the Empire, contain
ing nearly the same population as Pekin, and
superior to it in all those points which con-
stitute great city. The population is esti-
mated at 100000, and it is the capital of the
richest of the provinces. The correspondent
givesthese details:
THE FIGHT BEFORE RANG-CHKY.
The story Of the capture of Hang-chsn is
n sad ons for 1t has been attended with
terrible destruction of human life--preater
by far than which attended the great battle
of Solferins; and this destruction of fife was
accompanied with horrors and atrocities of
the most fearful character. It was early in
March that rumors first reached Shanghai
that an army of rebels was threatening
Hang-ehan. This array at first made some
demonstrations against Hu-chan, large city
lying between Hang-cIan and SScban. Tais
turned Oat to be only feint designed 10
draw away the Iaperial troops from Hang
chan, the real object of attack.
The ruse was partially successful, con-
siderable detachment having been sent to.
the relief of Hu-chan. Suddenly the'rebel
army disappeared from the vicinity of that
city, and in an incredibly short space of
time was seen gathering upon the hill-tops
and occupying the temples in the vicinity
of Hang-chan. AS usual, they showed very
little respect either to the priests who re-
sided in these temples, or to their numerous,
idols. Many of the priests it is said, were
slain, and the idols were beheaded. In
many instances whole rows of idols hid
their noses knocked off, In one of those
temples was large number of images of che
deified disciples Of Buddha, and among them
those Of the deceased Emperors of the pre- sent
dynasty.
BREACH EFFECTED.
breach being thus effected, the rebels
rushed to the attack, drove back the Impe-
rialists, and secured lodgment within the
walls. Their position was comm andiup
one, and with few pieces of heavy artillery
the city must have been entirely at their
mercy. From the hill thus occur ied-the
only one within the walls-they overlooked
the whole city. This hill was covyred with
temples, which rendered the position a
very secure one by afordiug covGr against
attack, and at the same time furni yhingcom-
Portable quarters. These buildin(s were all
destroyed by the insurgents before they evac-
uated the city. / am told, however, that one
of them, which had been occIpied by an
American Missionary, and by fim fitted up
with doors and windows in .oreign style.
was left uninjured. This 81 ems to show
either some respect for the CHI istian religion,
or saluta1y fear of coming into collision
with foreigners.
The occupation of this commanding posi-
ton did not, unfortunately for the people,
settle the question Of the possession of the
city. AT Hang-chan there IS large Tartar
garrison, and these soldiers, with their fami-
lies, occupy a portion of the city which is
separated from the part occupied by the
Chinese, by high and substantial wall.
They well knew that to Ehem, if the rebels
should succeed, no quarter would be shown.
Every Tartar, without distinction of age or
sex, is doomed to death by the nascent ice
lestial Peaceful Dynasty" The Tartar troops,
therefore, had no choice but to fight or die,
and they made such efforts as their desperate
condition demanded.
HORRIBLE SCENES AMI CARNAGE IN THE CITY.
Here was an immense population of a
n
closing space not more than three miles in
diameter. The gaDes were all closed and
guarded, so that thfre was no escape Forty
or fifty thousand men were engaged in n
constant irregular warfare in their narrow
streets. Thousand ds of thieves and robbers,
always abundant in a large city, started up'
to make the mott of the state of terror and
anarchy which prevailed. The will of the
strongest was law, and woe to the man who
had not the mtians of defending his prop
erty, his wife, his daughter, his life, from
the lawless murderers who prowled about in
search of plTnder. In any other than a
Chinese city mutual friends and neighbors
would have landed together for the defense
of their lives, if not oftheir property.
But here nothing OF the kind could be
done. There was no time for consultation,
and there is too little mutual confidence
among the Chinese TO admit of such combin- |
ations in times of great danger. Every man
was intent, on saving his own life, and had |
no time to think of others. Crowds were |
seen flying hither and thither, trying to es- |
cape frora some scene of slaughter, or some |
burning contiagration. Women and children
were trampled to death. Parents forsook
their little ones or lost them in the crowd
Cannon-balls and bullets were flying in ali
directions-swords and spears were flashing
IN the flames of burning houses, and demo-
MAC yells of brutal violence, or shrieks of
terror, were heard in all directions. Such
scenes must have been of constant occurrence
during that fearful week, as was testified by
the smouldering ruins, and blackened
corpses, found lying in all directions when
order had been in some measure restored.
Besides this, multitudes committed suicide
rather than meet the thickening horrors of
that scene; or driven to desperation by their
terrors, whole families plunged together into
ponds, or wells, rather than fall into the
hands OF the terocious savages who were
plandering and numbering their neighbors.
One instance, especially has been mentioned
to me, Of wealthy family who knew that
their reputed wealth would draw the banditti
to them, and who, therefore, deliberately re-
solved to escape or die together. There were
twenty-seven persons in all-parents, chill
dren, grandchildren and daughters-in-law.
When it was found that the Slaughter had
begun, and that there was no hope of escape.
they all leaped into deep WE'LL and died to-
gether.
THE REBELS REPULsED-THE NUMBERS sLAUGH-
TERED.
At length, however, these scenes of blood
were brought to an end. The rebels found
it impossible to storm the Tartar quarter of
the city, and hearing of the advance of a
large lmperialist force sent to the relief of
the city, they abandoned the place, and made
good their retreat. The loss of life at first
reported at Shanghai was 10000. This,
however proves to have been far below the
mark: Missionaries, who have visited the