The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-12
IGNORANCE.
Probably Responsible For Killing OF
Christians In China
A MIsSloNARrS SELF.SACRlFIcE
Miss Hartford Shown to Be a
True Heroine.

BOSTON, Aug. 12.-The Standard today
prints an exhaustive interview with Miss
Clara NJ. Cushman Of Dedham concern
ing the missionary situation In China.
Miss Cushman was for seven years
missionary at Pekin, having been sent by
the same society as that under whose aus
pices Miss Hartford has been working at
Ku-Cheng
In this Interview Miss Cushman asserts
belief that the latest massacrcs may be
one Of the results of tho recent war be-
tween China and Japan. Ku-Cheng Is
many hundred miles from the central gov
ernment at Pekin, and 1t is probable that
the people had only rumors OF the trouble,
aud SO got all sorts of stories, some of
whioh may have started the trouble.
"The uninformod Chinese" Miss Cush-
man continued. 'bclicve that the foreign
missionaries cut out the eyes and hearts
OF the natives 20 use as medicine. They
are quick to accept any story they hear, so
t.st the foreigners there can never tell
when mob will come upon them"
Miss Cushmau thus describes ku-
Cheng: "Ku-Cheng Is quite distance
from Foo Chow, up the Min river. 1t is a
walled city of about 10000 inhabitants,
and has the reputation OF being very
neat and clean city. Miss Hartford has
as an assistant, Miss Wilmina III. Rouse OF
Minnesota, who was probably not In the
massacre, as her name is not mentioned.
"The missionary society of the M. T..
church has two other missionaries at Ku-
Cheng, Rev. H. O. Wilcox, presiding elder
of Ku-Cheng district, and DIR. j. j. Greg
ory, Ina charge of Wiley hospital. The only
h,ti hx, h.. Mafh "A a. IA
chapel valued at $500, in which tho aver
age attendance at Sunday worship last
year was 2so Their homes, schools and
hospital are In hired houses, which fact
may have saved both buildings aud in
mates from the fate Of tho English mis-
sionaries and their buildings"
About Miss Hartford.
Miss Cushman, being In position TO
speak of Miss Hartford, who so narrowly
escaped death at the hands Of the vegc-
tarians, through personal acquaintance,
says Of her: miss Hartford was sent 10
Ku-Cheng in 1887 by the Women's Foreign
Missionary society OF the Methodist Epis-
copal church She was at that time a
very popular teacher I'm the public schools
of Dover, n. II. She has no father,
mother, brother or sister living, but is en-
tirely devoted to her work.
Although the fve-year term for which
she went has expired. she has steadily re.
fused to accept the vacation, with privi-
lege Of visiting America, saying that she
preferred To stay in China with the work
and finally die there. But because of i'll
health and need Of rest she had almost
made up her mind to take the needed
vacation when the troubles came on
Mrs. Alderman of HYDE Park, tho CORE
spending secretary Of the New England
branch of the society, has written TO hor
advising her to take this opportunity
while the country is settling down again
to come 20 America
"Miss Hartford is In charge Of tho Ku
Cheng. district Of tho Foo Chow woman
conference. Her report to tho last annua
conference showed in the Ku- -Cheng dis
trict one boarding school. with an enroll
ment of A.; IA day schools, with an ON
rollment of 200 scholars, and one Bibl,
training school. with m enrolment of %
Miss Althea NJ. Todd of this city Is nov
under appointment to join Miss Hartford
at Ku-Cheng, and was expected to leav
in about a month
"That trouble has long been brewing
seems proven by part of letter received
by Mrs. Alderman from Miss Hartford.
Is dated at Foo-Chow, May 2, and says:
was obligsd to close the jwomen's an,
girls schools April 8, on account of fear
of local instructions The English mis-
sion closed their schools two weeks earlier
but had hoped matters might clear up
and so held on. At last 1 found could
not stand out alone any longer. Evcryon
thought the schools ought TO be closed, s.
yielded. Then was sick so when DR.
Gregory urged me to come to Foo-Choy
and have a rest, 1 came"
Miss Cushman thinks the criticism
made of United States Minister DENLY ar
unjust. rs, during her residence in Pekiu
he had been very careful to protect tn
missionaries rights; was on friendly term
with them sll, and they esteemed hin