The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-27
TROUBLES DUE TO FAMINE
4 Preachers Views ON the Uprfsings
In China

achers views on the tprfsings
In China.
NEW YORK, July 26.-The Rev. A.
Woodruff Halsey, d. d. one of the secrs-
taries of the Presbyterian Board OF Foreign
Missions and who has been close student
OF the affairs of China, attributes the up-
rising of the Boxers TO the famine which
has prevailed in China for over a year bur
which has been lost sight of because of the
stirring events throughout the world in the
past few years.
THE cause OF the present distuI bance in
the Chinese Empire doss not date from the
beginning of the famine, sad DR.. Haisey.
but the occasion furnished the opportuni-
ty. The drought furnished the opportunity
for the Boxers to carry out design they
had long been planning. AS an element or
force which broughs about the present trou-
bic, the famine in China cannot be left out
The famine of the summer OF 1899 aud the
threatened famine of this year have thrown
great many persons out OF employment.
Many of the Chinese have been, and some
are now, on the verge OF starvation, and.
with this class. it has been an easy mat
ter for tks Boxer movement to gain follow
ers. II the farmers had proSpeTed and the
crops had been good. the present condition
of things in China would probably have
never come about.
There is no doubt in my mind but that
the famine is responsible in a great mas
ure for the trouble. However. we must not
lose sight of the anti foreign feeling which
has long existed in China. This up. ising is
no mushroom growth; it tas been coming
on for long time. and only spark was
needed to kindie the fame
The year has been trying one through
out the whole Shantung province. The
Eoang River. well Eamed Chinese SoT-
row, again overlooked its banks last sum
mer. and devastated 4 region OF twenty
FIVE to fifty miles wide and 100 miles long.
Three hundred villages were swept away.
Thousands of persons were drowned and
100000 were made homeless. Pestilence
speedily followed. So that the whole catas-
trophe was of the most appalling charac-
ter. The flood was followed by drought
and plague of caterpillars, which de-
stroyed the crops, and converted the en-
tire eastern portion Of the province into a
famine-stricken district.
Rebellion followed and added tc. the
horror OF the year. Mobs formed in yari-
GUS parts Of the province. The Boxers and
the Great Sword Society became omi
nously familiar names, and their members
entered upon a career OF persecution and
pillage. Troops were called out ther, but
Chinese troops are not to be defended
upon, so that their presence was I'll little
value. A reign CT terror succeeded. and
while Roman Catholics were the chief SUI
ferers, Protestants were also involved.
Homes of native Christians were looted.
The papers in China openly charged the
Government with completely in the rioting.
while the famine was at its height,
famine fever set in. 1t was contagious
and spread to an alarming extent, and
there were a great many deaths In Lien
chow there was a scarcity Of rice. The
short rice crop led the starving people
there to rise up; the same was true every
7here the country was affected by the
drought"
Recent letters from China give alarming
accounts CT the distress resulting from the
famine.
Tie Rev. Hunter Ccrbett. a Presbyterian
missionary from ChefOo, under date of
June 1, says in part
II have lately returned from an timer
ating journey CO nearly two months. The
famine in this part OF China has caused
Thousands to fee TO Nancnuria as the only
hcpe of saving life. 1 found suffering at
every place-many trying to live On corn
cobs. the dried vine Of the sweet potato
bark and leaves Of trees, roots, etc. The
liberal contributions from friends in China
and some in the home lands have enabled
~ to assist the Christians. so that none
of them have died of actual starvation, as
many Of their neighbOTs have done.
Famine fever il raging at Chefoo. and
many are dying daily. one Of our scnool-
teachers aad fourteen OF the pupils were
taken with fever and the outlook became
so alarming that yesterday we dismissed
foI r of the schools and sent all who were
able to travel to their homes for the
present"
The Rev. W. o. Elterich, another Pres
byterian missionary stationed at Chefoo.
writing on June 13, has this to say in re-
gard to the famine:
Il found a great deal of suffering in the
country from famine and this will con-
TIME for little while yet, until the wheat
harvest which is almost ready to be gath
cred. Where wheat has been planted there
is prospect of an abundant harvest. There
has been an abundance of rain this year
and the crops look we'll. This viii! help
not little to have a quieting effect on the
people The native Christians in my field
have been more or less in want, in some
cases very much so. These i have been
able to relieve out of our famine relief
fund On my way back l came through
section of Mr. Cornwells field, where
saw him and visited his most interesting
station. On my return l found that our
schools had to be closed up on account OF
an epidemic of typhus, eleven Of the pu-
pills taking it. They have all recovered.
The worst case | had attended for nearly
ten days before I went to the country. so
that was considerably exposed to it. The
Lord was gracious and escaped infection.
There has been a great deal Of disease in
Chefoo. brought in the first place by the
famine refugees. and fostered by the
highly unsanitary condition of the city.
TyDhus and famine fever are raging
among the natives ard many are dying.
Mr. Elterich then goes into a long de-
tailed account of the disturbances which
followed the famine.