Smyrna times., 1891-07-22
From DR.. Ella F. Swinney.
The following is letter from DR.
Ella f. SWINE to her mother:
'ANGTsE RIVER,
ARM, Gt(Nonn,~ Z

Ella +. Swinnt to her mother:
'ANGTsE RIVER,
STEAMER "CORREs DE VEREs."
May Goth, 1891.
DEAR MOTHER:
am on my way home. / took a
few days to run up to Nankin to see
the very large hospital in the American
Methodist Mission. In going up this
great river we heard rumors of the
Chinese arising and of the city beyond
Nankin being in an uproar and that
they had burnt the r" Catholic
buildings and attached the British
Consulate there.
When we reached Nankin my friends
did not meet me as they had promised
and the Captain said there was too
much excitement for me to get off. He
said | could stay on this steamer to its
journeys end and then return. There
was nothing else for me to do. 1
have large state room and all have
made it very pleasant and comfortable
for me.
In making this long trip up this i'm
mense river have unexpectedly seen
the great cities world wide known as
they are, of Chinkiang, Nankin, Wuhu,
Kinkiang, Wangchow and Hanhow.
Where there have not been riots have
got off and gone up into the city to see
the hospitals and missionaries.
We reached Chinkiang last evening
at O'Clock and were to stop two hours.
All was quiet there and safe for me to
go beyond the city on the hill to the
Methodist Mission to see Miss Robin
son.
DR.. HOag and Miss Peters, the two
former ladies stopped with us last
year at the missionary conference.
Made call of about half an hour.
One of the officers went with me and
took a little native boy to show US
which mission home, but the little fell
low made a mistake and took us to the
A. B. c. Mission. We then had one
hill more to climb and two rallies to
cross. DR.. Hoag had gone to Nankin
to stay a week, but she came down
with the other refugees, last evening
in another steamer, the same time we
did, and reached her hsme few min
utes after we did. The threats to des-
troy the foreign houses in Nankin
were so loud the viceroy sent word for
the foreigners to leave for saftey or at
least all the women and children to 20.
When we reached Nankin yesterday
noon "a women and children were
croWding on a steamer that reached
there before we did, the same one DR..
Hoag hastened to come down on. DR..
Hoag told me just as they were leav-
ing, some of the native people (chris-
tians or perhaps servants) came and
told them a mob had collected and
were already pulling down the inn.
mense hospital of the Methodist Mis-
sion and when we reached Chinkiang
last evening telegram from Nankin
said the mob were firing the city.
The whole of this work is that of the
Secret Societies of China. They want
to get the government into trouble
with some foreign nation, and in the
struggle of war, rise up and gain con-
troll of the government. They also
threaten Shanghai and all cities where
there are foreigners.
SHANGHAI, May, %, Reached
home safely day before yesterday and
found the women and girls holding
prayer meeting for me, for they had
received my letter that was on the
river somewhere but could not land at
the cities. Yesterday was the day to
destroy the Catholic churches and
buildings everywhere, also threatening
other Missions. Everything passed off
quietly here, but as the wires are cut
we cant tell how they are doing in the
great cities up the river. We trust
the danger is passed off at present.
Your fara.way and loving daughter,
ELLA F. SwINNEY.