The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-31
Given Timely Notice by an American
Consul, Who Provided Steam
ers at His Own Expense.
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE
ONE PARTY FORCED TO FIGHT EN-
ROUTE TO THE COAST.
Catholics Hidden Six Days I'm n Rice
Box-One Carried Over One Hun
dred Miles in a Coffin.

VANCOUVER, B. c., Aug. 30.-Seventy
missionaries from China returned yesterday
by the Empress of China. Many had won
derful escapes Circumstances saved the
lives of many After the trouble had come
to a head Rev. j. NJ Menzies, with his
wife and family, were on their way to the
coast for brief rest. They started from
their station in HUMAN. and were not
aware of any trouble when they left. In
company with them were DR.. Mcclure and
DR.. CMrs.) Wallis, also going to the coast.
The members of the party attribute their
escape entirely to the efforts of John
Fowler, American consul at Che-Foo.
eve were four days late in starting"
DR.. Menzies said, land those four days
were. / believe, the saving of our lives.
Had we started at the time originally
intended we would have been in the heart
of the Boxer-infested district, from which
there would have been no escape. AS it
was we had reached Pang- Chang. and at
that place was a message from Mr. Fowler
warning us that all traffic on the river was
extremely dangerous. and that any mis-
sionaries in the interior should hurry at
once to places of safety. Had we gone on
shot by the Boxers, who were watching on
both sides of the river, and let no boat
pass. With an escort of soldiers we were
enabled to safely reach small port on the
coast, Yang Hia-Kon. And there 1t was
that the services of Mr.. Fowler proved so
helpful to our party. Mr.. Fowler, at his
own personal expense, chartered two Jap
anese steamers, which made six trips, and,
besides, sent a warship, which made one
trip. Christian workers from the interior
had been gathering at this ut-of-the-way
port until there were seventy-three, all
told, of missionaries alone"
Rev. Mckenzie, of all the ministers on
board, had the most exciting experience.
He was with the party composed of Rev.
Messrs. Goforth, Leslie and Griffiths, all of
whom were wounded, Mr.. Goforth some
what seriously. They were in station not
far distant from that of DIR. Menzies. and
to whom the doctor sent Consul Fowler
message from Pang-Chang. when we re-
ceived the Dispatch" said Mr.. Mckenzie.
1--WE instantly made all haste to depart.
The letter warned US not to go north by
the route followed by Mr. Menzies so we
formed party and started southwark.
We had ten carts I'm ALL with a Chinese
escort, and twenty-four days trip ahead
of us ere We could reach Han-Kow. All
went well until the twelfth day out All
along crowds jeered US and called us
names, but did not attempt personal vio-
lence. On the twelfth day we met an or
ganized body of Boxers, who made a de-
| liberate attack. Mr.. Goforth received a
severe sword cut across the back of the
neck besides being wounded IN several
other places. An Infatuated fanatic made
a lunge at Mrs. Goforth with a sword, but
she shielded herself with pillow Two OF
our escort killed and five of our ami
mails shot. Mr. Leslie was badly wounded
| In the wrist and knee. Mr.. Griffiths was
injured in almost every part of his body
j myself was wounded in the head, leg and
| hand. The women and children were not
| wounded in the attack. but on the trip the
| six-year-old son of Mr.. Mckenzie con-
| tracted diphtheria. His mother, while
nursing him in the hospital. also caught
| the disease. Both have now recovered"
| The rest of the party, Messrs. Goforth
| Leslie and Griffiths, came out by way OF
| San Francisco.
| Catholic missionaries in HUMAN had
| thrilling experiences in reaching the coast
! One. Rev. jeremiah, at Pa-Sahn, hid six
| days in rice box, and Rev. Stephanus
| Setti, at Hing-Chui. was carried over a
! hundred miles in a coffin by native Chris
! tians.