Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-11

Shanghai, do The report of
the total destruction OF the missions at
Cheng Tu, Kiating and Yoachohu has
been confirmed. The local officials re-
fused protection to the missionaries un-
til the mob had completed the work Of
demolishing the buildings. The mis-
sion stations at other places have been
threatened. About twenty adults, be-
sides a number of children, have taken
refuge at Cheng Tu and Yamen. Vice
roy Lin is blamed for the affair.
Washington, D. c., June 10-Tlo
Chinese legation has received no infor-
nation as to the reported massacre Of
all the missionaries in Chingtu, and
strong hopes are entertained that the
affair may be less serious than the
meager reports Indicate 1t is stated
at the legation that Chengtu is a large
city in the interior of China. The peo-
pie are far removed from the centers
of foreign commerce, such as Canton
and Shanghai. Recently, however, by
the treaty Of peace with Japan, this in
terror city was one Of the several places
to be opened to fpreigers and foreign
commerce. This no doubt, it is ex-
planned, has agitated the people who
have lived by themselves from time I'M
memorial The missionaries are the
only foreigeTs who have heretofore
settled at Chengtu.
Pekin authorities have placed on
viceroys of the Chinese provinces the
responsibility of protecting the mis-
sionaries, churches, etc. The vicerOys
understand that they will be degraded
If mobs are permitted TO disturb the
missions. AS result, the viceroys and
their projects, or police, are active in
restraining mob outbreaks. The Off
cial Gazette of China, recently received
here, shows that change has been
made in the viceroy at Chengtu and
that a new one has Just assumed his
duties. This, added to the agitation OF
opening the city to foreigners, may ac-
count for disturbances, although, as al
ready stated, the fact that disturban-
ces have occurred is not known 10 the
Chinese ofIicils here.
1t is said that Wu Chang, the place
10 which a French ship has been sent,
is another large interior town on the
river Yang Use Kiang. The river af-
fords inland navigation TO large YES
sells up to Wu Chang, but it is unnavi-
gable further up. 1t is probable there
fore, that the French ship goes TO Wa
Chang, as it is the farthest western
point reached by navigation, and is on
the way to the remotest point of Cheng-
tu.
Minister Patestro, by referring to
some documents at the legation ascer-
tanned that there were about 100 Cath
Ollie missions in China, of which 64
We're French and % Italian. Concern
ing the number of Protestant missions
he had no specific knowledge. The
number Of missionaries at post varies
from two or three TO ten or more.
The British Ambassador and all his
secretaries are away on their vaca-
tions, so that no information is avail
able as to thelmissions in China. II Is
said, however, that they are extensive,
and that many English women have
gone into Western China with the
special purpose of overcoming the
practice in some sections Of throwing
babes in the rivers as a part of the re-
ligious rites.
The State Department has re-
ceived no dispatches from Minister
DENLY or other officials in China re-
garding the reported missionary mas
sacre at Chengtu. There are no rec
ords at the State Department showing
the number of missionaries at Cheng
Tu. There is a telegraph line TO Cheng
Tu, and the State Department officials
think there should be no difficulty IN
learning all the facts in the case, and
as no report Of the massacre had been
received by the department It was
thought that the outrage may have
consisted of the destruction of property
only, and not have resulted in the death
of any Of the missionaries II is said
at the State Department that if the
Cheng Tu mentioned in the dispatches
is the point on the Yang Use, it is
probable that there are five or six
Protestant missionaries and two or
three Catholic missionaries at the
place.
This afternoon State Department Of
ficials after investigating the reports
said they thought an error had been
made in the transmission of the name
of the place where the massacre is
said to have occurred. 1t is believed
that this name. instead Of Cheng Tu,
should be Chang TIE, the capital OF
Human. In this place there are a num-
Der Of foreign missionaries and the
anti-foreign feeling is very strong. In
1893 there were threatening demon
strations by the people and the mis-
sionaries were kept for some time in
a state of terrorism by the display Of
placards abusing the foreign devils'
and warning the natives against af-
iation with them. THE condition Of
affairs was regarded by United States
Minister DENLY as grave enough to
warrant representations 10 the Chinese
government and the facts were made
a subject Of several reports from the
Minister to the State Department.
Cheng TIE is accessible to small gun
boats and a British warship visited the
neighborhOOd several years ago.
THE WEATHER