Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-22
MOBBED BY CHINESE.
A Catholic Mission Destroyed by
Brutal Mongol Rioters.
GRAVES OF PRIESTS DESIGNATED.
The Dead Bodies Ruthlessly Torn Up and
Scattered About.
FOREIGN WARsHIPS TO THE RESCUE
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. ]

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.1
NEW YORK, Aug. 21.-The Methodist
Episcopal Missionary Society has received
the following letter from the Rev. John
Valley, the missionary in charge of the
Methodist Episcopal station in China where
the recent outbreaks occurred:
For the past week we have been in a state
of great excitement on account of serious
riot against the Roman Catholic mission. 1t
starteda little over a week ago against two
Chinese nuns, who were going
about the street amounting chill
dren with holy water. This aroused
the suspicious of the people, who con-
gregated in great numbers and began to
abuse the two nuns, and finally took them
to the police station. The officer in charge
became frightened at so large crowd and
sent the women to the hoien yamen, from
whence they were returned to the Roman
Catholic Mission,
URGED TO DESTRUCTION.
This proceeding did not please the people
and the Kolas Hwni, a secret society, posted
placards urging them to rise and destroy the
Catholic mission. The day following was
quiet, but on Tuesday thousands of people
proceeded to the Catholic mission, shouting
threats as they went.
was attracted to the spot by the yells of
the crowd. When 1 got there they were
pulling down the walls and smashing in
the gates, so that in a few moments
they had filled the interior. The mob
was composed chiefly of the lowest class,
but had as leaders men dressed in respect
able clothes. These latter went about with
q small flag, directing the operations of the
other rioters who cried that the priests had
murdered children and cut out their eyes
and hearts.
TORE OPEN THE GRAVES.
The priests had fled, and the mob began
to hunt for graves. Finding some of the
priests who had died months ago, they broke
open the collins and scattered the bodies
about the grounds. Then they searched
vaults and ransacked the buildings, throw
ing furniture, pictures and chinaware from
the windows and tearing books into pieces.
The debris inside the building was piled up
and get afire.
As left the place heard volley of mus
kerry fired and thought that this would soon
end the trouble. / was mistaken, for the
disturbance ragged furiously all night. We
watched until morning ready to fly, but
were not attacked. At about A. NJ. the
English Consul called US to assemble on one
of the hulks for protection. The steamship
Feb Heing remained near US all day, ready
to leave at moments warning if an at
tempt were made to burn the hulk.
BRAVE CUSTOMS OFFICERS
All through the riots the members of the
customs staff, headed by their commander,
made q bold stand and kept the mob from
burning and looting the Custom
House, although the homes and
effects of most of these brave
fellows were destroyed. For two days and
nights they were under arms and had to
constantly sally forth to drive away the
ruffsns and put out the fires kindled among
those foreign residences that remained
standing.
Three Chinese men-ofwar, passing at the
time, anchored for the night and fired a few
broadsides. These, with heavy shower of
rain, helped to disperse the people. Warships
were telegraphed for, and on the third day
of the riot d French gunboat arrived. An
English one came after, and now lies an
chored in the harbor. Great excitement
still prevails, and abusive placards are
being posted
Some of them say: 1.-THE French devils are
gone; let us drive the others out" We are
not yet out of danger, but have reliable
Christian men posted about, ready to report
any uneasy feeling among the people.