The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-09
A BAD SITUATION
Chinese Mobs Appear Determined TO
Clean Out Missions.
THE STORY OF MISS HARTFORD
Concerning the Massacre OF
Aug. at Hwasang.
THE STORY OF MISS HARTFORD

n,
World from Foo Chow, China, says: A
mob has Just looted the American mission
chapel mt Inghok, 30 miles from here.
Unless prompt, effective action Is taken,
there Is danger Of great riots In other
places.
The Chinese soldiers sent TO Ku-Cheng
20 protect foreigners property plundered
the Stewart residence. No American gun
boat has come here. The situation Is
critical.
An official, on his way TO this city from
Ku-Cheng, was killed yesterday. The
anxiety is increasing There Is no Amer
lean protection.
The evidence already obtained shows
that the massacre at Hwasang was
planned at least week beforehand.
The foreign consuls have the names OF
the leaders in IL and some OF the partici-
pants An official OF Foo-Chow sent 2l0
soldiers into that section on July "A, to
prevent the Vegetarians from numbering
the Chinese.
The Vegetarians thought the mission
aries had caused the troops 10 be sent, and
decided TO kill them. They began i'm
mediately TO gather at n certain designated
place. In passing through the villages on
their way 20 the rendezvous the Veg
etarians publicly declared their intention
10 destroy the churches and to kill the
Christians.
The local officials knew of this, 1but
they did nothing TO protect or even 10
warn the foreigners The night before
the massacre, n native pastor in the city OF
KuCheng heard the Vegetarians were GO
ing TO kill the foreigners on the morrow.
TT q Afr Gtntx
art at Hwasang, but delayed sending IL
until daylight. The messenger arrived
half an hour too late. DIR. Gregory was in
the city OF Ku-Cheng at the time, but he
was not notified. The foreigners had no
suspicion Of the inte nded slaughter.
Miss Hartford's story.
The statement of lass Mabel G. II.
Hartford, the only American at Hwasang
at tho time OF the massacre, Is as follows:
"Aug. 1, at 1880 n. m, / heard shouts.
They were the yells of servants, who rushed
in shouting to me to get up, for the Vege-
tarians were coming, tearing down the
houses on the hill belonging 10 the Eng
lish mission.
"a few minutes later teacher came to
my door and told me TO run. / put on
my clothes and rushed to the door. was
met by man with trident spear, who
yelled: Here is foreign woman He
pointed the spear at my chest. twisted
II to one side, and il just grazed my ear
and head He threw me 10 the ground
and beat me with the wooden end of the
spear. A servant came and wrenched the
spear away, and / ran along the road.
All this time the yells went on, and two
houses were burning 10 the ground.
Aa ,nc a,
went home TO find Miss Codrington much
cut about the head and beaten all over;
Mildred Stewart, IL years of age, the knee
cut, and bleeding very hard; Herbert
Stewart, years of age, cut on the head,
and almost dead; Baby Stewart, with one
eye black and swollen; the second Stewart
| girl, Kathleen. IL years of age, with the
| second boy, Evan, 3 years of age, were
beaten and pierced with spear, but not
seriously injured.
"Mr Phillips of the English mission,
who lived some distance away, escaped all
| injuries, only arriving in time 10 see the
bodies of the dead and hear the Vege-
| tarians say: We have killed all the for
eigners.
Mr.. Phillips went TO the ruins and
found nine bodies five not burned and
! four burned so as not to be recognizable
--R. j. Stewart and his wife, a nurse from
Ireland called Lena, Nellie Saunders and
Topsy Saunders of Australia, Hessie New
combe of Ireland. Elsie Marshall and
Lucy Stewart of England, and Annie Cor
don of Australia. The first four were
burned beyond recognition.
"Topsy ran out OF the house and was
killed outside. Hessie was thrown down
the embankment, with her head nearly
severed from her shoulders. Hannah Cor
don's head was also nearly cut off. Her
bert died on Aug. 2.
"Uong, the KuCheng magistrate, came
TO Hwasang Friday afternoon, Aug. 2,
with 100 soldiers He viewed the bodies,
saw the injured, inquired the names of
all the places of the injured and made out
an account. He did what he could to help
us TO get off 10 Suikow.