The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-16

aIIt<@OLlE3
exceptional TO come upon Chinese woman
otherwise arrayed. and TO the average OBJ
server they are snalogous as peas.
Naturally. Tie bringing together of seven
or eight foreign women. each differing
from the other in cut of garments, and
contrasting IN coIors worn to an extent
fabbergasting TO the native eye. piqued
curiosity until 1t became almost, IL not
in reality. beyond control Meanwhile the
soldiers so greatly augmented in number
as 10 crowd the platform. and the station
master with his three or four assistants
were OF no more avail in preserving de-
ccrum than so many sticks.
TACT WAS NEEDED.
AS the Chinese women drew nearer, the
soldiers closed in behind them. and among
our own number there was an instructive
drawing together in acknowledgment of
the old truism that in union there Is
strength. But 1t was not the latter We
wanted so much as tact Seven men to
defend an equal number of women, counted
for little hemmed in by that horde OF
vengeful. Unconditional and half-savage
creatures.
We had those within as well as those
without to withstand. The colonel rela-
lively young and unquahfediy hot-blooded,
was to US, who recognized the intense
gravity of the situation, trial he could not
be brought 10 an adequate sense of after
the danger had passed. and L doubt If he
ever has since. He insisted he never would
forgive US for not letting him kill a dozen.
more or less, of the rufians. Not only as
husband and father was he aroused to san
hot hut in,
his representative capacity was outraged.
This spurred him on in his Madness for
such in the exigency it really was. and he
kept US in continual state of trepidation.
When a strapping big Chinaman with a
devillish leer reached over the shoulder of
q native woman to lay hold OF the ends of
the ribbon encircling the neck of the
colonel's wife 1 had to throw my arm
around her husband and hold him by sheer
strength while 1 besought him to retain
clamness to meet the much worse emer-
gencies which appeared inevitable. 1 could
not blame him, but the slightest movement
on our part toward physical resistance
meant death for every man of US, and to
the women worse than death.
With the pressing in upon US, and by
this time there was no visible outlet in the
enmeshing circle. there appeared the de-
sign TO separate the men of our party,
Forcing them away from the women and,
by getting each within ring Of soldiers,
making more sure the quick work of dis
patching them, If to such untoward end
matters should verge. To avoid the con-
summation Of this obvious plan required
an exertion OF patience and strength COM
bined, which became all but impossible.
Tt was only with masterful self-control
that there could be the restraint from using
fists, especially when there were so many
ugly heads to hit. Still by showing. elbow
ing and bearing the weight of the body
against those who endeavored to block the
way, we managed. without provoking a
direct assault, to hold intact our circle
surrounding the women. There was every
thing to admire in the admirable COM
posure the latter maintained. the splendid
nerve and undaunted courage displayed
throughout the whole of the time, which
was of a nature surely to try the souls of
men. Not one of the seven fiinched or be-
trayed fear. There were pale lips, and 1
saw one OF the missionaries deliberately
bite hers to keep the color in them.
Strained lines about the eyes, yet smiles
and even quick mods of the head as If the
interest in all going on was particularly
enjoyable. Sharp gasps of the breath in
the midst Of little laugh told how forced
II was and how much easier it would have
been to cry. Convulsive tremors from
head to feet betokened the strain which
was far more than merely physical as
minutes heightened into hours.
INSULTS FOR CHINESE.
AL the time these devoted women were
praying in their hearts. and keeping up
faces so brave, the dirty brown hands of
othsrs Of their own sex, and at times of the
opposite sex as well, were passing over
their garments as IL the very texture was
an object of the deepest concern. Repulsive
fingers, too. toyed with ribbons that were
about the neck, or in some way added to
the toilette, while bonnets and hats were
being similarly trespassed upon, their parti-
colored flowers, leaves, fruit, plumes or
feathers causing no end of impudent won
derment as to where and how such things
could grow or have being in such juxtapo-
sition.
The missionary in flaming red was my
especial charge, Poor girl, that waist and
the accompanying hat. which was a flower
-
gestion of a fruit orchard as an Incidental
feature, made her not only the cynosure OF
native eyes, but the magnet for hands as
well 1t was positively maddening for
man in full possession Of his strength, and
something OF a boxer himself, to remain
quiescent and see woman Of his own ma
tionality, a good woman and true. clawed
and mauled ever by lot Of jabbering
Idiots and not punch them.
After what appeared an interminable
period the train which was TO take us to
Tien-Tsin came in sight, slowly backing
into the station. 1t wasn't much after the
angel order, but it seemed as one of de-
hverance to US, and never was there
sweeter music made for our ears than the
creaking and clanking of those car wheels
as they rolled toward the platform. Now
came the most critical OF emergencies, that
OF the movement toward the train. The
mass OF Acknowledged, brown-skinned and
pig-tailed humanity surging around US was
n whirlpool conferred at the one spot. Every
man having to do with the railway, whether
as to the station, the track or the train,
was native born.
There was not white man, save our
Nit &rx-ar