The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-31
AFRAID OF FOREIGNERS.
An Illustration Of the lnflammability Of
OF the Lower Orders In China...Ex-
citement at Foo Chow.

Toxic. Japan, Aug. u, via San Fran
disco, Aug. S0.-(Correspondence of the
United Associated Presses.)
An extraordinary instance of the
readily excited anti-foreign inflammabil-
ity of the lower orders in china has
Just occurred at Foo Choow. ON the
18th of July some foreigners. accom-
plnied by their servants, vent for q
short excursion from that city, anc.
arriving at the temple of tie Goddess
of Mercy, in the suburbs, anteicd INTO
conversation with the abbeos as to the
meaning of some votive bags suspended
in the temple. The abbcGs explained
that the bags contained the names Of
chi'6ren, who, on being at'ackei by
smallpox, were brought to -he temple
and offered at the altar of the Goddess.
after which ceremony-sup2os 2osei to save
their lives-they were taken away. the
bags containing their names being LETT
in their stead. While this conversation
was going on a crowd of children col
lected outside and began crying out
foreign devil" The foreigners took no
notice, but their servants rebuked the
children, telling them if they did not
desist the foreigners would catch them
The children ran off in alarm and re-
ported to their parents that foreigners
had come to seize and carry them Oft
a panic quickly ensued. The alarm was
given and amid the beating of Songs,
a large number of peasants and rowdies
variously armed, began to assemble for
the purpose of attacking the foreigners
in the nunnery. Fortunately the elders
of the place succeeded in Quieting the
tumult and the foreigners got home
without any knowledge of the fate they
had so barely escaped.
But the train had been fired. Rumors
were quickly spread that the foreigners,
then engaged in building at Ching Yang
wanted a number of children to bury at
the foundation of the new house, the
ground being unconveniently situated
they were also about to steal the name
bags in the temple to be used as charms.
A general stampede of children and fam
lilies took place, some flying from Foo
Chow and others running to 1t for re-
fuge. Some boats arriving at place
fifteen miles down the river were seen
to be manned by persons wearing light
Jackets and japanese made straWs also
These were mistaken for foreigners
come to seize the name bags in the
temple at the place and a rush was
made for the temple. The priests, clos
ing the doors in apprehension of riot,
were accused of having been bribed by
.te foreigners, and IN the sequel the
temple doors were broken, the priests
badly beaten and all the name bags
recovered by the people who then start
ed enmasse for Foo Chow. The man.
darins are said to have made no at
tempt to allay these absurd suspicious.
The story constitutes striking COM
mentary of the ideas entertained about
foreis1er by the lower orders In China.
Everywhere the theory seems to pre-
vail that Chinese children are special
objects of foreign fe 'ocity. men re-
Gently arrested in Human for killing a
child, confessed under the Bamboo tor
ture, that he had been hired by for
eigners. Had the magistrate taken him
at his word the missionaries in the
neighborhood would probably have been
murdered. But a turtle" application or
the bamboo induced the man to with
draw his confession.