New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-04
MURDER OF MISSIONARIES.
TREACHERY OF CHINESE OFFICIALS
DETAILS OF oUTRAGEs.

Aien-Asins sept tSal francisco. Oct. IA
circunstantial narrative OF the in Shan
Sc Province has reached here through a native
christian teacher who escaped sid after re-
markaole journey through the country by foot
ana boat has arrived here. This man IS q grad
uate from the North China College He speaks
English huently, and absolute confidence IS placed
IN his statements by the American missionaries
mere His story confirms previously reported muir
ders and adds details OF shocking cruelttes II
covers a period from the early part OF June to
August 10 when at Yen-Chou-FHu. about fifty miles
southwest OF Tasyuan. Mr.. and Mrs. Atwater and
their two little children and Mr.. and Mrs CIV Price
and their son. all Of the American Board; Mr. and
MIS- Langren. OF the Swedish Mission and Miss
Eldred. an Enslishwoman. were butchered
The refugees story OF the murders directly I'm
plicates Hu Sien. the Governor OF shan-Se who
has previously been charged with instigatInz and
abettins the killing OF foreigners It is said that
few days after the rescue OF the legations at
Peking a prominent member OF the Tsung-lI- Yanen
appeared at the British Legation and formally ac-
cused Hu Sien OF inviting all the foreigners in Tai
Yuan into his yamen, under pretence OF escortinx
them IN safety to the coast. and having them all
put 10 death. The names OF the victims Yen
Chou-Fu were given By the HoIpers who escaped
According to the refugees. OF the missionaries
at that station had been molested I'D 70 August Is
MURDERED UNDER PROMISE OF SAFETY
One old project OF the district died shortly before
that date, and the Governor OF shan-se sent new
man. who two days after his arrival demanded
been expelled The district magistrate, who was
1r1erdly to the missionaries replied that there
no occasion for their expulsion but under compu-
sion arrested the chief dispenser OF the hospital
The man received three hundred lashes. and the
demand was made that he should the
IN the possession OF the mission. There were ac-
cordingly given UP two pistols and two rifles The
notice was repeated that the missionaries must
hasten their departure. A request was made on
behalf OF Mrs. Atwater, who was soout to be
fined that few days OF respite be allowed, but
the project insisted that they were to be sent
away to the coast and must be ready the next
day. Four country carts were prepared for them
and their goods packed They were 70 start on
August Is. A guard Of twenty soldiers was made
ready. AS the arrangements were made
the foreign houses were sealed UP. The mission
aries requested that they might sell their houses
TO secure silver for the journey The official re-
piled that all the property had been confscated
by Imperial decree and could not be sold but that
small property IN a country village could be sold.
This done and small OF silver secured
1he teacher rode g horse given him BY Mr. At
water The soldiers compelled him to dismount
and ride the cart He overheard remarks by
the soldiers. and from these he gathered that mis-
chief was meant and on the advice Of one OF the
soldiers escaped from the party some few miles
from the village Of Ksi-Shi
The party was supposed to be sent 70 Ptng-Yao
about thirty miles from Fu-chow. When not far
away on his line OF escape he heard the firing OF
gun. He afterward learned that this Was the sig
nal for the attack upon the party. They were
escorted by the soldiers few miles further. where
they were met by another detachment and all
were attacked and killed with swords.
The officials here place no doubt IN the accuracy
OF the report, II Is said TO have been confirmed
by close questioning, and further uphsld By : mes
sage from Mr.. Price This written on q bit
of linen which the refugee brought with him and
surrendered to an officer at the gate OF the walled
city.
ATROCITIES OF THE CHINESE
This man gives graphic and apparently reliable
account OF all the murders in Shan-Se Province
Much of II is too horrible for publication Men.
women and children were butchered. their bodies
rautfated and IN many instances their heads placed
on the gates Of the villages 90 far known, the
first murders occurred June q. when two
women, members Of the China Inland Mission.
were killed at Hlasa-Si-Fu- They were Miss
! Whitechurch and Miss Sewell who lived alone at
the mission remote place On the day mentioned
about 500 Boxers forced entrance into the mis-
sion compound. and some OF the village men
smashed the gate. The local magistrate was
sent for. but it IS said he reproved the messenger
for disturbing him. The mob took this as an md
cation that they not to be iEterfered with
and forced an entrance into the house The two
women made vain appeals for mercy. but were
beaten to death with clubs and heavy glass kettles
/ II is said that one OF them survived the assault
about an hour. Their cIething stripped on and
their vauabIes stolen When the local magistrate
was informed Of the murders he sent two boxes IN
which the bodies placed and buried in the
baptlstry The details Of this outrage learned
! from a messenger sent from the American Board
Mission at Yen-Chou-Fu.
THIRTY-THREE FOREIGNERS SLAIN.
The next outrage took place at show-Yang
about seventy-hve miles from Taf-Yuan-Fu which
was a mission station of the independent workers,
on June o. The story OF this massacre II true,
little doubt Of the guilt OF the local Chinese
authority and also Of the Governor Of ths Prov
Ince. In all thirty-three persons were slain. It
appears that Mr.. and Mrs. T. ". Piggott. their
son, Mr.. Robertson, tutor. Miss DuvaI. teacher,
and daughters Of the Rev NJ Atwater. OF Yen
Chou-Fu were driven from their homes and for
several days hid in the mountains. Finally they
determined to return 10 the mission They were
arrested and sent to Tat-Yuen. They were chained
their necks, and on the march they suffered
greatly. They were not permitted to purchase food
arriving at Tai-Yuen they were placed In separate
FT0S S9q 6S ISe Porsg9 boses IN Ye ra
burned, foreigners taking refuge IN the home Of
one woman. Miss COMBS. the principal Of a girls;
school however failed to escape. and fell victim
her scholars she separated from the others
burning buildings In spite Of her pleading she was
seized and thrown into the flames;
house Of Mr. FaIthing when a complete List OF AL
foreigneTs was demanded oy tne GGVernoa: ne az.
surfing them they would be protected and safely
with. and the entire party Of foreigners was ad-
rnitted between files OF soldiers through the
gate to the court. Once in the walls OF the va
men the ranks OF the soldiers were opened and
about forty Boxers admitted They fell upon the
unarued missionaries with swords, and horrible
butchery ensued. The bodies OF che unfortunate
men and women hacked TO pieces. Their
heads were cut OF and placed in baskets. which
were suspended the four gates OF the city
CATHOLIC PRIESTS BEHEADED.
Forty native Christians were also slain. and
the following day the Roman Catholic priests. said
20 have all been Frenchmen were beheaded. In sd-
ditton 10 the Piggott party from show-Yang the