The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-11
Account of Attack on the
Foreign Missionaries.
Mobs Are Stirred to Frenzy on the
Slightest Excuse.
No Dependence toBe Placed on Chin
ESQ Authorities for Help.

The American Board for Foreign Mis-
sions has received from Lin Ching, North
China, an account of an attack on It's
missionaries located there. Lin Chlng 10
. city In Shanting, near the Junction OF
the Grand Canal with the Wei River. lt
has a population estimated at 90, OO0 On
the evening OF August IL, says the mis-
sionary correspondent, we had our nrst
experience OF mob violence IN LIN Chlng'
Dunirg the 10 years that this station has
been opened we have felt that We had
gained the good will OF the people suffici-
emily so that we need not fear trouble
from them; but our recent experience has
shown us that we need 10 be more on our
guard. Every year during the rainy sea
son there are a few days of intense ex-
citement among the people living near
the river, when the water reaches lts
highest level. Watch Is kept day and
night. When the bank breaks, as II Is
sure TO do somewhere, large area OF
country is flooded, the water level falls
ana the strain is passed. Those who are
flooded have TO make the best OF 1t, and
those who have not been, rejoice in their
good fortune and dllly-dslly along until
the next rainy season, when they take their
chances again with the banks at the same
level as before.
Our compound is on the east bank OF
the river and the water at its highest
washes the wall to the height of two or
three feet. To the south of our compound
an old canal bed joins the river. This
Is dry during most of the year, but be-
comes filled by an overflow from the
river during the rainy season. Last year
the neighbors threw up narrow dixie
across the mouth of this canal so that
they might raise crops in the dry bed.
They succeeded last year in keeping the
water out, but this year the river was too
high and about p. M, August IL, the
water broke through with the
RUSH OF A MOUNTAIN TORRENT,
Ieveling some houses near the canal which
would have escaped II the water had
risen gradually. The road running along
the east side OF our compound crosses the
old canal, and the water, in seeking its
level, will cover this road 10 the depth of
. few inches; not deep enough to en-
danger the houses on either side, which
are q couple of feet above the level of [ he
road. The neighbors 10 the east. most
Mohammedans, wild with needless ex-
citement, threw up q dixie across this
road at the southeast corner OF our COM
pound. Before we knew what they were
doing they had our front gates off TO form
the basis of the dixie. They also proceed
cd to cut down two OF our trees on re-
Gently purchased lot across the road. We
never offered the slightest objection, but
gave them, in addition, two planks, be-
sides shovels ana baskets for carrying
dirt. They soon had this Job completed
and rashed of to tend the dikes to the
north OF u.s. 1t was nearly dark by this
time, and we thought our front gates
could be of more service in their proper
dirt had been heaped up to stop any
water that would come that way. SO
we proceeded To put them on again.
This was too good an opportunity for
some bad characters living in our neigh
borhood to m iss. They at once spread
n. n. -. IL
ing down the dixie A gong was sounded
and II wasn't long before q crowd was
bent on mischief
One of the foreigners and a native help
er were al the gateway when the crowd
came on. The gates were again carried
on, the foreigner was driven into the in
ner compound by the crowd advancing
on him with
UPLIFTED SPADES AND POLES,
while the helper was beaten and dIsap-
peared for time, causing us much anx-
iety about his safety. Fortunately the
two gates leading to the inner court were
closed in time TO keep the mob in the
outer court until the foreigners could get
their revolvers, when couple OF shots in
the air scared them out into the street
again. Brick bats still came flying
through the air pretty thickly, and door
leading into the outer court from one OF
~
big stone. One of the helpers now went
out and succeeded in getting the crowd
20 listen TO him. They slowly quietsd
down for the night promising to continue
the business in the morning. In the
meantime another helper had been dis
patched TO the military official for help.
His yamen is less than 10 minutes walk
away. He refused TO help by saying
that II was not his business. Then the
Chou magistrate, whose yamen is about
three-quarters OF a mile distant, was APP
pealed TO.
Half dozen runners were sent to look
into the matter. After asking a few
questions, they said they would see the
yiotors and tell them to behave them
selves, and then they would return. We
did not see them again. Mr.. Mackenzie,
wife and child, OF the Canadian Presby-
terian Mission in Honan, are stopping
with US. making the total number OF for
signers, ID three men, three ladies and
nine children, the Oldest only7. We spent
the night something as the children OF
Israel spent their last night in Egypt, not
knowing when we might expect an at
tack.
The next morning signs were not want
ing that some plan OF attack was being
formed, and
ANOTHER APPEAL WAS MADE
to the Chou magistrate by one OF the for
eigners himself. The magistrate had
started out early on other business, but
the official left in charge finally con-
sented TO send seven runners to guard us.
The only arms We saw about them we're
the official red-tasseled hat, fans and to-
bacoo pipes. Their appearance was the
signal for the crowd TO reassemble. The
report had been widely spread that the
fore gners had opened the river dixie.
gongs were beaten, and In very short
time many hundreds OF men, armed with
guns, revolvers. knives, clubs, etc, had
assembled in a temple court near by.
ready for any deed of violence. II soon
became evident that the yamen runners
did more 10 excite the people than 10
quiet them, and that they were powerless
TO defepd us from the excited mob. Two
OF the foreigners by standing in the gate
way and talking TO the people were able
10 keep the compound cloar. while a
Trend oil ours among the gentry was
dong his best TO secure peace We
were willing 10 accept most any terms
provided they were not dishonorable
rsther than take the risks OF being at.