The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-03-18
RAILROAD DEAL IN CHINA.
Big Concessions Obtained 10 Americans
Outbreak Against Missionaries.

sig Concessions Obtained 10 Americans
Outbreak Against Missionaries.
Now York. March 1.-THE special cor
respondent 81 the Herald IN ShgEg hal.
under recem date. says as follows A
great railroad deal has today been CON-
pletod by NJ. r. Jefferds. civil engtn ser.
OF Now York. He has secured the cen
tract for building the trunk railway from
Hankow To Pekin. distance di mOre
thHn MO- miles. allowing for the necessary
'detours. MIR. Jefferds. VINO represents
strong American and English syndica.e.
has guaranteed to raise ten out OF the
thirty millions OF taels required for the
work. which is TO be done by joint
stock company. at the head OF which is
the Tao-eal Hsu-yin- rsiang. who was
'deputed by the imperial highnesses
Princes Kung and Ching. to organize
and carry out the undertaking
IL Is understood that beyond giving the
concession to Hsu. the government will
have nothing to do with the railway.
which Is TO be n purely commercial AFFAIR.
Hsu Is "A Cantonese OF high standing.
Hts elder brother Is superintendent OF
the imperial granarles In Pekin. anc was
lately vice president OF the board of reve-
niue. The news that Mr.. JeelerdH had
won In This gigantic deal mas created ex-
citemout among the maHy railroad con-
tractors who have been working hard to
get into the scheme
Hsu leaves tonight for Canton. while
Mr.. Jencrds goes In the steamer which
carries thls TO make the necessary ar
rangemeuts. Hsu only arrived here,
with a large reunue. from Fekin. last
week. having Travelled overland. Since
'lN., snt "a h,s -
ing the deal with Mr.. Jefferds.
Yesterday afternoon letters reached
the American Presbyterian mission here
from the Rev. j. II. LaughnR. OF Tsin-
ing-chow. describing recent serious at
tack on the mission there by strong
band OF armed robbers. The bandits
appeared late one evening at the house
OF the Rev. II. X. Bent, in Tsining -ohow.
and demanded admittanoe. gatA-
keeper employed by Mr. Bent was shot
at aud wounded seriously. AIR. Dent
rushed out to the mans assistance. and
was shot rhrough the tlcshy par1 OF the
thigh. He was Knocked down, but man
aged TO regain his feet. only to be slashed
about with swords. none Of which. how
ever, appeau TO have inflicted any seriols
wNslnds. After desperate struggle he
kVi hNCgs dlAcT a run OF TWO miles
reached place Of safety in the city.
lAughlin. VINO came out OF the house
just as Mr.. Bent was getting away,
hastened back into the house and got
his wife and some ladies who were there
away. They escaped by means OF lad
der over back wall. nine feet high, into
the house OF a Chinese friend. who shell
tered them until the trouble was over.
The robbers also tried to enter the housA
of another OF the missionaries. DR.. Van
Schiock. who, however, repelled them
with a few charges from a shotgun with
out, we regret to say, killing or manning
any OF the miscreants. Mr.. Inughlin
appealed to the nearest magistrate,
about mile away, for assistance. but
the bandits got away before the military
appeared.
Mr. Bent's wound is progressing favor
ably, but the unfortunate gatekeepar
was more seriously hurt, and It is feared
the sight of one eye is destroyed. The
officials OF the district have behaved re-
markably well, issuing orders for the ar
rest OF the desperadoes and giving the
missionaries 100 taes for repairs to win
dows and furniture. Three or four men
have already been captured, but Mr..
Laughlin thinks that none OF the prison.
ers was actually concerned in the out
rage.