The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-18
MASSACRE IN FORMOSA
THIRTY UNARMED VILLAGERS SLAIN
BIZ HEAD HUNTERS.
Mountain Explored and Cannibals
Found-Aggressions by Europeans
in China-Brftish Occupy n Town.

VANCOUVER, b. c., May I7.-Formosa
advices by the steamer Empress OF India
give details of a terrible massacre in the
vicinity of Taiko. a town In the central dis
trict. Thirty unarmed villagers were am
pushed by about sixty savages, who killed
twenty-nine of them. Only one escaped.
The cause of the massacre Is said to have
been a dispute between savage tribes over
the paternity of an illegitimate child and the
death of it's mother. The reputed father Of
the child denied the charge and refused to
make compensation to the tribe to which
the girl belonged An appeal to head unit
ing was the only way by which the injured
tribe could prove its righteousness to it's
ancestors. After the massacre the sayages
INDUCED in a feast. at which the heads Of
the murdered villagers were c-onspicuously
displayed.
The steamship also brings news Of the
ascent for the first time of Mount Morri-
son. the highest mountain in Formosa, by
Stoepel. the explorer of the Pic of Orizaba
in Mexico. Many previous attempts had
failed. Stoepel says the heat was terrific
and he narrowly escaped death from wild
animals and men. He found on the noun
tain a strange tribe of maneaterS hitherto
unknown to exist. The people are evidently
VI Xudidydll OlioHA AZ ALI
known race. They have never communi-
Gated with the Chinese. They are skull
hunters, and cannibalism was actually wit
messed by Stoepel, who saw the progress
OF a feast while hiding close by In the I'M
derbruSh.
Advices from China say that country will
resist further aggression by the powers.
That China intenos TO oppose the advance
OF Germany in the north is shown by the
fact that recently orders were sent to the
AtQ ndQ rims anA I0OfQnS of all districts and
provinces ordering them TO concentrate
what lighting men they could and prepare
for war. The arSenalS have been ordered
TO push forward the manufacture OF arms
and ammunition with all haste A late edict
places Viceroy Ii in charge OF the people.
reports. IS getting ready for an emergency.
Trouble has occurred recently In Snan-
Tung and German missionaries nave been
to punish the natives, burning villages and
gradually pushing her way inward until
very shortly she will nave possession of the
whole province. The Kobe Herald says that
the German plan is to establish a German
kingdom with Prince Henry ruler, as
previously stated in Picking dispatches.
An unknown American was arrested at
Balkan for having pictures OF the neighbor-
hood in his possession. An inquiry was In
pr 1ts Re su wn g 5he em GmPriiS nsn sarlGa Chinese
that a secret treaty has been signet where
by Japan promises the ai6 of troops in
China should German seize Shan-Tung.
The Russians are prosecuting work night
and day at Port Arthur. The harbor has
been dredged to accommodate ships draw
ing twenty feet Of water.
Major Brown. a British officer, who has
returned to Hong-Kong. says the trouble
with the Chinese in the hinterland is mainly
due to the fear of the Chinese that the
British government Will prohibit the SNUG
Cling of salt TO Canton. a practice in which
many are engaged. The rich class is not
opposing the British.
Japanese Buddhist priests who are prose
lyting in Annoy nave already made over
1000 converts. Two japanese engineers sur
veying in Annoy were set upon by Roman
Catholic natives, dragged to q Catholic
Church and treated with indignity In the
| presence of a Spanish padre.
An urgent telegram has been received
from Governor Jao, of Kashgaria, stating
that Russian emissaries have been caught
smuggling firearms to the Mohammedan
rebels. The governor asks for 1900 men.