Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-09-04

Philadelphia. September "a letter
has been received by the Rev. +. S.
Dobbins. in charge of the Baptist Mis-
sionary Board in this city, from the
Rev. w. NJ. Upcraft at Hankow, China.
He also sent a newspaper called the
Celestial Empire, published in Shang-
hal, which contains a full account OF
the recent riots in the SZe Chuan pro-
vince. which caused the entire suspen-
sion of the work OF the West China
Mission.
Mr.. UpcraftI is in charge Of the mis-
sion there, number of whose workers
are from this city. In his letter, Mr.
Upcraft states that the trouble began
in Chen Tu, the capitol of the province,
Oh May %. Three Protestant mission
airy societies are located there. The
first warning of trouble was the post
ing of placard in several places OF the
city, reading as follows:
Notice is hereby given that at pres
ent foreign barbarians are hiring evil
characters to steal small children that
they may extract oil from them for
their use. / have a female servant
named Ii who has personally seen this
done. | therefore exhort you good peo-
pie not to allow your children to go out.
| hope you will act in accordance with
this"
This was soon followed by an at
tack by a mob on the Canadian Meth
odist mission, which was destroyed.
The stations of the Baptist Mission
ary Union in Sechuan were at Sulchau-
fu Kiating and Yachau The first
trouble was at Kiating, which was near
est to Chentu, where the riots began.
On that day the streets were full OF
people, who at first seemed peaceable,
but became more aggressive and began
to loot the mission houses. A magis-
trate of Yachau aided the missionaries
to escape down the river on raft.
guard of soldiers was sent with them.
They had trouble at several places on
the river but went safely past, and the
missionaries all finally reached Sui
chaufu on Sunday, June 8.
Mr.. Beaman, OF the Kiating mission,
who had remained behind IN small
boat. hoping to be of service to Yachau
friends who might come down in boats,
| had q thrilling experience. During the
night he was attacked by band of rob-
bers. who stripped him Of everything
he had. clothes and all. When the
robbers came on his boat below Sui
chaufu, he jumped overheard and dived
under the boat, remaining hid for some
time. The robbers prodded the water
with spears to find him, and he was at
last drawn back on the boata His life
appeared in imminent danger, and sew
eral wished TO kill him, but the leader OF
the gang was satisfied when he found
the money and finally, by the kindness
of the boatman, Mr.. Beaman got away.
After many of the most thrilling es-
capes, the party, consisting OF Mr.. Hill,
his wife's boy, Miss Bliss, Mr.. Salqulst,
Mr.. Viking. his wife's baby and Mr. Up-
craft, arrived at HankOw.
In speaking Of their position, Mr.. Up
craft says:
Our work is broken up and posses
sions left to the pleasure of rioters. We
were eleven days going to Ischang. De-
layed by wind and rain, and in constan4
fear of destruction from swording
whirling pools and angry rapids. Our
women were true heroines. They stood
the trial very nobly. After the long
strain reaction must set in. While our
own experience with the Chinese Off
cials has yet no ground for complaint,
in other places IL is different. Many
think that our present degraded Viceroy
Is at the bottom of the whole thing. II
was a systematic scheme to free the pro-
vince of foreigners"