Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-23
MT. Hixson complicates Matters.

Washington, Aug. 22.-The investiga- tion which the government of the United States will make into the Kucheng mas sacre has been somewhat complicated, and the capabilities seem to be that the complication has been caused by excess of zeal on the part of J. Courtney Hix- son of Alabama, Vice-conSul at Foo Chow, who has gone to Kucheng as prin- cipal representative of the United States on the joint British-American commits sion of inquiry. It was learned today that HiXson and the commission started for Kucheng before the formalites pre- liminary to the inquiry had been ar ranged with the Chinese government and before the state department had sent him full instructions. The interesting information has just come to light that the department was somewhat surprised to learn after the commission had left Foo-Chow that the American representa- tive was Ensign Waldo Evans of the United States cruiser Detroit. It was the determination of the state department after consultation with the naval officials, to send Captain Newell of the Detroit to Kucheng with MT. Hixson.
 Captain Newells wide experience and his reputation for discretion and good judgment caused his selection. But be- fore Minister Denby had arranged all matters concerning the commission with the Chinese government MT. Hixson and tS 1f. the supposition here is that the refusal of the Chinese officials, who are also making inquiry into the massacre, to permit them to attend the hearings, is caused by the fact that proper authority from the Pekin government was not ob- tained by MT. Hixson before he made his somewhat nasty departure.
 The cablegram from Hongkong, via London, stating that Captain Newell has gone from Fu-Chau Foo-Chow) to Kucheng, causes much qualification and justfies the belief that he has obtained full authority to pursue the investga- tion which Minister Denby was instruc- ted to secure, and will break the dead lock caused by the refusal of the Chinese officials al Kucheng to permit the foreign commissioners to be present at their in- quiry. Kucheng is some distance n- land and for that reason the state de- partment was unable to communicate with MT. Hixson to ascertain why he started too soon.
 The selection of Captain Newell as one of the American representatives to at- tend the inquiry was determined some time ago. request to permit com manding officer of one of the United States vessels on the Asiatic naval sta tion to join the commission to go to Kucheng was made by the state depart ment to the navy department and it was agreed that Captain Newell should be the person, provided Minister Denby would consent. A message to this effect was sent Admiral Carpenter, but the commission of which Messrs. Hixson and Evans are members had started before the cablegram reached him. No informa- tion has been received at the state de- partment from Minister Denby or other representatives of the United States in China regarding the press report that the American mission near Fu-Chau had been attacked Fu-Chau is the British spelling of Foo-Chow. MT. Hixson who has gone to Kucheng with the commis- sion of inquiry, is the United States con- sul stationed at that post
 Harry w. Churchill of Massachusetts is vice-consul there, and is presumably in charge during MT Hixson's absence.
 Foo-Chow is situated on the Chinese coast, about 150 miles northwest of the northernmost point of the island of For mosa. The cruiser Detroit is now at Foo Chow, and has sufficient force to protect American interests there.