The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
INTO THE HEART OF CHINA.
EXPERIENCES OF THE BRICE sYyDI-
CATE SURVEYING PARTY.

tinl Empire Said Never to Have Been
Trod Before by Foreignors-w. Kirkpat-
rick Brico, who Was Ono of tho Party,
Tells of tho Difficulties and Dangers of
tho Expedition-Tho Opening Up of China,
He says, VIII Offer Vast Possibilities
". Kirkpa Brice. son OF the late Senator
Calvin s. Brice. has Just returned from Jour-
ney through the centre OF China. He was
member OF a survey party sent out by the syn
dictate formed by his father year ago and with
II made an overland journey from Hankow. the
great commercial city OF the valley OF the Yang
tse kiang. to Canton, on the southern coast.
He was seventy-sevon days en- route and pene-
tratcd country which has ever been closed to
the white man. 1t was freely predicted that he
and his companions would either fail to accom-
plIsh their purpose or would never return from
their mission alive. but those who ventured
the dire prophecy reckoned without American
pluck and determination. There was OPP
position. but 1t was brushed aside and
safety was found in the very daring OF the
methods that were adopted. Brice is typical
young American. After his graduation from
Harvard he started on journey around the
world The outbreak Of the war found him at
Hong Kong and he promptly cabed an offer OF
his services to Washington. He at once re-
ceived commission and was assigned to the
staff OF Gen. Anderson. who had then been
selected to lead the first expedition to the
Philippines Brce went to Cavite in June and
was the first American soldier to roach there
He served In the operations against Manila
and at the end OF hostilites with Spain resigned
from the army and returned to China. where.
In Decembe he Joined the survey expedition
being equipped under the direction OF his
father. His narrative OF his adventures in
China follows:
Il was a member OF the party intrusted
with the work Of making the preliminary sur
vey Of the Yueh- Han Railway from Hankow to
Canton. projected by the Brice syndicate which
was formed by my father. and for which e1-
tensive concessions had been obtained from
the Chinese Government We entered the
country at Shanghai. and. after penetrating the
interior in a westerly direction for a distance
OF $50 miles. turned to the south at Hankow.
where our actual work began. and travelled
overland down through the centre OF
the empire to Canton, a distance OF
80 miles. We regained the coast at
Hong Kong after journey OF 1.4OO miles. that
was interesting at every step and filled with
more adventure than usually falls to the lot OF
the traveller who goes to the Far East. China.
with its vast fields OF UNEMPLOYED country. its
densely popuous interior provinces that have
been locked to the explorer and trader. its
cal Importance the contention OF Europe.
which has learned it's marvellous COM
mercial opportunities. it's peculiar civiliza-
ton that stopped centuries ago. and it's
strange people, holds fascination for
the Investigator. and priced the chance that
came to me to see 1t. The perfection OF trans
portation and the intrepidity OF the explorer
are making the world smaller these days and
the opportunity OF visiting places that no white
man ever saw before is privilege. The aver
age globe trotter who goes to China these days
slips along the coast or takes a run up the
rivers and let's It go at that but when the rail-
ways are built will come the real chance to see
the country. Since a railway has been built to
the city OF Pekin the number OF Europeans
and Americans who visit the capital has
largely increased
Our party was headed by Mr.. William Bar
clay Parsons. we'll known in connection with
the Rapid Transit Commission OF New York.
and included r. G. Hunt civil engineer: Z. c.
Coulter OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway;
H. b. Mayer. a civil engineer: Charles DENLY.
Jr. son Of Charles DENLY Of the Philippine
Peace Commission and formerly United States
Minister to China. who acted as our inter-
prefer: William S. K Wetmore. son Of Senator
Wetmore OF Rhode Island: DR.. Jellison. a mis-
sionary doctor Of Marking: Capt. W. W. Rich
an American connected with the Chinese I'm
pera Railways Department. and myself Mr..
Parsons decided to make the Journey and sur
vey in the winter. as 1t was thought best to
avoid the extreme heat of the summer season.
and also because the rivers are low dur
Ing the winter. Our expedition was organ
lied at Shanghai. and was given every
possible assistance by the Chinese Govern
ment. Sheng Tajen. chief OF the Chinese i'm
perial railway service. detailed two young Chi
nese mandarins to accompany US. and they.
with Capt. Rich. were the representatives OF
the Government in our party. Their presence
when we penetrated the untravelled country
greatly facilitated our work. Their names
were Woo and Lo. and they were both most
interesting fellows During one OF China's
progressive periods Woo and 10 were selected
with number OF other young men for foreign
education at governmental expense. They
were sent to the United States and educated at
the Troy Polytechnic Institute. Woo resided
here for fifteen years and 10 for several years.
They both prohted excellently by their Amer
lean training; in fact, they had our point OF
view. and Woo still retains the slang OF his
American days.
Our outfit. besides personal baggage,and in
struments. consisted OF light bamboo BEDS
bedding with waterproof covering. big sup
ply OF timed meat. milk and vegetables. q lib
eral quantity OF mineral water and filters
CODhluR oulHt anu pudutIIS VI huIeIlCdIl anu
French wines. which we took along to present
10 the Magistrates and local officials Most Of
our arrangements were made at Shanghai.
where we engaged our servants. but II was at
Hankow whore the details OF organization
were completed. The journey up the great
Yang tse -Klang from Shanghai to Hankow is
easy as trip on the Mississippi.
and can be accomplished with the same
comfort. We travelled on steamers OF
American build commanded by American
officers. 1t is trip that consumes four days.
and my inclination was to remain on deck con-
stantly. The river is very broad at the mouth
and the land on either side is very low lying.
Often the land cannot be- seen. As is we'll
known the river is slow moving and very
muddy. Among the most interesting places
along the river are Ching kiang, from which a
railway to Tien -Tsn Ia projected. Hawking. a
walled city that Was formerly capital OF the
Empire, WI HUI. noted locally among the
foreign population as hunting ground.
and Kiu-KianG. famed for its potteries.
As you ascend the river the country