The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-27

ceived from the authorities, that what
ever comes they will secure our protection
here
There has been much ugly talk on the
streets. not only outside of the port hut
here in Foochow, and the missionaries
have heard so much of this through
sources which are often rore reliable than
those to which the consul has access that
We are not satisfied with his report that
all was quiet Some of our preachers had
been told they were only waiting at their
posts to be killed. for the signal would be
given, and then it would be too late for
them to escape. for there would be 70
chance for them or the foreigners. Many
of the Christians were excited. ard some
were sending their valuables to places Of
safety and advising the missionaries to
make preparations for flight or defence.
Some said if the missionaries left the port
it would imperil the lives of the Christians,
for an attack would be made as soon as
We were gone.
A GunbOnt Wanted.
Our mission we're not satisfied with the
CorsuPs agreement with the viceroy, that
no gunboats should be brought into the
port, unless he gave some assurances of
protection. Ee therefore asked Consul
Gracey to secure a gunboat for the Port, If
possible. until things .ssumed more set
tied condition. He therefore made ar
rangements with the japanese Consul and
military attache here and with the Gov
ernor of Formosa that on the slightest ds-
turbance here a gunboat should b. sent
over from Formosa, and as We know the
japanese aIa only too anxious for some
pretence for landing soldiers in this prov
ince this plan Is quite satisfactory. as
assistance could thus reach us in twenty
four hours.
I'VE are greatly troubled over the
meagre tidings We receive from Pekin, and
we tremble to think of what the terrible
news may be when definite tidings shall
be received from those who have been be-
seiged there. and from whom we have not
received definite news now for about
month. Only an Almighty God can rescue
them from the wrath Of their savage enc
mics, and to Him We are looking for their
deliveranoe.
"AlI the members of the Fcochow Mis-
sion of the general society are now in tie
port. and several of the Hinghua mission
aries. Two of the Woman's Foreign Mis-
sionary SocietYs ladies-Miss Trimble AID
DIR. Masters-are still at Ngucheng, txen-
ty-four hours from Foochow, and several
of the Hinghia missionaries of our church
are still at Hinghua. and some OF the Con-
gregational Missionary Society's mission
aries.
There has been a very serious food
through the northern part of this pro-
vince. which has destroyed hundreds, II
not thousands. of houses and many thou
sands OF lives. and this has done much to
quiet the ugly talk in regard to foreigners
and Christians. A large relief fund has
been raised at the suggestion of some OF
our mission. and the wealthy Chinese
have also literally responded, and placed
their fund together with ours. to be adj
mnistered by the committee of foreigners.
Several spans and piels of the famous
bridge of Ten Thousand Ages have been
washed away also several sections of the
smaller bridge which connects the foreign
settlement with the small island in tire
midst of the river. All the lower part ri
the business community was flooded. and
many of their buildings were three or four
feet under water. Such food has not
been known. and the water reached foot
higher than the highest official water
park on record"