Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-30

the verandas of the second floors, whence
we could look out over the open, sun baked
market-place, Just before the compound in
front, or, on the other side, over the ne,
work of canals glittering in and out of the
willows and yelow-tOpped roofs.
There had been reports of riots spring
ing up suddenly in the villages above us,
no one knew whether at the iustigation of
the White Tigers, the secret society of
which the imperial government itself was
in awe. or whether they were the outcome
of one of those wild, purposeless gusts of
anarchy and murder which arise in China
when or how no one knows The crowd
springs up as it were, out of the ground
a mob mad with a blind unreasoning fury,
murderous, eager for plumber and for
blood.
The rumor of trouble in the river villages
had summoned the gunboats from down
the river but they had not yet reached
Kadng when it caught the infection, and
our hearts beat harder and quicker when,
above the summer murmur OF the t-dh-
gays and the delicate lp-lapping of the
water stirred toy passing sculing oar
above the moIotonous "tank, tank, tank
over at the cOppersmith's, we heard sud
denly the sound of tumult, the sound which
every one who has lived IN China knows
and breads. 1t grew louder, this confused
whir OF noise the harsh cries of angry
men and the beating of gongs, and that
| blood-curdIing whistle OF their pirate fore
fathers on, for the gunboats, Why
were they so slow? They might be at hand
/ at any moment. and could send a few
/ crashing shots into the mob to cool its
wrath and bring it to its senses In the
] ma { a
/ bay They would probably gather in full
/ force on the market-place; it was madness
/ to try to escape by water through the mar
row shaded canals where a child could stop
/ the way. One of the greatest dangers was
that we might bee set on fire, when we
would have our choice between being
burned alive and being dubbed to death by
/ that inseusate mob. We should be the
first point of attack. OF that we were
| sure. as the old hatred to the .Ong-hared
foreigners had recently been given object
i've point and momentum by the histories
circulated from mouth to mouth in the tea
houses and baZars, of the bad treatment
of brother Cinnamon in the far-otf Hwo-
gee-koh, the land of the "white devils
Artie was detailed to run up distress sig
mails on the flagstaff, where the American
flag usually saluted the vessels going VI
or down the stream. Thus the MonOcacy
would be made aware of the disturbance
if she had not already been made aware
by the ominOuS sounds of riot Then
there were large straw barges lying at an
Choir i'm the canal which would give the
mob "a position. and fuel in the attack
They were loaded up TO the waters edge
with bundles of rice straw. which is used
as fuel. and tWclvr-years-Old Heber haO
tried to carry ont scheme of his own by
dropping into the canal and trying TO cu
them loose from their mOOrinCs. but he
found that they were securely anchored
and gave up the dangerou, attempt none
too soon, for the wild cries from a thOus
and hoarse threats had become CONTINUOUSLY
near. and several stones narrowly missed
him as he scramble mp 10y means OF rop,
let down from the WateI-side window.
And then a storm began such as only
those who have seen mob violence can re
alize. An old priest seemed to lead TIA,
assault and urgel The rioters on will
frantic celebrations, beseeching them
whenever their strength tagged for
moment to remember their brethren
murdered in the "Flowery Kingdom.
We could see his yellow robes futter
ing about in the thick of the movin!
mass of men like flame, All that w
could do was TO keep within the house, AM
pray that the gunbuais would appear be
fore the mob could effect an entrance. Tn
outer gate had been drenched with waite
so that it was almost impossible TO burn it
though the insurgents built up bonfire aft
er bonfire az unst 1t. The tough oakeI
panels, reinforced by stout cross-bars with
in. even resisted the continuous pummel
lngs of the bloodthirsty crew.
The din was fearful, as each man shout
ed his cNecratons regardless OF the others
and there WAS the deatenInC boom Of tn
gongs, which tangled on witlBut a mo