Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-08-12
LETTER FROM FOO CHOW.
Miss Bosworth, q Missionary, Tells Of
the Uprising of vege:arians.

the Uprising of Vege:arians.
Miss Bosworth. the daughter of Rev.
r. W. Bosworth of Wauwatosa, is q
Methodist missionary in Foo Chow,
China, and under date of March 81 she
wrote as follows concerning the vegetari-
an troubles at Ku Cheng, about sixty
miles from Foo Chow:
"A messenger is down from Ku Cheng
tonight with news of trouble with the
Vegetarians. These are religious sect,
similar to the Buddhists, and for some
time have been in rebellion against the
authorities. The messenger brought let
tiers from DR. Gregory, one to Prof. Smyth
and one to Consul Hixon. He says it is
not an uprising against foreigners or
against Christianity, but civil affair pure
aid simple, SO he does not fear for them>
selves, only in case the rice supply should
fail and the poor people attempt to extors
help from them. The trouble has been
brewing for some time and the Ku Cheng
magistrate has several times sent down
here for soldiers to the viceroy, but the
latter has been keeping al his soldiers
against time when the Japs should APP
pear on the scene.
"a few days ago, however, matters
grew more serious, and placards were
posted announcing the intention of the
Vegetarians to kill the magistrate and de-
stroy the Yamen. The magistrate or
dered the, city gates closed, and the Eng,
wall, moved into the city and guards were
stationed on the wall for the city's de,
Tense. The schools were closed and all
work except that of the hospital is sus-
pended. DR.. Gregory does not seem
alarmed for themselves, only that they
not seen at all. If the rice supply fails
the poorer class, who have nothing to lose,
would break down the gates to get out,
thus giving the Vegetarians a chance to
get in. 1t is very certain that they are
all around them and very desperate.
have started for Ku Cheng and Consul
Hixon promises to use his influence, SO
we trust the trouble will soon be settled
and without harm to our work, mission
aries or property. The girls of our schools
there have been sent out by twos and
threes into native Christian homes untll
the troubles are over. Our school and
chapel property is very near the Yamen,
in a part of the city that would probably
suffer most in case of an uprising. This
does not affect US here in Foo Chow, as
the trouble is local."
Again, under date of April 19, Miss
Bosworth says: Owlng TO the vege>
hut may break out afresh at any time,
the Ku Cheng ladies, English and ours,
are ali down here. Dr. Gregory and Mr.
Stewart will come down quietly y the
overland route, if there is serious trou~
ble."
From the recent reports of the outbreak
it would appear that many Of the mis-
sionarles had returned to their work,
probably thinking the danger had passed.
It viii be noticed that Miss Bosworth re-
fers to Mr.. Stewart, who is reported to be
one Of the victims Of the mob. Hen
father. Rev. Mr.. sBoswoEth, lis, personally
acquainted with a number Of the missions
aries in that section The Zoo Chow mis-
sion is the largest Methodist mission in
GINA and the work in that part of the
empire has attained such dimensions that
an annual conference is held there.