Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-02
FEROCI0US
BLACK FLAGS.
Dreaded by Chinese and
"Foreign Devils" =.
Alike.
THEY'RE IN REVOLT AGAIN
In Fomosa They Co Head
Hunting As Our Indians
Roam About for
Scalps
THEY'RE IN REVOLT AGAIN

Dispatches from China tell OF the
revolt of the Black Flags in the south
arm provinces, and the effect Of these,
sxnd other interior rebeliions, added to
,the assaults of Europe Oh the mari
ffme provinces, bodies Ill for the Chi
nase dynasty and the integrity Of the
Chinese Empire. When the tide of
the China-Japan war turned agains.
che Celestial Kingdom, rioters rose all
over the empire, including the island
at EOrmosa, where, for year, tine
REaek Flags gave trouble to the victo-
:rtouS laps. After while these revolts
'werc put down, but, with the tdinss
.Sf German and other incursions on
the shore OF the empire, the rebels
have risen again.
Threaded more than all the others are
fnces. Quang Sc is the southermcst
Jrovince Of China, and lies directly
north of TonGuin. Quang Tung Dor
ders the South Sea, and lies east Of
xluaDg Sc. In these two provinces,
and in the island of Formosa, north
-east OF Quang Tung, the Black Flags
. have their homes. Until after the
China-Japan war was over, and China
wis whipped, the Black Flags on the
mainland did not figure much, except
as rioters. But in Formosa, which
passed at that time into the possession
af the Japanese. there was a long and
hard fight with them.
THE Black Flags are the most des-
geEate of the survivors of the Tai
Ping rebellion. which General Gordon
gut down, earning for himself the
uane of Chinese Gordon. which
stuck to him to the day of his death
En iliaartoum. They are guerrillas, ~
whom the Chinese Government can
piaSse little dependence. When France
faegsnt to war with Tonquin, twenty-five
years ago, Involving China, most of
TIRE Black Flags stuck by China.
enough some of them, called afterward
fac Yellow Flags split from the main
body, having been bought by the
Erench- ~r.ose arms they support
sd..
~E.n 1873 the Black Flags aided IN
6srcfng the French from Hanoi, and
undcr Liu-Yung-Fu, their leader, they
iSsScnted the French under GARNER,
GiyIing that officer. In 1882 they used
ON the French expedition Of Riviere,
kuling that officer also. In 1884 they
Esstroyed the French missions, massa-
cring 10000 men, women and children.
At that time the Black Flags are esti-
uzzeed to have numbered 5000, and
the yellow Flags, peaceful then are
sxHId TO have been twice as strong
,Hfnce then their numbers have been
Srsyt Mt fabulous figures, some state
Yuseufs giving them from l5O,ooo to
100. 600 fighting men. Their leader in
xaS5. when the French finally got the
uya,er hand, was Watsong, one Of Tai
9Sug Wings lieutenants. The Yellow
Egacs were under Chief Iwang-Tsong
Nm. The principal settlement OF the
gssack Flags was at Laokai, on Red
xsiyer. while the Yellow Flags had
tEesar principal settlement at Hagiang,
EnSsher east.
Hhe Black Flags Of Formosa, whose
characteristics are like the Black
EEags of the mainland are described
In George Leslie Mackny's book
*Erum Far Formosa," published by
Raveu. The insular Black Flags are
head hunters, which pursuit they fol
fnw with passionate greed. Our NORTH
American Indians are content II the!
can bring back the scalp Of the enc
my. but nothing other than the whole
mead satisfies the Formosa Blacl
EysCs. The savages held the isianl
fkcfore the coming Of the Chinaman
md the conqueror took possession II