The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-04-11
TALES OF PLUCK
ApD ADVENTURE.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Valiant Fight of Missionary.

Details OF the murder Of the Rev.
NIr. Fleming, an American missionary
serving with the China Inland Mission,
have just been received in a letter from
a brother missionary at Chung King.
4 frenzied mob was not responsible
for Mr.. Flemi1g's death, but the deed
was planned deliberately and with the
counivance of some high officials. Mr..
Fleming died & hero and under cir
cumstances that would have appalled,
the brayest o& men. Single-handed
and practically unarmed, he went to
the aid of his native helper. He
forght 100 mon armed with heavy
cavalry swords until he was hacked to
pieces. He had chance to escape,
but his loyalty to the native mission
airy was 50 great that he would not
embrace it.
Murders of foreigners by frenzied
mobs we are, if I may say so, used
to-" begins the missionary in writing
regarding the Fleming case, "but it
is something new to us to hear Of such
a cold-blooded aud successful attempt
as this. It augurs little for the safety
of those who may be travelling in the
interior.
"Ihe scene OF the murder was out
side the village Of Tsungauchang,
forty Ii from Paughi, on the Kuei
yaugfu road. 1Ir. Fleming was bound
on a mission tour to the interior when
he learned of the illness Of the Rev.
Mr.. Bottom at Panghai-a place con-
sistiug of two villages divided by
river and occupied by Chinese AMI
aborigines, respectively. Mr.. Flem-
ing relieved Mr.. Bottom aud later
went on another trip further inland.
son his return he found the Chi
nese village had been burned by rob-
bers. Until the first of November he
noticed no hostility toward himself.
At that time military official, Liu,
arrived with number of soldiers,
surrounded the mission, and, after
doing much damage, searched the
house fer firearms. They found moth
ing and finally went away.
''Mr. Fleming then appealed to the
military authorities, but was unable
to gain an audience. Then he tried
to escape to Kueiyang with the native
evangelist and Dr.. Pan, schoolmas-
ter. They rode on mission mule
while the natives followed. They
reached Tsunganchang about noon,
and, as they lad noticed no one fol.
lowing them, rested for an hour.
"They had no sooner resumed the
main road for Kueiyang when they
saw large number of men following
them, ell heavily armed. Half a mile
away from the village the evangelist
was attacked, having fallen little be-
hind the rest to see what the men
wanted. Mr.. Fleming ut once dis
mounted and went back TO the evange-
lists aid.
"Before the minister could reach
the scene Of trouble the leaders sword
had been buried in the e7angelist's
head, killing him instantly. Mr.. Elem
ing never hesitated, but, dodging
blow from the leaders sword, closed
with him. The men struggled for
minute, when the Chinaman's compan-
ions came at them with cries of Kill!
kill!' The minister wrenched the
sword loose and slashed valiantly at
the yellow horde, all of whom were
striking at him with knives and
swords. He could not last long against
such terrible odds. Finally be
dropped, wounded in dozen places.
Then the fends fell upon him in earn
est. They hacked the body into
shreds and later mutilated the body
of thessevangelist.
''Dr. Pan ran for his life and sue
ceeded III escaping. After many ad-
ventures and marrow escapes he
reached Kueiyang.
'':rhe military officials. Of course,
have their story. Tt is that Liu offered
Mr.. Fleming al escort, which was re-
fused; consequently he was killed by
the rebels. Mr.. Fleming never met
Liu and did not get his offer. Liu left
the village secretly, and there are no
rebels in the place"