The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-12
MISS CUsHMAN ON THE RIOTS.
The Chinese Believe the Missionaries
Use Babies Hearts for Medicine.

Boston, Aug. 1.-THE Standard viii to-
morrow print an exhaustive interview
with Miss Clara NJ. Cushman, of Durham,
concerning the missionary situation In
China. Miss Cushman was for many
years a missionary at Peking. having
been sent by the same society as that un-
der whose auspices Miss Hartford has
been working at Kucheng. In this inter
view Miss Cushman asserts a belief that
these latest massacres are one of the re-
suits of the war between China and Ja-
pan. Kucheng is many hundreds OF miles
from the central government at Peking.
and ii is probable that the people had
only rumors of trouble and so got all
sorts of stories, some Of which may have
started the trouble. The Chinese believe
that the foreign missionaries cut out the
eyes and hearts of the native babies to
use for medicine. They are quick TO ac-
cept any story that they hear. so that
the foreigners there can never tell when
a mob will come upon them. Miss Cush-
man thus describes kucheng:
"kucheng Is quite distance from Foo
chow up the Min river. II is walled city
OF about 10000 inhabitants and has the
reputation of being very neat and clean
city. Long Bing is some further inland.
Miss Hartford has an assistant. Miss
Wilma II. Rouse, of Minnesota. who was
probably not in the massacre as her
name was not mentioned. The missionary
society OF the NJ r. church has two
other missionaries at Kucheng Rev. M.
c. Wilcox, presiding elder of the Kucheng
district, and DR. j. j. Gregory. in charge
of Wiley hospital The only building
owned by the Methodists Is q chapel
valued al $500. in which the average at
tendance for Sunday worship last year
was $50. The homes. schools and hospi-
tails are In hired houses, which fact may
have saved both buildings and inmates"
Miss Cushman being in a position 10
speak of Miss Hartford. who SO narrowly
escaped death at the hands OF the Vece-
tarIans. through personal acquaintance
says of her; Miss Hartford was sent
10 Kucheng in 1857 by the Woman's For
eign Missionary Society OF the Methodist
Episcopal church. She was at that time
a very popular teacher in the public
schools Of Dover n. ". She has no faith
err mother. brother or sister living. but
is entirely devoted 10 her work. Although
the five year term for which she went has
expired she has steadily refused TO accept
the vacation. with the privilege Of visit
ing America saying she preferred TO stay
in China with the work. and finally die
there But health and need of rest almost
Influenced her TO take vacation when
the trouble came on. Miss Hartford Is
in charge of the Kucheng and Long Bing
districts Of Foochow. Her report 10 the
last annual conference showed In the ku-
chene district one boarding school. with
an enrolment of forty-four: fourteen day
schools. with an enrolment OF 30 one Ri-
hle training school. with an enrolment
OF twenty. Miss Althea NJ. Todd, OF this
cItv is now under appointment 10 }o'h
Nlss Hartford At kucheng ami Was eH-
nected 10 leave in about month.
That the trouble has been long brewing
il nrovsn nv a letter received by Mrs, Al
aeruan from Miss Hartford IT IL dated
FooehoV. May -, and says
II vas obliged 70 close the womens and
girls schools April on account Of fears
~ local fusurFections. The English mis-
sson closed their school two weeks earlier.
but | had hoped matters might clear up
and so held on. Al last ] found l could
not stand out any longer alone. Every
one thought the schools ought 20 10 closed.
so T closed them Then was sick. so when
T,r. Gregory urged me TO come 20 Foocbow
and have a rest came
Miss fsgshYnan thinks the criticisms
r,aae Of United States Minister DENLY arc
,rnt,st. as during her residence in Pc
h{rg he had been very careful TO protect
the missionaries rights. was on friendly
terms with them all. and they esteemed
him very highly.