The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-23
FOREIGNERS ATTACKED BY A FORCE
OF SIX HUNDRED ARMED
RUFFIANS.
THE COMMISSION ACTS SLOWLY.
INQUIRY INTo THE SZECHUAN
AFFAIR CONDUCTED IN A LES
URELY MANNER.


tober q by telegraph stating that fresh
outbreak against foreigners had occurred
in the province of Kwang Tung. The out
rage was the work of band of 600 organ
lied rufians, acting under recognized
chief, who systematically attacked the
Easel mission at place called Minlien,
few miles from Swallow. No further de-
tails are given. The mission has its head
quarters il Hongkong.
The commission that is inquiring into
the circumstance of the SZechuan outrage
is certainly one of the most leisurely
affairs on record. In May the outrages
were committed, and judging from their
extensive character, as we'll as from the
excitement caused by them among foreign
communities in the East, the natural ex-
pectation was that speedy steps would be
taken to investigate the affair and obtain
redress. But it would now seem that the
United States commission cannot COM
mence it's labors before the early days of
November at the soonest.
Captain Barber, naval attache of the
United States Legation, who has been
appointed a member of the commission,
was still in Toxic on the Sd inst, and
would not set out for some days. His in
structions are to proceed via Tientsin,
which means an overland journey of fully
900 miles. A Chinese cart cannot be ex-
pected to make more than thirty miles
day, so the journey from Tientsin will
take about month. and the commission
cannot reach the scene of operations before
about the 10th of November.
By the time the commission commences
its inquiries six months will separate it
from the date of the occurrences to be in
ouired into, and inasmuch as during that
interval the ex-Viceroy of Szechuan, who
is so confidently accused OF having in
spired the riots, will have had ample
leisure to cover up his tracks, and the new
Viceroy will have concluded an investiga-
ton and probably inflicted punishmeuts
on his own account, it is not easy to see
what useful role the foreign commission
can hope to play. From the missionaries
or native Christians and their sympathiz-
ers only can there be any reasonable hope
OF obtaining evidence calculated to incrim-
mate the Viceroy or other local officials,
and if such evidence be openly collected
and officially employed the popularity of
Christian propagandism in China will
certainly not be increased.
In regard to the Korean crisis, all the
Japanese papers agree in seeing behind
the revolution and the murder of the
Queen the hand of Prince PAX. who is now
an exile in America, banished by the late
Queens command. The late outbreak
arose in and was carried out in the regular
army, which was oganized by PAX and is
still devoted to him.
The cholera appears to be at last on de-
cline, though on the 9Th inst 278 new cases
and 1s9 deaths were reported throughout
the empire.
The steamer Belgic was foated on
October 10 and towed into Yokohama
for repairs. The mystery of the
ships disaster continues unsolved.
Not only had her captain safely
navigated the same waters fifty times be-
fore, but the headlands between which he
seems to have become confused were dis
tinguished by revolving and fixed lights.
After the vessel struck. it is said, the cap
tain retired to his cabin and slept soundly
for some hours. The general opinion seems
to be that his mental equilibrium has I'M
dergone one of those temporary and unac-
countable arrangements to which men
who have long borne heavy responsibility
are sometimes subject.
Michow, the future treaty port of
Kuangai, on the West River, has been al
most annihiIated by contiagration, said
to be the work of incendiaries. who hoped
to plumber during the confusion. The fire,
breaking out in several places simultane-
ously, ragged for twelve hours, destroyed
hundreds of houses and involved num-
Der of fatalities.
The celebrated Chishima- Ravenna case
has been settled out of court, the Peninsu-
lar and Oriental Company agreeing to pay
a sum of Flo, 600 to the japanese Govern
ment. The Chishima was a man-of-war,
constructed in France to the order of
Japan. On her way out she collided with
the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamship Ravenna in the inland Sea of
Japan, and sank Immediately with terrible
loss of life.
A progressive impulse is beginning to
make itself felt in China, and it arises not
from any action of the central Govern
ment, but from the enlightened efforts of
individual officials. The establishment of
the Rentsin University has inspired the
V lCeIOy Ol NaukluS W Mdke similar
effort in the cause of education. He is
starting big school with four foreign and
ten native teachers. More than hundred
applicants for admission have been placed
on the roll, and the success of the under
taking is regarded as certain.
Another project of the Marking Viceroy
is to establish bureau for the encourage
ment of manufactures after foreign models.
Twelve and half million taels are to be
devoted to establishing five common spin
ming mills and five silk failures. These
ten establishments are to be 'farmed OUT
to as many syndicates, the members of
which will have to pass satisfactory ex-
animation as to pecuniary resources and
other qualifications. To raise the Il, 900. 900
taels the Provincial Government is to guar
antee foreign loan of 10000 900 as sink
ing fund, and the other 1000, 600 to serve as
working capital will be lent from the local
Marking treasury.
MEXICAN CATTLE AD MITTED.
The Quarantine on the Border Has Been