The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-06
Massacre of Catholics.

Massacre of Catholics.
A clerical paper, Les Missions Catalogues,
publishes highly interesting account OF
the massacre of a French detachment IN
Cochin China, from the pen-o Mr.. Sorel,
Catholic missionary, in the western part OF
that savage country. We give 1t In er-
tensO:-
THE DAU Nor, Aug. 1, 1865.
A few weeks ago large placard was posi-
ed up in the village, announcing that a Ter
rible epidemic was about to visit the coun-
try. The prophet, or BOnze, who originated
it, mentioned, as safe precantion against
the disease, not to stir ont ut night, no
matter what noise might be heard In the
neighborhood, and to carry copy OF the
placard about their person: Inc french
Catholics understood that this placard was
merely preconcerted signal, kind OF
watchword, which they conceived to De the
forerunner of an Instruction. All the
heathens readily responded to the Bonze's-
invitation, and repaiEed in crowds to the
temples, in order to receive the precious
talisman, and prohibited the Christians
wearing the snpefstitious emblem. 1t was
announced that the epidemic would last
from the LIST to the Goth of July. 1t only
broke out on the 9th. On the night be-
tween the 9th and 10th native soldier
arrived from the fort of Chou Than, and
gave information that, under prctcxt OF "a
deer hunt, the rebels had entered the fort
and massacred an Annamite sergeant and
three soldiers the remainder were able
to make their escape. On the instant IL
was made known that the rebels had Sc
cured the fort of Thi limp, orders were
Immediately dispatched from Bien Boa and
Saigo to form a column consisting of infan-
try, cavalry and artillery, under command
of Major Dance. We arrived at Thistlsh
at about nine A. NJ. After repairing two
bridges cut by the fugitives, the enemy
made off, but left fearful marks OF their
passage. The fort and the whole Of the
village was burnt to the ground, and fear
full scene of slaughter met our eyes in the
midst of the smoking ruins. Two carbon
lied corpses lay on the ground. They were
those of two of my Christians. Further on
the body of an old man, half devoured by
worms, was stretched across his own fresh
old, and close by a we'll half filled with
corpses. was able to gather the following
particulars of the massacre: On the morn
ing of the 9th large body of natives came
from Dong Pc to Chan Thank, headed by
Thac, the Bonze who had drawn up the
placard noticed above; a few leading men of
the neighboring villages, and three Malays
who had deserted from the French. They
surrounded the guardhouse, butchered the
Annamite sergeant and three privates, one
of them a native, and burned down the
fort. The natives of the village able to
bear arms they compelled to follow them
to Thi Thimp. Before they arrived there
the work of destruction had already COM
menced. The natives had attacked the
fort, driven opt the garrison, and captured
a good many Christians. The first, named
Han, bore on his visage the characters g Ia
| Dao" (infideD with which he had been
marked some years ago. In answer to the
Bone he replied that he was Christian.
An order was Immediately given to bind
his arms and legs and drop him into a
burning cauldron. The unfortunate man
cried out, sob, my God! my God !"-but
the populace shouted out in reply, +" 1t is
useless, your God will not come to save
I YOU. Another Christian was also given up,
and suffered similar fate. Lieng succeeded
| in breaking the cords that bound him, and
fed to a little river close by, but he was
again recaptured, and thrown into the
| flames. The three other Christians gave
way before such fearful measures, and de-
clared they were heathens. They received
| the talisman, and were put in the ranks OF
the band. Two of these apostates related
to me the preceding facts, which were also
confirmed by the traitor Gia. This brute
| was not content with burning alive the two
Christians mentioned above, but he killed
with his own hand two others, one of whom
was woman with a child at her breast.
| He is at present in custody. On the day
after, the Bonze ordered the rest of the
! Christians captured to be beheaded. They
I were led one by one-men, women and
children-before a well, into which they
were thrown after having been decapitated
The list of the victims amounted to twelve
men, four women and eight children
Several of the children were impaled before
their parents eyes. About twelve Chris
tians managed to escape, but what has
become of them is unknown.
TEXAS INDIAN .ATRocITIEs.-The Sher