The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
DISTURBANCES in CHINA
LETTER RECEIVED BY INDIANA
PEOPLE FROM FRIENDS THERE.
Bishop Cranston's Experimentation
Call of the Lowry Family
from sad Fate.

A short time ago all China was electri-
fed by the news that their Emperor, the
"Son of Heaven had been dethrcned, per-
haps murdered. Soon the news was singing
over the wires, and was read and com
mented upon as new topic of interest. To
a few only was it Of vital Importance,
chiefly those who had relatives or friends
in China. These waited anxiously for let
tiers, knowing the intensely superstitious
nature of the Chinaman. knowing also that
this same superstition, fed until it became
a fanatical frenzy, has been the root of all
previous outrages against foreigners. The
letters have come, and a glimpse behind
the scenes may interest those who have
been conjecturing on the fate of the young
Emperor, the cause of such STEP and the
possible outcome. The following are ex-
tracts from letter dated Picking, Oct. 2,
received by Upton, Ind, lady:
We are having troublous times over here.
All sorts of rumors are rife. We know not
what day may bring forth. Large crowds
throng the streets ready to be rude at the
least opportunity. Several foreigners,
French, British, Germans and some
Japanese, have been stoned and otherwise
maltreated. The several ministers have
unitedly demanded protection for their
countrymen, and have told the Chinese gov
eminent what to expect if such outrages
are continued. We are all in doubt as to
the true state of affairs but beyond a doubt
the Emperor has been dethroned, perhaps
murdered, and the old Empress dowager is
for the third time regent. Whether 1T is
merely an imperial family row, or there is
a deeper meaning, we know not. AS one
man laughingly expresses it, Maybe the old
lady has only spanked her little boy and
has stood him up in a corner" We all know
it to be true that the Emperors ideas are
much too advanced to suit the old lady and
all the other old fogies. The Emperor was
strongly proforeign; they propose to be Just
as strongly anti-foreign-a vain kick against
the pricks for the ''Westerner" has come to
stay, with his railroads, his telegraphs,
manufactures, science and gospel-hls ron
clads and his armies If need be. China is
stirring from her sleep of centuries, and the
moving current will but gather accumu-
lated force from every obstacle"
"A number of Americans were present
during the recent trouble over the EInper-
or's reinforcement, and at least four or
them will have a thrilling little story to
tell. This time the chief actors were two
college girls. The Misses Cranston were at
the time touring in China with their father,
Bishop Cranston of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, together with their mother and
a little sister. 1t was the feast day of
the eighth month. according to the Chinese
calendar. that they took the train for
Picking, whittier the bishop had preceded
them. Dr. Lowry was to meet them at
the Picking station with conveyances.
Crowds were thronging the streets, but no
one dreamed of trouble, and the doctor
took his little daughter with him. They
had not proceeded half the distance when
the mob surrounded them, and mud and
stones began to fly; amid curses and vitu-
perations against the 'Westerner.' Pluck
lily they pushed on, and met Mrs. Cranston
and the young ladies. Speedily they were
fro Mrc
to sedan chairs Miss Laura and Miss Ruth
to carts. one with DR.. Lowry. the other
with the doctors little daughter. Re
the mob by a short cut The Celes-
tails. however. were not thus easily to
be baked. In a short time they had headed
off the party. and i'm moment our Amer
leans were the center OF yelling rabble
of several thousand. Missiles flew thick and
fast the terrified chair-bearers set down
the chairs and, displaying true Chinese
characteristics, refused to move. The doc
tor went to the rescue. Many stories are
told of his true American pluck on similar
occasions and he proved himself quite equal
to this occasion. Selling pole he felled
the ringleaders of the mutineers with one
blow: the others, now more fearful OF the
foreign devil than of the mob, picked up
the chairs and went on. Meantime one
carter had sought safety in flight. and the
terrified mules were unnanageabie until lit
tie Miss Lowry crawled out ON the shafts
and got hold of the lines, actually sue
ceeding in guiding the e., animals The other
only Of himself drove madly, with Miss
Ruth alone. dashing over the uneven road,
tossing the girl from side to side of the
cart. bruising her severely against the
rough, wooden framework. Riding proper
Nv in a Chinese cart is an art and even to
an old hand it's no joke, Imagine then.
a novice in that line, driven at terrific
speed over those awful stone roads. grind
ing rolling, crashing from rut to rut-
r1lts worn in the solid stone by the traffic
Of centuries! Driven thus by frightened
carter going she knew not whittier was
this American girl frightened? When they
were all safe in the mission compound at
1ast-the doctor with a fractured rib his
daughter with swollen face, the glass in
the sedan chairs shattered and the hang
ings torn to ribbons. Scared? Well, a
little at first. I suppose: but / forgot all
about IT. longing to pull that crazy carter's
nneueN "