The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-11
THE REPORTED MASSACRE.
state Department without Advices-
Scene of the Riots.

THE REPORTED MASSACRE.
state Department without Advices-
Scene of the Riots.
WASHINGTON, June 10.-The Chinese ie-
cation has received no information as 10 the
reported massacre of all missionaries in
Cheng-Tu, and strong hopes are entertained
that the affair may be less serious than the
meager reports Indicate. Ii Is stated at the
legation that Cheng-Tu is d large city in
the interior OF China The people are far
removed from the center OF foreign COM
merce such as Canton and Shanghai. Re-
Gently, however. by the treaty OF peace with
japan, this city was one Of several places
TO be opened to foreigners and foreign com
merce. This, no doubt, ii is explained, has
agitated the people who have lived by them
selves from time immemorial. The mission
aries the only foreigners who have
heretofore settled at Cheng-Tu. Their num-
ber is not known. IL is said, however, that
the number OF missionaries. including their
families, in the entire province OF Se-Chun,
Of which ChengTu is the capital. must be
less than one hundred, including all na-
tionalities. The missionary headquarters
is at Cheng-Tu, where, il is believed. there
are not exceeding ten missionaries. the rest
being scattered through the province. But
this estimate is based only the general
information Of Chinese officials, as there is
no exact details OF the extent of mission
airy service through China. The Tsung-Il-
Yamen sought TO secure from each foreign
government complete list of the mission
aries and their place OF service, but this
was not given. 1t is said that the Emperor
of China and the Tsung Iii Yamen haNs
given every possible protection TO the mjs-
sionaries, although ii has been found liz
possible to guard against mob violence, pac-
Iicularly at remote interior points. Tia
| Chinese government has asked foreign gcv.
| ernments to appreciate these difficulties AK
! has advised that the missions should bc
kept within safe limits. But the zeal OF the
missionaries has led them 10 push inward
| without fear of results TO places where the
| Chinese officials have had dificulsy In Sl-
| the authorities at Pekin have done their At
most. They have placed upon the viceroys
| of the provinces the responsibility OF pro
tecting the missionaries. chtrches etc. The
/ viceroys understand that they Will be te-
| graded IL mobs are permitted To dis:n.S
the missions AS a result the vceroyn End
| their projects. or police. are active "a re-
| straining mob outbreaks.
The Official Gazette OF China, recently re-
\ ceived here, shows that "A change has been
made in the viceroy at Cheng Tu, and that
| a new one has just assumed his duties. 1his,
added TO the agitation OF Opening the city
| TO foreigners, may account for disturbances,
| although, as already stated, the TACT that
disturbances have occurred is not Known TO
| the Chinese officials here. Ii is said that
| Wu Chang, the place TO which a French
ship has been sent, is another large Interior
| town on the river Yang-Tse- Kian. The river
/ affords inland navigation to large vessels up
| TO Wu-Chang. but II is unnavieaOle iurther
/ up 1t is probable, therefore. that the
/ French ship goes TO Wu-chang, as IL is the
| furthest western point reached by naNiga-
/ tion and is on the way 10 the remoter point
of Cheng-Tu. At the French legation no in
/ formation had been received concerning the
reported massacre. The French emoassa-
/ dor, NJ. Patenotre, who represented his gov
! eminent at Peking some ten years ago. ana
/ who negotiated the treaty by which Ioilquin
became a French province, expressed his
I Of he
the Chinese were intercepting dispatches
bearing on the alleged massacre When he
was in China ten years ago he said dis
| patches were never Intercepted. and he al
/ ways had free communication both with his
/ French fleet. He says it is possible for
French gunboat 10 go up the lang-lse-
Kiang river, which is navigabie as Tar as
/ Hankow. Minister PatenOtre. by referring
/ to some documents at the legation, ascer-
/ tanned that there were about one hundred
snur We're French and twenty-five Italian.
/ Concerning the number or Protestant mis-
sions he had no specific knowledge. The
number OF missionaries at a post varies
! from two or three TO ten or more.
The British ambassador and all his secre-
| taries are away on their vacations. so tnat
| no information is available as 10 the mis-
sions in China 1t is said. however. that
they are extensive, and that many English
women have gone into western thlna Win
/ the special purpose of overcoming the prac-
tice in some sections OF throwing babes in
! the rivers as part Of the religious rites.
/ The State Department has received no dis
matches from Minister DENLY or other Of
I ficials in China regarding the reported mis-
J sIonary massacre at Chcng-Tu. There are
no records at the State Department snow
! ing the number OF missionaries al Cheng-
Tu- There is telegraph line to Cheng-Iu.
! and the State Department officials think
/ there should be no difficulty in learning all
| the facts in the case. and as no report or
/ the massacre had been received by the de-
j partment, ii was thought the outrage may
have consisted of the destruction Of proper
| ty only, and not have resulted in the death
| of any Of the missionaries. IL Il said at
the State Department that II the Cheng-1u
mentioned in the dispatches IS the point on
the langtse kiang IL is probable thdt tnere
are five or six Protestant missionaries and
two three Catholic missionaries at The
place.
This afternoon State Department officials
after investigating the reports. said they
/ thought an error had been made in the
transmission OF the name or the place
where the massacre Is said To have oc-
/ Cured. II is believed that this name IN
stead OF Cheng-Tu. should be Chang-Te,
the capital of Human In this place there
/ are a number OF foreign missionaries ana
the anti-foreign feeling is very strong
In 1893 there were threatened demonstra-
tions by the people and the missOnaries
/ were kept for some time in state OF
! terrorism BY the display OF placards
abusing ''the foreign devils" and warning
the natives against affiliation with them
The condition OF affairs was regarded by
United States Minister DENLY as grave
enough TO warrant representations 10 the
/ Chinese government and the facts were
I made the subject OF several reports from
the minister 10 the State Department.
Chang-Te f. accessible 10 small gun boats
and British ship visited the neigh
borhood several years ago.