The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-09
TEE 4O9FERIHG EMPIRE
Conditions in China From a Shang-
hal Toint of View.
Beginning rf tho Present Troubles rs
Seen From 'Eherc-Ea.iy OutraGcs
by the Boxers - Prince I.nn's
Avoyved Purpose to Turn the Out
break Into u NntionHi Uprising.

the Commercial Advertiser" writing
from Shanghai under date OF June 4. says
This port appears TO be the ESCAPE
valve for ell the horrible rumors that Chi
nese imagination can manufacture. 81
many stories OF the conditions at the nortf
| are afioat that it is exceedingly difficult
to separate the romance from the terrible
reality that is steadily impressins itseli
upon all foreigners here. AS for ourselves
| if the worst accounts OF the Boxer out.
| break are true, We are in no considerable
danger unless the Yangtse provinces
should join the :orthern rufians. Shang-
hal has foreign population of but a few
| thousands. and it might be considered q
| likely point of attack in view of the over
| tive city. but SO far there are no signs OF
| trouble or unrest.
The strongest evidence of the state OF
anarchy and rapine prevailing to the north
and west OF us Is the Increasing number
OF missionary and native Christian fugi-
! tiyes that flee to Shanghai :or safety. From
these fugitives, who have left their all to
destruction behind thelnT II have gained
considerable information relative to the
| real nature of the Boxer propaganda, but
not much trustworthy infer s'.tion as to
the number of foreigners who have been
killed. or as to the amount of property
that has been destroyed,
1t may be safely said. however, that the
native Christians have suffered most Sc
yerely. not alone because they were more
numerous than the foreigners. but be-
cause there was in many cases official pro-
lection for foreigners, but none whatever
for native converts. They might be killed
with inpunity. In property loss the Cath
olic missions and institutions have suffered
most severely Of all. This can be ex-
piaincd In two ways. The Catholics in
China are immensely wealthy being the
landlords" of a city SO important as
Tientsin. and large property holders
wherever they have carried on their work.
And then the Catholics have made them
selves especially obnoxious to the Chinese
by their active protection of their cen
verts.
Actuated by Fnnaticism.
From Information gathered from refu-
gees it is evident that the Boxers are
actuated quite as much by a spirit OF
religious fanaticism as by hate for for
eigners. Which Of these motives is the
stronger can only surmise, but believe
that the anti-foreign spirit is merely an
outgrowth Of religious fervor. The Box
ers claim to be possessed OF spirits of de-
parted heroes and sacred beasts. who actu-
ate their movements. They are extremely
devout, never passing a temple without
worshipping. and l have been told by
several persons that their heads are per-
ceptibly swollen as the result Of continu-
Gus kowtowing to their idols.
The amount of incense they burn has
created stringency In the market for
that article. The Boxers further claim to
be impervious to the wounds Of bullets,
knives, and spears, and in this connection
! recall 4 story lately printed In the
Chinese Illustrated News" From this ac-
count ii appeared that the prefect OF Shan
tung resolved to publicly test the miracu-
lous powers of a captured Boxer, and to
this end had him brought before crowd
in front of the local yamen, and asked
him if it was true that knives could not
wound him. The prisoner replied that this
was perfectly true. Thereupon an attend
ant was ordered to strike at the Boxers
neck with a sword. his head dropped upon
his breast. and he fell dead. This land
the proximity of the Kiao-Chou garris0n)
has had the effect Of stopping Boxer re-
cruiting In Shantung.
From a refugee heard the story of the
murder of Mr.. Elias. Of the London mis-
sion. about thirty-five miles from Pektn,
and Of the slaughter OF Lin Ching-yun OF
a mission at Kung-t'sun. This man said:
On the 14th of the fourth moon 1.-THE mid
die of May) about ffty-seven Boxers were
crossing the River Tsz-tsun, and while
passing the river met Lin Chingyun in
boat They knew that he was Chris
tian and at once attacked him and wound
ed him with their swords. Then they
dragged him out of the boat and tied him
up securely to tree by the river. Then
they went to the chapel at ung-t'sun.
found Mr.. Chao. bound his thumbs and
great toes tightly together. and carried
him to a tree near to that on which Mr..
Lin was hung up.
" Then they cut off Mr.. Lin's arms. cut
through his stomach. cut of his head. and
threw the lot into the river. Then they
cut up Mr. Chao and threw all into the
river Then they returned to the chapel.
broke up the furniture, hacked the in
scription board, and went away
by the same man 1 was told that the
Boxers have adopted holy uniform con-
sisting Of fowered handkerchief lined
with red, red glrdle. and yellow bands
above the knees. The arms OF the Boxers
are sword and spear. and il they possess
u
officials.
Violence at Tientsin.
"Of the violence at Tientsin you must
know as much as we do here in Shanghai.
but of the multitude of reports of riot in
every quarter only aNfew can reach you.
In Kwangsi violence has been widespread,
and from the provinces of Lienchow.
hood all foreigners have fed We hear of
similar movements of foreigners from
northern points to Pekln, TO which hun
dreds of missionaries, especially Catholics
have fed
''The great source of alarm In this news
lies in the fact that the large number of
missionaries there will surely lead to re-
newcd attacks and murders. and make it
impossible for any effective protection to
be given. If a general outbreak against
foreigners should take place at the capital
the death list will be appalling on this ac-
count. In such an event the legations will
have a serious charge of dereiiction to an
swer. For as long ago as April bricks were
thrown into the missionary compound at
Peiin. bowling mobs threatened the
Catholic temple. and there was every rea-
son to apprehend serious violence.
IF protective measures are not now
under way and IL the uprising does not
suddenly collapse nothing can be done to
save foreigners west OF Tientsin. 1t Is
doubtful whether the powers consider how
helpless a guard of few thousands would
be against even a moderate sized Chinese
mob. And If the worst COMES to the worst
1t would be the same with an army of co.
600 men. For suppose that such an army
with its more destructive equipment and