Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-24
MORE CHINESE ATROCITIES.
American Bible Society Hears From
Agents in China.

NEW YORK, September 24-The Amer
lean Bible Society Is in receipt of letter
from it's agent, the Rev. DIR. John Hykes,
under date of Shanghai, August 10. Fol-
lowing are the extracts from the communi-
cation. a,-='
THE viceroys Of the central and southern
provinces have made themselves responsible
for any property destroyed within their
viceroyaltes. We have had books de-
stroyed in this part OF China, and am
bringing in claims, which will probably be
paid.
I'VE dare not desert our colporteurs.
when to do SO would mean starvation or
massacre. Already some of them have had
their whole families exterminated and their
property all destroyed. / fear that many
Of them are dead. 1 cannot speak too highly
of the magnificent heroism Of these men.
They have faced danger and death with a
calmness that has amazed me. They have
never flinched in the performance of their
duty, and l know the society will be glad
to have me stand by them while this time
of trial lasts.
I'VE know that the members of the Pres
byterian mission at Po-ting Flu were killed
on the night of June 80. Roman Catholics
were butchered on the same day. The prop
erty of both was destroyed.
Rain Stops Massacre.
"A heavy rain stopped the vile work of
the inhuman wretches who were revelling
in the slaughter of helpless woman and in
nocent children, but they attacked the
American board and the China inland mis-
sions the next day, July 1. Mr.. Pitkin was
shot dead while heroically defending the
women of his mission. Misses Morrell and
Gould of Portland, Maine, were then cap
tured and taken to the Boxer headquarters
and executed. Mr.. Bagnall was killed near
a temple How the others met their death
is unknown. All natives in any way con-
nected with foreigners met like fate.
.The situation in the valley of the Yang
The attitude of the viceroys is becoming
very doubtful. Chang Chih Tuang and the
governor of Hupeh have just issued proc
lamation which is intended to incite the
people to massacre the native Christians
or make them recant. Chapels are being
destroyed and native Christians robbed and
prosecuted every day in many places in
the Yangtse valley, and apparently no ef-
l feel that we have not yet seen the end
of this struggle to get rid of the hated
foreigner. 1t is quite possible that we have
only seen the beginning of it.
Other Outrages Recorded.
Mention is made in another letter of Au-
gust 20 from the same writer of outrages
upon refugees in Shansi province. One
young woman was killed outright on the
journey, and another was forced to travel
with her brain exposed, the flesh having
been cut from her head.
Three unmarried women who were ship
wrecked had to wade ashore in water up to
their necks They were then stripped of
their clothing and forced to march in that
condition sixty miles. They walked two
days and nights without stopping.
missionary in a city in Kweichau prov
ince was beaten eighteen times and robbed
Of all he had His injuries may end fatal
ly At best he is a cripple for life.
"Our caravan consisted of twenty camels,
nineteen horses and six camel carts for the
ladies and children.
Eight Days in the Sand.
''For eight days we travelled over nothing
but sand. The air was like that of an
oven, and the suffering was intense. The
animals had no grass and no water, and
marching In the day time was impossible.
At the few isolated wells Mongols were
encamped in the vicinity. and they refused
to allow us to draw water, fearing we
would poison the wells.
nAfter thirty-eight days Of terrible anx-
iety we reached Urga, on the other side OF
the desert. We presented sorry spec
tacle. The Russian consul general was
most kind. He gave UP to US fourteen
rooms in the consulate. But to our dismay
with as there were 1900 Mongol soldiers in
the neighborhood who might be hostile.
He also warned us that tens of thousands
of Mongols were gathering for religious
festival, and that IL we valued our safety
we had better clear out without delay.
"A fortnight later, August 13, we reached
Kiakhta and remained there till August "a.
I'm the meanwhile Mr.. Tower (Mr. Char
lemagne Tower, United States ambassador
to Russia) obtained permission from the au-
over the Siberian railway.
Arriving at 1rkutsk, September ]. We