Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-10
MISSIONS SUFFERED GREATLY.
A Richmond Lady's Account or fhe
Outrages In Sscchnen Province.


China Daily News, viii be read with
pain and regret by all persons who feel
an interest I'm the Advancement OF the
mission cause:
May %, 1885. was the great feast oil
the 5th moon. The mission smises
OF Drs Kiborn and Stevenson were at
tackled by mobs about 7;So L. NJ. About
dark the crowds had effected breaches
and began the work OF ruin. The wives
and children made their escape through
the hospital premises late In the evening.
Here the mob was also doing destructive
work and soon after the missionaries
escaped the buildings We're fired. The
following morning the work began at
o'clock ana continued until every mission
In Chengtu. eleven IN all, was either torn
down or burned. The officials did little
or nothing to stop the destruction. Strange
20 say, the twenty missionaries and elev-
en- small children escaped by various
ways 70 the Yamen. without receiving
any serious injuries tine famen ~
the officials rrsidence) Mrs. Stevenson
received a kick from a soldier aud was
sent along with abusive language. There
was "A great yell OF beat and Kill the for
eigners. The officials visited the prem
Uses OF Drs. Kilborn and Stevenson
little after dark. but did nothing but
make a few arrests and march away,
and the work OF destruction went on as
furously as ever. The Catholics have
/ lost NOR heavily than the other mis-
sions. They have been at work in this
| city over lis years. The Canadian mis-
/ eion's loss must be over $4,000. Wild
/ rumors had been I'm circulation for some
/ time. but no on had thought the officials
would allow any outbreak. England
France. and America are about equally
/ Interested What will they do? As
far as can be learned eight cities have
/ been rioted in western Szechnan province,
namely: Chengtu, Kungchon. fachon.
Singchn. Kiating, Snfu. Pingshan. and
/ Luchcn.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
The following is a private letter written
from Kisting June list by Chengtu
missionary to n relative here, giving adj
ditonal details OF the Szechnan riots:
We escaped the riot by about two hours
and a half IN this way: We left the
city AZ p. NJ on the 18th. We could
not have left the next day at all as II
was the big Dragtn feast. At O'Clock
OF the 18th our compounds were burned
10 the ground. that rs. the dwellings
schools, and chapel in one. and al
Joining was the hospital. From our
place they went to the China Inland Mis-
sion, carrying OF everything on toe
place. The compound where the ladies
of our Woman's Missionary Society lived
was also rioted, the ladies going over
the wall into the neighboTs. Next morn
ing they began with the Methodist Epis
copal mission, cleaning 1t out completely
even to the walls The new house b.
longing to our mission that MIR. Hart
in. nj "A
burned. Mrs Hartwell escaping to tho
China Inland Mission after being driver
with the Wom3n's Missionary Society
| ladies' out of thcir house. The Catholic:
had five different Etar.Ons at one o
which was large cathedral. All thes
different places were utterly wiped out
. All the foreigners are at the famen o
one Of the magistrates. The PA HIM
self came and looked at the work Of Dc
struction going on. then got into Ia
chair and had not gone forty yards be
fore they were at IL again In Chen8u
we have two Heiens. VINO manage tn
city affairs each in his own district
which are quite distinct the one from IN
other.
A WELL LAID PLAN.
4 curious fact In connection with III
. American missionaries Is that they wer'
taken 70 the magistrate on our side IN
tlrely out OF IN sir own district, as II /
were well-panned sch"me on the OF
.,ials' part that the foreigners shou!'
Ice collected in one place Mrs. Steven
son and Mrs. kilbOTn. with four children
crawled out into the street through
big hole in the hospital gate that the mo-
was bre9 king I'm. They tried severa
houses. as well as the fort near by, bu
were driven off at each place, one Of tn
soldiers kicking Mrs Stevenson. and DIR!
wing them OH with curses. These ladie
with the children wandered about tn
city wall till midnight, then went to III
China Inland Mission till the early morn
ing when the mob reached there. W
cent a messenger TO the capital at once
and now are anXiOusly awaiting develop
ments. W. are making all preparation
for a hurried departure. and we have
good strong rope which we will use (
le ourselves down over the wall If the
make any fuss in tn night. The cit
IL full Of students who are just eoin
into their examinations and when the
come ont they may raise riot, and
is best 20 be prepared You cannot ca.cu
late the harm done 10 mission work a
present. to say nothing Of the monetar
loss. This will be "A matter for the HON
Offices to settle through Picking. Mean
time there will be nothing done 4
Chengtu i'm the way OF mission work
and perhaps not in the whole province.
LARGE AND WEALTHY CITY.
Chengtu is the largest and wealthies
city in the Szechnan province, and
the last place where one would expect
riot. as the people are very friendly I
foreigners. and some OF the missions ha
been working there many years. II
the worst outbreak OF the kind that ha
. ever occurred in China against mission
aries and their religion. It's effect on on
work throughout the empire Will be yer
| bad until the different governments TAX
I some decisive steps to put an end to sue
: Outrages altogether