Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-22
FROM MISS RURNHAM.
Her Experience In Reaching Coast
from Interior OF China.

ham nj. D., telling OF her experience in
reaching the coast OF China in safety
from her station in the interior, has at
last been received. She writes:
When started for China was told that 1
was going land where history was to he
made. This seems very real TO us now we
sit here In Che Foo. refugees from the homes
that have become so dear TO us.
wrote you about going TO P'ang Ch'wang
to take canal boat there for the north. where 1
planned to have a quiet vacation at Pei Tai He.
DR.. Porter, from what he heard of the condition
of the country because of the Boxers, would
not let me either go alone return to Chinanfu.
There waited four weeks, until finally we
were ordered out of the interior by our consul.
With party of thirty three we started from
P'ang Ch'wapg by way of Chinanfu. 1t was
very quiet about Cbinanfu, owing TO the fact
that the governor there, Yuan shi Kai. has
maintained friendly attitude to the foreign
ers aud enforced |, by his army of well trained
soldiers. Forty -four well-equipped men were
sent as guard to our boate. We went down
the little canal that came up three years ago
when I came to China. The boats are na,-bot.
toned, with straw mating for covering. We
were very comfortable going down the canal,
put US VIZ dppTbdtHeu iitiie pOEt TcpOrtS VI
Boxers met US.
We were glad to be met by MIR. Cornwall OF
our mission at Che Foo who had been sent to
us by the American consul. He told US that the
japanese steamer which had been chartered for
refugees WAS about twenty miles down the bay,
80 we were transferred to heavier boats and
put to sea. A heavy sea came on, and we
pitched and tossed In our cramped quarters.
sU.-
rolled over our little decks. and We were in the
utmost danger. The sailors. fearing the sea-
refused to go on. We. fearing the Boxers, re-
fused to let them go back. Everyone was sea.
sick. MIR. Cornwall and being the only ones
who were really not seasick.
Finally we sighted the steamer. ran up the
white lag and IL red blanket. fired our guns and
waited. The steamer did not see US, and we be
gan to fear our fate WAS death at sea. How
wonderfully cool felt then seems strange to
me now. | Was hanging ON top of the boards
reaching across the hold where pile of sick
women were tangled up In knot. one foot
braced against theNside prevented me from
rolling into the sea the boat rolled from side
to side. The boatmen were angry and the sol.
diers sea-ick that v hen they wanted distress
signals fired no one able to hold a gun
Finally the steamer sighted US ana came TO-
wards us, but stopped because of the sea. II
was impossible for the two boats to come to-
ge,her there, so two brave sailors, with life
lines, brought us the great tow lines, which
were attached to our old junk.
In the midst OF the confusion a man was
washed overheard, but was hshed out. The
sailors were ebraged because we could not ex.
plain what was being done. We only knew the
rescuins steamer evidently intended towing Us
away-but where: The sea was too rough Tor
our boat, anu the sailors refused to HIT the an
ehor. MI CORNWALL rose 10 tue occasion anu
cut the rope. The angry sailors tried TO pre-
vent II by cutting tue tow lines Win another
knife but weiiaimed ow from sood mis-
sionary near aisioaSea the ehehaihs ihstru
ment and at the same time cowea the man.
Imagine Inc situation. "A lou oil seaSick mis-
sioharies anu Soaiers III the hao"S vi ooa''"ea
who' so lar As we Knew might DC DoNer7
towed out TO sea ny Japanese steamer every
Inch disputed by our ooathan' VINO oegsed ana
ahgriiy declared he wou'u eut the 10" INES ioi
our boat could not stand the sea. SO We were
borne aiohg' our japanese irlehus hoping to
hnd smoother sea. rinaily the loea was apah
doned, and they told us to go back TO the pace
we lett TWO DAYS oeiore' whiie they returned 10
Che Foo for water and launch.
The journey shoreward was simple, but what
was at the end! We went back In -FOUR hours
and ferce-iooking crowd greeted us. we
wanted to get TO an inn' out no lhh'keepef
would Keep US. The red handed boxers could
be seen from the shore. The gentlemen went
to the yamen, and the inn-keeper was made To
take US In. An additional guard was placed
outside, besides the forty faithful men sent
by Yuan.
Here we remained two days, when we were
reyD'oeo W n.ai ."a' oua s''an '. wa" p"."
- ,aa,, nat ,,-.ra,,ad rao, N. caa,air
N ,rv e,e,,,n, water nj acme nearer viI,ayes
and return to Yang shia Kow for us. The sea
was calm. We started again at midnight and
got safely aboard the steamer at about a. m.
this up with canned goods, chicken and eggs,