The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-27
Empress Dowager Determined to
Crush Boxers" Society.
REIGN OF TERROR IN INTERIOR.
Rev. Henry L.. Abbott, Who Has just
Returned From Shanghai, Tells OF
the Murderous Work of the High
binder Organization and the
Method. to he Employed to Stamp
1t Out-Large Cities Also Infested.

China viii at last make a vigorous effort
10 stamp out the Boxers" a secret So
ciety that for two years past has neen
engaged In a war against the government
numbering natives. missionaries and for-
eigners in general. The edict has gone
forth from Picking Armies are b2ing gain
cred and sent into the infested provinces.
Several OF the bloodthrsty leaders have
been arrested and thrown in jail to await
criminal prosecution, while officers are
now engaged in searching the city OF
Picking, hoping there TO bring TO light the
real heads of the organization. But the
end is not yet, and It remains to be seen
whether the attempt will be successful
Among the visitors at this city yester-
day was Rev Henry l.. Abbott, who for
three years past has had charge OF the
Methodist Missionary Society's mission
home at Shanghai He is en- route 10 Gin
cinnati. his former home TO spend
years vacation. He arrived at Nancou-
yer from China Tuesday. and en- route
home will spend several days with the So
cietys officers In Chicago.
il Is not probable that Mr.. Abbott VIII
ngain return TO his post. He is 81 years
of age and for a year or more has been
sn I'll health. He is very enthusiastic over
the work now being down In China by the
society He says a strong foothold has
been obtained, and that more converts are
being made every year.
Empress Ii Aroused.
az left China three weeks ago." he said
Yesterday II was in Picking a week before
my departure, and at the time an edict
was issued from the palace ordering the
army to rid the country of the Boxers
Society. China is not such bad country
as some travellers would have you believe.
1t is becoming rapidly civilized, which Is
the only thing IT needs to make a good
country.
wipe out the Boxers. but only resulted In
putting a few of the subordinate leaders
TO death. The real leaders were not mo-
Tested not because they were unknown but
pire was very hostile to the empress dow
aEsr on account OF the persecution Of the
young emperor.
.'Since that time the society has grown.
not alone in the interior but at Canton,
Picking. Shanghai. Hongkong and all the
large cities. There Is a mistaken idea re-
gsrding this organization. II Is hostile TO
foreigners especially those engaged In
Christian work and the advancement OF
civilization. II, is. however, founded on
her downfall Is really Its main object. 1t
IL not friendly to the young emperor. be-
cause OF his modern ideas. 1t has as Its
primary object the establishment OF new
dynasty
However. in the interior the society has
degenerated into an organization OF brig
ands. and much suffering. among mission
has resulted. AT the cities 1t has grown
until the present ruling power is in danger
and realizing this, the, first earnest effort
10 crush II out is to be made.
1.-THE provinces of Shensi and Chill,
along the great yellow river have felt
ths hand Of the Boxers most heavily. and
here the fighting strength of the Chinese
empire Will be concentrated and no mercy
ahown. When left Picking large armies
were being sent to these provinces. and
the current report was each was given or
ders TO spare nobody known TO be con-
hected with the society.
Bound by strong Oath.
although the government has had out
many hundreds of spies In an effort to
locate tho leaders. the bond OF secrecy Is
90 strong that little Information of any
real worth has been gathered. Nor has
the government any idea of the numerical
strength Of the organization. However. n
large sum OF money has been appropriated
for the crusade, which is on in earnest.
I'm the cities special details from the
army have been employed. and large
number of leaders have been brought up
and placed IN Jail The real leaders. how
ever IL is believed have escaped to the in
tsrlor. and the report OF a fierce battle
with the troops would not be surprising
news 10 Picking at any time
I'm the province OF Shensi and Chill
the hot bed of the order, a reign of terror
has existed for months. There Is no tell
ms how many persons have been muir
dercd, for in Shanghai ali sorts of re-
ports can be heard. We have no mis-
atoms In these provinces and therefore are
not sufferers. Two months ago II was re-
ported an entire village had been slaugh-
tered on account of some action taken by
the twosi, or city council. to which the
BOXERS object
"Native Catholics In these provinces
have been the greatest sufferers They
have been forced to flee to other districts
xheir houses have been looted and burned,
And no mercy has been shown them.
Foreign governments whose citizens
have suffered have been presenting claims,
4nd these. together with a fear for the
foture, have driven the empress dowager
20 resort TO the most forcbe means in her
power
In the provinces infested by the Box
ers' business has become demoralized and
the people are living In dread, not know
Ing themselves whether or not their next
door neighoor IS a member Of the society -
HEAII SIZES THE cry