Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-10-14
LOOKS A LITTLE QUEER.
Report That Chinese Riots are Backed
by the Government.

Report That Chinese Riots are Backed
by the Government.
HANKow, China, Sept. 6.-The steam
er Paohua arrived here to-day with the
Ichang refugees, twenty in all, all Of
whom lost everything except the clothes
they wore at the beginning of the out
break. Several bore marks of serious
violence. The riot took place at broad
MONDAY without warning Or provOca-
ton. 1t was carried out by handful
of men evidently acting under orders
in the presence of number Of Chinese
officials, who knew every one Of the
rioters. Their mission Of destruction
was carried out with the utmost
speed. A crowd had collected and
suddenly rush was made for house
belonging to the American Episcopal
Mission. The gate was smashed in and
a man heading the mob cried: ''Slay
the foreigners" The rioters came in
with a rush, and one aimed a murder
Gus blow with a shacle at Mr.. Sowerby.
Mr.. Sowerby disarmed this assailant and
avoided another, then ran for his life,
reaching the consulate, from where he
was transferred on board the Paohua.
The American Mission House was set
on fire, and the Yamen and soldiers fell
back, neither civil nor military manda-
rims making an effort to protect the
property.
The Roman Catholic convent was next
fired, and the sisters, seven i'll number.
barely escaped to the river, where they
were thrown headlong down the steep
bank by soldiers They were taken in
a boat on board the Paohua, and were
stoned by the mob on shore. Several
Sisters were badly injured by the mis-
siles. 1t is thought a number Of chill
dren in the convent burned to death.
A mob armed with knives and
axes rushed to the consulate, but
did not attack it. The house in which
were DR.. Prize and the Rev. Mr..
Deane, together with several other
buildings, was burned. Mr.. Rock
burns house was ruined, and the new
British consulate, in course OF con-
struction, was torn down. Houses were
looted, and, although no one was killed,
several attempts were made to murder,
and threats we're frequent. At the old
consulate the foreigners kept the riot
ers back with bayonets. The leaders of
the mob carried gunpowder and
kerosene with which to fire the build
ings. Those having stolen property
from the ruined buildings we're arrest
ed next day, but no attempt was made
to capture the real leaders. Many of
the rioters were soldiers who took off
their coats to disguise themselves.
During the whole time mandarins
were present and made no attempt
to prevent the people from carrying
away plumber. That no lives were lost
is entirely matter Of luck. The Scotch
missionaries owed their escape to the
fact that they had gone boating on the
river at the outbreak. They hurried
back and were just in time to rescue
senior missionaries and infant children
and escape when the mob arrived.
The Catholic sisters barely escaped be-
ing massacred en- masse, several being
severely injured. AS in former cases,
telegraph clerks refused to send on
news.
On the third day, when all possible
damage had been done, the military
mounted guard over the blackened
ruins. In Han kow things are stirring
again. The missions at Wuchang have
received threatening placards ordering
them to leave at once or they Will be ex-
terminated. The Tastai inspected the
nunnery to-day, making a search for
bones, eyes, ETC., of children said to have
been murdered by the sisters.