The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-09-05
MAGISTRATES POWERLESS.
MORE RIOTING IN SEE CHUAN.
All the Missions in Western China Looted
BY MODS.

Reports OF the outrages upon missionaries
In China have come from members Of the
American Baptist Missionary union to the
Baptist Missionary Magazine, which show
that the uprisings were more general than has
been told before In tho last week OF May
und the fret OF June all the missionary
stations In Western China were looted by
mobs, aud LAG missionaries. men, women and
children, were driven away, escaping only
with thrir lives. In the province OF SEE
Chuan, the largest in the empire. there were
many small stations scattered over the valley
Of the Upper lnngtse river. Most OF the MIS-
sionaries had gone to tue field IN the past five
years While the authorities seem TO have
tried, In some Instances. to protect the mis-.
eions, the Oaly service they were able TO rend-
er was to help them to escape.
The missionaries fed hundreds OF miles
down ;he river. travelling on RATS and In
house boats, hardly carrying so much as a
change Of clothing. aud reaching places oil
safety only after two weeks OF hardship.
la Cheng Tu. the capital OF tho province OF
Sze Chuan, IA placard was posted on May -
asserting that the foreign barbarians' were
hiring evil characters TO steal small children
Tor them. Tue next day mob OF several
thousand tore down the Canadian Methodist
mission and the property OF the ether two
Protestant and Catholic buildings. The mis-.
sionHrirs appealed TO the magistrate OF the
city, but he told them he was powerless TO
help them. With the aid Of some friendly ma.
tycs they effected their escape. Then the
cry went up: The time has come TO turn all
the missionaries out of Sze Chuan." A part
ot the mob divided into smaller parties and
took the various roads out OF town, en- route
for other mission centers. Ia all the cities
the most imfamma;ory placard' were posted
on the walls. Riots immediately followed.
Tho Baptist missionaries believe the riots
were melted by members Of the official class.
They kept iu the background, however, and
10 all Appearances, the students were at the
bottom Of the mischief.
They published "A piacard fixing a date for
the destruction OF the missionary property at
Suchau Fu aud for killing the magistrate
whJ was suspected OF desiring 10 protect for
eicners.
Iu most cases the missionaries, while their
property was being destroyed left the cities
and hid IA the ncighbothOod, awaiting an
opportunity to escape. They had native
friends. who helped them TO procure boats
and to put the ladies and children aboard.
At Suichau Fu. Messts Warner and Well.
wood and Dr. Finch got their valuable papers
and silver out OF the town and secreted them.
Here. rs everywhere, the trouble came ike n
thunder clap ont OF u clear sky. Sundays
services were well attended. quiet and very
impressive. and three candidates were bap.
tized by immersion. On Monday, June g. the
city was Hooded with placards.
The largest party, which numbered Gj. was
crowded for eleven days IN little households
suffering terribly. and but for the fact that
they had money enough to pay the CXorbi-
tant prices asked them for everything would
have perishcd. Many are the stories Of In
dvidual escapes but they are much alike in
their main features