Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-14
ESTABLISHED 1850.
The Beheaded Chinese Student-A
Love Affair,
Hartford Tfmsa.


Another version of the shocking news
OF the beheading of Chow Chow Kan,
one of the young men who left this city
with the other Chinese students. five
months ago, comes by way of New Ha-
ven. This later report is doubtless the
true one. The first one was that the
student was beheaded for the
crime of killing his father. This
later account, which gives particu-
lars, shows that the young mans shock
ing fate was not consequence of any
CRIME but of something which the Chi
nese authorities regarded as quite as
great an offense-namely, he had fallen
in love, while in New Haven, with q
young lady of that city, aud persisted in
sending letters to her For that persist
enCe the poor fellow was actually be-
headed. What government that Chi
nese Government is. No wonder that
even Yung Wing, here, is nervous and
apprehensive.
1t seems there were two brothers
Chow Chow Yot and Chow Chow Kan
and hey were for a time members of
the Hopkins grammar school in New
Haven. There Kan boarded in the
family of Mr.. Bestor, SO Kensington
street, and soon fell desperately in love
with Miss Sherman, who lived in that
neighbOrhood. The American ladies
were ever the objects of the most un-
bounded admiration on the part of the
Chinese who resided in Hartford, and
poor Kan proved to be no exception to
the rule. From Hartford. while study
ing here the science of electric tele-
graphy, the unfortunate young China
man wrote frequently to the object Of
his alteration and also while on the way
to San Francisco Sometimes he re-
ceived replies The young lady's friends
had tried their best to break
up the attachment, not deeming
it a wise one. He and his com
paniOns hoped to be returned to this
country after a short stay in China,
knowing that officials who had consider
able influence with the highest authority
in that country favored a continuance of
the American educational mission.
Hence Kan kept up his letters, even af-
ter his arrival in China. But it turns
out that one of the principal reasons for
the recall of the students was the fear
that by marrying American wives they
would be so thoroughly welded to Am
erican Institutions that the intentions
of the government in educating them
would be frustrated. 1t was this appre-
bensiOn, in part, that made "old man
Woo" las some of the students called
him), Yung Wings successor at the
Hartford educational school, such de-
termined foe to the continuance Of the
establishment here
Kan's offense, however lightly regard
ed here, was heinous crime in the eyes
of the Chinese authorities. 1t was re-
solved to make nis persistence in these
forbidden love affairs the subject of
terrible lesson to the other students. He
may, or may not, have had trial. But
of the fact that he was beheaded, there
is, unfortunately no longer room for
doubt. The execution took place at Hong
Kong.
The New Haven Palladium says:
"There is in New Haven young Chi
nese student who refused TO obey the
order to return to China. He is an inmate
of the family Of the late DR.. Bacon, and
having been converted to Christianity,
was informed by Yung Wing, the
Chinese Commissioner of Education,
that his life would be in peril if he re-
turned. He is to study for the ministry,
One of the late DR.. Bacons last labOrs
was in arranging for the young mans
education.