The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-28
MUR { N d, !. CINNAMON.
Their Murderous Antipathy to
Christian Teachers.
SWEDISH MISSIONARIES KILLED.

Sot Upon by Blob aud Ono Ii Slain
with an AK, While Another Is Beaton
to Death with Stones-Terrible Famine
In Shausi.
VANCOUVER, B. c., July .e7.-Late all.
vices received here by the steamer En-
press of India give full particulars of the
barbarous massacre of Swedish mission
aries which occurred on the 1st instant
at Singpu. The two Swedish mission
aries. Rev. Mr.. Wilkholm and Rev. Mr..
Johansen, only arrived in Singpu i'm April
last, and were the only missionaries in
that town
When the two unfortunates first went
there they rented Chinese house in the
busy part of the town, which they contin-
ued to occupy up to the time of their
death. They had their servants living
with them, and this little household of
five people was the only Christian spot in
a large town peopled with the most
icrocious and bitter enemies of Christian
ity to be found on the face of the earth.
The efforts of the missionaries and their
continued presence in the town inflamed
the passions of the people to the highest
pitch, and kept them from making any
converts in the stronghold of paganism.
A couple of weeks ago the Chinese serv-
ants heard that their masters were to be
murdered on the 18th of July They told
the two foreigners to lose no time getting
out of the town, but apparently the poor
fellows did not think the danger 80 very
pressing. On the day named, however,
the missionaries were not left long i'm
doubt rs to the hostile intentions of the
townspcople. Early in the morning the
house where they lived was completely
surrounded by II bowling mob chiefly com
posed OF the loafers of the town The lat
ter went about from man to man, melting
them to kill the foreign dogs" The mis-
slOnaries came to the door, but were
greeted with a shower of stones, and beat
a hasty retreat inside the house and M
tiently awaited events.
The unhappy men then made a desperate
but futile attempt to escape Chamber
ing out OF one of the upper windows at
the back of the house, they reached the
roof, but rs soon as they made their an
pearance at the top of the house they be-
came mark for a perfect hail of stones.
some of which struck them, cutting them
badly
Finding they could not remain they ran
along the roof and over the roofs of u score
or so of the adjoining houses. The mob
pursued them down the street, yelling.
cursing and pelting them till ut last the
missionaries could proceed no further A
hlSh mouse barred their further progress
and, despairing, the poor men dropped into
the street into the midst of the wolves in
human shape who We're thirsting for their
blood. Happily their agony was not n long
one y huge man smashed in the skull of
Mr.. Wickholm with an axe. and Mr.. .Jo-
hansen WAS speedily pounded ont of human
gulse by the shower of stones that were
rained upon him. The bodies were then
striped naked, subjected To needless and
revolving mutilation, and left lying in the
street IL prey To the dogs, while the mob
went off to complete their work, some to
loot and burn the house occupied by the
two poor missionaries, and others to catch
and maltreat the three Christian servants
but these men escaped with their lives and
were spared to bring the tragic story to
Hankow.
The Hupao says that terrible accounts
of distress prevailing in Shansi on account
OF famine in that province have been
brought TO Ningpo by n man who arrived
there on the 10th inst. i'll the steamship
PS'>in. People of the distressed province
are dying by thousands The flesh of the
arms and thighs of the poor wretches who
sink down with exhaustion are Frequently
cut off by those who have still strength to
do so and eaten