The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-09-14
Ii Hung Chang Trying to Explain
a Chinese Puzzle.
Celestials May Yet Hear the Booming
Of English Cannon.
The Usual Story Of Storm and
Disaster in The Orient.

SAN FRANCISCO, September 13.-The
British steamer China arrived this morning
from Hong Kong and Yakohoma. She
brings advices from China to August 80. Sir
John Wulsom. British minister, protested
strongly against the dilatory manner in
which the Chinese government has dealt
with the recent riots. He put three ques-
tions to the government, asking first, Why
the edict on the subject of riots was not dis
patched throughout the empire by telegraph /;
second, why Wuhu magistrate who tried
60 stop the riot was degraded, while his SUI
perior, who did nothing, was not puni shed !;
third, why the punishment of the guilty at
Wusuch was delayed. The Chinese govern
ment sent the questions to His Excellency
Ill Hung Chang, to be answered. Chang re-
piled. first. that IL Is not the custom of China
to send edicts by wire; second, that the
magistrate was degraded for other reasons |;
third, that the rioters had been punished,
two being executed and the others otherwise
punished The North China News, com
menting edit0rially on the answers, says the
hrst is merely subterfuge. The case was
too serious to admit of the delay caused by
the use of messengers. 1t was stated at the
concession to the natives who denounced him
ior doing his duty. in the affair The reply
is palpable evasion and only shows that
China cannot be depended on by foreign
pf pf"ers tSe tMo As for cpnrta the tsTs execution
unsatisfactory as coming far short I'S Of the e
Chinese law In the case Of murder among
themselves. Murders of foreigners must not
be punished more lightly than murders of
Chinese. Lord Salisbury added to his three
questions demand that Human, which is
hot bed Of foreign sentiment in China, be
opened to trade, coupled with the threat that
II China could not control her own people
the foreign powers would take the matter in
hand. To this the viceroy replies that China
Is perfectly able to control her own people.
The conclusion is that If able she must be
unwilling The News adds: Meanwhile
the powers do not intend to be satisfied with
these replies. and with what has been done
by the Chinese government so far in the way
OF punishment and reparation. They have
sent China what is virtually an ultimatum
and will not take any inadequate reply
England's action, 1t Is understood, is to be
backed by tue other powers. 1t is thought
force will be used if China is not conciliato-
ry."
At New Chang, DR.. Grieg. a missionary
doctor was assassinated by soldiers. The
matter was placed in the hands of the British
consul. Reports from Foo Choo of the kill
ing OF three missionaries up country proved
false.
A serious land slide in the bank of the
People were warned by the premonitory
tremblings and fled in their night clothes
Hardly had they escaped when large tract
OF ground slid into the river, carrying about
three hundred houses and shops with It, No
lives were lost.
Serious trouble exists In Sin Tang. Dutch
west Borneo, between Dyaks and Malays.
lnree thousand QYaks are in arms against
has taken place and several were killed on
each side. The country. is suffering from
famine, which is believed to be the root of
the trouble. A number of soldiers were sent
to the dsaffected districts.
The following are advices from Japan:
August 10th, an American vessel, name un-
known, was wrecked in Kan No Wa Bay.
She had a crew of seventeen and the captains
wife on board. All but two were drowned
The Bonin Islands have been visited by a
severe storm lasting twenty-four hours, and
doing great damage. The sugar cane crop,
the principal product, was reduced sixty per
cent, by the storm and many houses were
blown down.
By recent floods in To Ku Shima prefee-
ture 354 houses were destroyed and over 600
injured. Two persons were drowned and 81
vessels destroyed.