The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-12
JAMES DAVIDSON IN FoRMosA
He Writes an Interesting Letter Back from
Japan's New Island.


James Wheeler Davidson, son of c.
H. Davidson of the Kansas National
bank of Wichita, writes the following
letter:
Changwha, Formosa, Sept. q.
shortly after the taking of this
city sickness increased to an alarming
extent among the japanese. Before
reaching here nearly seventy streams
of different sizes having to be forded,
and with insufficient food. as the sup
plies in many cases could not be for
warded, the troops were in a much
weakened condition. AS there had
been heavy rains for several days
Changwha was almost flooded, and as
no method of draining offer, the city
could hardly be called a very healthy
resort for soldiers already i'll. Work
was commenced to bury the dead Chin
csc, but it was necessarily slow. and a
week elapsed before all were disposed
OF, many having been found concealed
in the underbrush and in the river.
The stencil from the dead bodies was
teuible and practically poisoned the
air. The effect was quickly felt, for
from the highest officer to the lowest
coolie, all were affected, and one-third
of the whole division was incapaciat-
taken to the field hospital, although
these numbered S24, and of them 50
died. OF the hospital corps of one
chief and five doctors three were struck
down, so that three were forced to look
after the large number of cases. Six
teen of the forty-one nurses sickened
and four died. But after the bodies
were buried and a few days of dry
weather had driven away the damp
ness this awful period of sickness pass
ed away and health improved. although
now about 100 a day being sent back
to Taipefu- The sick that are unable
10 walk are carried on a stretcher by
three Chinese coolies, with one nom
commissioned officer with each squad,
and one japanese coolie with each ten
stretchers. The japanese dead are
cremated and the ashes buried in
graves marked with a memorial board.
The Chinese were buried in large
trenches, holding twenty to thirty, but
after the atmosphere had effected the
bodies the remainder were cremated.
"Au is peaceful for some distance
north of Changwha, and % the north
generally. No guards are needed and
the farmers are working as indus
triously as ever. The people seem TO
feel perfectly contented. and are max
ing more money than they ever thought
OF doing before The citizens are ex-
trenely obedient 70 the japanese, in
fact. at first they declined TO receive
payment for a4'icles supplied TO the
guards. Accustomed TO the disorderly
conduct OF the Chinese troops. they
were surprised TO find the japanese
willing 20 purchase anything they
wanted.
The cooiie question IS practically
settled and perhaps no more japanese
coolies will be sent for. Fifteen to
twenty thousand Chinese coolies are
employed altogether. and with the very
liberal pay they are now receiving
there Is no difficulty IN securing any
number. Really the principal diff
Guilty Is 70 pick out the best, and 20 Try
and prevent the fight that occur among
the Chinese for the work For carry
ing one package six or eight miles
about 10 cents IS paid. the whole fam
lily engaging in the work. a group con-
sssting OF the mother and daughters
struggling along with one package
strung from shoulder pole. two small
boys with another package. similarly
carried. and the father and perhaps
older son with two. thus giving them
sl-eo for q few hours work Chinese
cash - seldom seen and the japanese
sen and smaller silver pieces seem 20
be the principal medium No coolse
viii think OF work snort of dollar q
day, and three coolies, whom I eu-
deavo-ed 70 engage TO carry my chair
for a half days trip. wanted $50
apiece and stuck 20 IL OF cou-se.
commodities have gone Up IN conSe-
queace No doubt many thousand
Chinese would sincerely regret 70 See
the japanese leave now
The following news Is from Chinese
sources N the south. and Is considered