The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-09-28

Province of Chih Ii, Across ST.
IBERIA to IrEutsk, Thence 10 st.
Petersburg and London.
London, Sept. 25.-The American
missionaries, j. II. Roberts, Mark Viii
liams, s'm. sprague, Mrs. Sprague
and Miss Virginia Murdoch, who es-
capped from kalgan, Province of Chin
Ii, China, in June, were chased across
the Cobb desert. Thence they trav-
eled by way Of Siberia and have just
reached Londo2 in good health. They
will proceed immediately to the Unit
ed States.
An Interesting story.
Mr.. Williams, who has worked in
China for 81 years, gave press rep
resentative an interesting story of his
experiences. 1t appears that the first
assault OH the mission compound at
Kalgan was made during the night Of
June 10, when yelling mob at
tempted to batter down the gate
with stones. Seeing the uselessness
of remaining, the missionaries in the
course of the night, evacuated the
compound and proceeded to the
magistrates yamen.
Ordered to Leave.
The following afternoon they were
ordered to leave, the magistrate de-
claring that he feared not only for
the missionaries safety, but also for
his own yamen if he continued to pro-
tect them. After allowing the Ameri-
cans to draw their money from the
native bank, the magistrate furnished
them with so soldiers as an escort
through the great gate in the wall
into Mongolia.
Terrible Journey Ahead.
"We had no idea then of the terri
BILE journey which awaited u.s." con
tinued Mr.. Williams. "We had no no
ton of having to escape across 81
IBERIA, and only purposed to remain
in some place of safety and return
after the crisis. Whenever we at
tempted to stop, however, the officials
ordered us to leave forthwith, de
claring the Boxers were on our heels
Across the Cobb Desert.
Finally, reaching Mongol encamp
ment at Harausa, we saw that flight
across the great Cobb desert was in
evitable. Having secured ii caravan
we started June 30. just before start
ing seven Swedish missionaries, with
their families, who had just ESCAPED
with their lives, joined us. One lady
had horrible experiences. She haC
been almost dubbed to death, Will,
some of the males were frighful spec
tacles, being covered with blood.
The Caravan Organized.
sour caravan consisted of 20 cam
els, 10 horses and six camel carts fol
the ladies and children. For eigh
days we travelled over nothing bu
sand. The air was like that of al
oven and the suffering was intense
The animals had no grass and no wa
ter, and marching in the daytime wa
impossible. At the few isolated well
Mongols were encamped in the vi
entity, and they refused to allow u
to draw water, fearing we woul,
poison the wells.
Days of Terrible Anxiety.
"After SO days of terrible anxiet
we reached Urga, on the other side 0
the desert. We presented a sorr
spectacle. The Russian consul genera
was most kind. He gave up to us /
rooms in the consulate. But, to on
dismay the consul told us we mus
leave forthwith, as there were 200
Mongol soldiers in the EeighborhooC
who might be hostile. He ais
warned us that tens of thousands G
Mongols were gathering for a rela
, ious festival, and that if we value
! our safety we would better clear on
without delay.
Safety at Last.
"a fortnight Laser, August 10, W
reached Kiakhta, and remained ther
: till August 81.
'In the meanwhile Mr.. Tower IN
Charlemagne Tower, United State
ambassador to Russia) obtained pc
mission from the authorities at S
Petersburg for our journey over I'll
! Siberian railway. Arriving at Irkuts
: September 2, we took a train an
reached st. Petersburg September l
Lord Roberts adds:
, "Paget has captured Erusmu
camp, 5000 cattle 5000 sheep and
prisoners.
"Methuen has made another b
!. haul of stock"
Lord Roberts also reports that Il
|, few Boer troops remaining in Il
: eastern rransyaal are complete
"0ut of hand" and says they a
mostly burghers, the foreign mere
naries having gone to Lorenzo Ma
; uuPz oNN-iuu 10 fbp pOrtuOneSe or