The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-09-12
MASSACRE INVESTIGATION
TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESS.
PROGRESS OF THE consul
LAR COMMISSION.
TESTIMONY + THREE WITNESS
ES RECEIVED.
Rev. Phillips, an Eyewitness, Tells 6
Thrilling Story-Dr. Gregory Thinks
Officials Were Aware the Attack
Was Contemplated.

Victoria, B. c., Sept. 9.-Private let
tiers from Shanghai just received here
announce that the commission appointed
by the British and American govern
ment to investigate the Ku Cheng mas
sacre of August reached Foo Chow on
August 10, Sui Kow two days later and
Ku Cheng on August II, without shad-
ow of molestation from the barbarous
hordes alleged by Chinese officials to
have established Il reign of terror
throughout the province.
The commission, consisting of British
Consul Il. w. Mansfield, the American
consul, Colonel j. Courtney Hixson, the
British vice consul, Il. l.. Il. Allen, from
Pagoda anchorage; Lieutenant Evans of
the United States ship Detroit, the
Rev. w. Bannister, representing the En-
glish Church Missionary society, and DIR.
Gregory of the American Methodist Epis-
copal mission and an escort of 100 of
the viceroys alarmed and poorly discip-
lined soldiers, circumstance which but
feebly supports the Chinese contention
that the massacre was entirely beyond
official prevention, owing to the country
being in revolt. The defense is regard
ed by all British and Americans in
China as quite as farcical as the COM
mission, unsupported as it is by any dis
play of British or American forces, and
Indignation runs high at the apathy dis
played by these governments in regard
to the massacre. 1t is argued that Off
cial defense is untenable, as under the
Chinese law system of mutual respOn-
sibility prevails, all the public officials
being held personally responsible for the
comission of crimes within their juris-
diction, whether they are legitimately
blamable or not, and are visited with
penalties attached in the event of their
failing to apprehend and punish the Grim
inal in person.
The commission had at last advices
received the statement of three witness
es, DR.. Gregory of the American mission
at Foo Chow, the Rev. II. %. Phillips
ter two having been eye-witnesses of the
fearful scenes of August /.
The Rev. Mr.. Phillips tells how he was
awakened at 6 o'clock i'll the morning
by shouting in the direction of the Stew
art house. He at first thought it was
children playing, but soon recognizing
the voices of excited men, he dressed
hastily and went over.
Il was met few yards from my dwell
ing" he said, "by native friend, who,
while throwing his arms around me, to
detain me, told me the Vegetarians had
come. L shook him off and went on,
and soon came in sight of the house
from which the bandits were carrying
loads of plumber, their leader holding
aloft small red flag. l could see moth
m of ON EI1r I full
view of the rioters | crept up a hill in
the brush wood and concealed myself be-
hind two trees, from 20 to 80 yards
from the house.
There l could see everything that
could be seen. AS l could see no foreign
ers concluded they had escaped and as
to go down was certain death, | thought
it best to remain where was.
After Il minute or two the retreat
horn sounded, and the Vegetarians be-
gan to leave-frst, however, setting fire
to the house. Ten minutes afterward
every Vegetarian had gone. | came
down and looked about the front of
the house but could see no one. | fear
ed something dreadful had happened, as
l heard the Negetarians as they left
say, Now all the foreigners are killed.
II just then met one of the servants
who told me the Chinese were in the
house in which Miss Hartford of the
American mission was staying. | found
Mr. Stewards daughter, Mildred, with
serious wound on one knee and another
severe cut. When l had washed these
l had turned to Mr.. Stewards son, who
was fearfully hacked and cut every
where. Then Miss Codrington sent me
message that she, too was in the house.
L found her in fearful condition, but
with water and rags we managed to
staunch the bleeding. She begged me
not to wait as she thought Topsy Saun-
ders was still alive. l then rushed to the
back of the house, and there saw the
bodies of Miss Saunders, Miss Steward,
Miss Gordon and Miss Marshal. The
latter was awfully cut, her head being
almost severed, but beyond the wounds
given in the struggle, the bodies were
not mutilated. Later l found Miss
Coomb's body at the foot of the hill in
front of the house, where she had evil
IDENTITY been thrown. AS then 1 could
see no signs of Mr.. and Mrs. Steward,
Miss Saunders and Lena, the nurse, we
hoped they had escaped, and l returned to
the house where the Steward children
and Miss Codrington were. Presently
Miss Hartford arrived. She had re-
ceiyed cut under one of her ears, but
had been saved by, a native Christian.
lSdlhCu lulCI tuuL Tic uNe ldultS VI
the Senan mission society, who lived in
two houses which form the Ku Cheng
sanitarium, after q futile attempt to es-
cape got out of the back end, but were
Immediately surrounded. Some of the
Negetarians were inclined to spare them,
but were ordered by their leader to carry
out their orders to kill and spare not
Had they been able to reach the brush
wood there seems no doubt they might
have been saved.
"A great misfortune was that only
two were dressed. Mr.. and Mrs. Stew
ard were killed as they sprang from bed.
Lena, the nurse, died while protecting
the baby, whom Kathleen managed to
carry out of the house, though not before
the baby's eyes had been cut out. Miss
Nellie Saunders was knocked down at
the door when trying to help the children
and we afterwards found the remains OF
a body which we little doubt was hers.
For long time we though Mr.. and Mrs.
Steward had escaped, but later | found
their bodies. or rather ashes, in their
bedrooms.
The Hwasang people seemed to have
had, as whole, no hand in the affair,
though doubtless four or five Vegetarian
families were concerned. The natives
say the Vegetarian band camel rom the
east road of Ku Cheng, many from
Ang Long and Adeng Bang, within 30
or 40 miles of Ku Cheng."
t.. IL. 1