Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-04
MISSION STATIONS GUARDED
How Catholics In kiang-Nan Pre-
pare For the Boxers.


How Catholics In kiang-Nan Pre-
pare For the Boxers.
The Rev. c. Erin. S. J.. of the Cath
Ollie mission OF KiangNan, where there
is now danger from the Boxers. has
written an account of how the mem
bers of his community meet all attacks
of the natives, says the New York
Tribune. He says:
Those sections OF our mission which
border on southern Changtung are no
less infested with bands of robbers and
murdererS than Changtung itself.
These brigands organize in regular
companies under supreme chief and
subordinate leaders. They live togeth-
er in villages and districts, which be-
come their headquarters. At ordinary
times they attend TO their usual work
at home and in the fields and behave
TO all appearances like peaceful citi-
Zens. But suddenly an order comes
TO take the field, and then they march
forth in a body, impose contributions
on other villages. burn and even kill
without scruple. If they have a srudge
against some mandarin, they assemble
in sufficient numbers to form Il large
all NY anu stlC IOl saiIIltl 10 hSHI pitCll-
ed battles with the troops sent out
against them. 1t is not hard to see
how much trouble such men can give
and indeed do give to the missionaries.
But the missionaries on their side
have devised Il plan for protecting
themselves and their Christians which
is not the least of their successes in
China. As soon as the Inhabitants of
some village have been converted the
fathers, while attending to the duties
of their apostolic ministry. see that the
men are thoroughly drilled and taught
TO watch the enemy and defend them
selves i'll case of necessity. The man
darinS look with favor on these meas
ures, which are of great assistance to
them, and they are always ready to
send re-enfOrccmcntS of soldiers when
notified of threatened attack. Thus
it happens that when the marauders
FALL upon n Christian village they are
greeted with sharp fire of guns and
cannon and are generally beaten back
with heavy losses.
ITO get Il true idea of one of our mis-
sion centerS in the districts which the
robber bands have hitherto terrorized
Christian village as a small stronghold
fortified at every point of vantage. In
the center of the village stands the res
idelce of the commander, who is none
other than the missionary. This resi-
dence is 4 regular citadel surrounded
by high walls and tianked at its cor
nerS by four towers well fortified also.
There are no doors. The going in and
out is effected by means of ladders
which are each time drawn back with
i'll. During the day the father attends
to his duties and the Chinese to their
work. At nightfall every one is ut
home again, and if danger has been
Signaled they all retire within the fort,
sentries being appointed to keep watch
from the towers. At the first cry of
alarm the men are up in arms, and the
father directs the defense. If the enc
my has been reported in larger num-
berS than usual. the missionary has
taken care to ask the mandarin for adj
ditiOnal help and is therefore we'll pre-
pared To repulsc the assailants. AS Il
result of these measures the DrigandS
become. little by little, discouraged and
leave the Christian villages unmolest-
ed, while the missionaries win for
themselves the love of the neOphytes,
the confidence of the public authorities
and popularity among the peacefully
inclined portion of the people,