The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-23
THE kUCRENG MASSACRE
Complications Caused by the Ex-
cess of Zeal of Consul Hixon.
Capt. Newell Has Been Selected by
the State Department to Make the
investigation. Ensign Waldo
Evans. of the Navy, was
Rather Previous.
BY Southern Associated Press.


WASHINGTON. August 22.-The in
vestlgntion which the Government OF
,he United States will mike INTO The
Aucheng Massacre has been somewhat
complicated, aud the probabilities seem
20 be that the complication hns been
caused by tho excess of zeal on tho part
OF j. Courtney Hlxson, of Alabama,
United States Consul at Foo Chow or
Cucbau, who has gone to kucheng as
principnl representative OF the United
6tates on tho joint British. American
com mission Of inquiry. it is learned
TO day that lii1son and the commission
e,arted for Kueheug before the for
naiIties preliminary to the inquiry had
been arranged with the Chinese Gov.
ernment, and before the State Depart
ment had sent him full instructions,
aud interesting information has Just
como To light that the depar tment was
oomewhat surprised to learn, after the
COMMISSION had left Foo Chow. that
1he American representative was En.
Sign Waldo Evans. Of the United States
cruiser Detroit. 1T was the determine.
consultation with naval officials, TO send
Captain Newell, of the Detroit, to ku
Cheng with MIR. Hixson.
Capt. Newell's wide experience and
his reputation for discretion aud good
judgment caused his selection. But
before Minister DENLY had arranged
oil matters concerning the commission
with the Chinese government Mr.. Hix.
con and Ensign Evans started Tor ku
Cheng and tho supposliion here is that
the refusal oil the Chinese officials, who
ore also making inquiry into the mas
sacre. to permit them 10 attend the
hearing, is caused by the fact that
proper authority from the Pekin gov.
ernment was not obtained by MIR. Hix.
con before he made his somewhat
hnsty departure.
The cableRram from Hong Kong
stating that Capt. Newell had gone
from Foochow to Ku ChenK causes
nuch qualification, and justifies the
belief that lie has obtained full author.
ity to pursue the investigation which
SIR. DENLY was instructed to secure,
ana Will break the deadlock cnused by
the refusal of the Chinese officials al
Au Cheng to permit the foreign com.
mlssioners to be present Mt their in
curry. ku.Cheng is some distance
INLAND and for that reason the State
Oepattment has been unable to com
municate with Mr.. Hixson 10 ascer.
eain why he started too soou.
The selection of Capt. Newell as one
OF the American representatives to at.
send the inquiry was determined on
aome time ago. A request to pemit n
commanding officer of one OF the
united States vessels on the Asia.jc
naval station TO join the com mission TO
go to hu Cheng, was made by the State
department of the Navy Department
aud it was agreed that Capt, Newell
should he the person. provided Minis
ier Denny would consent. a message
90 TINS effect was sent Admiral Carmen.
ser, but the commission of which
Gessrs. Hixson and Evans are mem
aers had started before the cablegram
Senched him.
No information has been received at
ehe State Department from Minister
Denoy or representatives of the United
states regarding the press report that
tne American mission near Fuchu had
Seen attacked. Fuchu is the British
spelling OF FOochow. Mir. Hixson.
who has gone to ku Cheng with the
commission OF inquiry III the United
States consul stationed at thn, post
Harry W. Churchill, of Massachusetts,,
Is lca-consnl there and presumably in
charge during MIR. Hixsou's absence.
Foocbow IL situated on the Chiuese
coast about 100 miles northwest of the
nortnermost point of the Island of
Normosa. The cruiser Detroit is now
at foochow and has sufficient force to
protect American interests there.
III Is SAID that probably one third of
'hose who paid the income tax did
60 that they might hurry over to
Europe, and desired to comply with
HE law before their departure. Most
OF them have not returned.