New-York tribune., 1900-07-17
IN PERIL AT CHIN-KANG.
THE REV. Mr.. WOODBRIDGE DESCRIBES
CONDITIONS IN YANG-TSE-KIANG
VALLEY WHEN He CAME AWAY.
rRY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE

rRY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBrvF1
san Francisco. July 16.-The Rev. s / Wood
+-jsce Presbyterian missionary. who has been
e. chin -Kang. on the Yang-Tse River for the
last fifteen years, arrived on the Coptic to-day
from Shanghai. with his wife and six children
or furlough. He expects to return to Chin
Kang when the present troubles are over. Chin
Ksng is known as the Chicago Of China and is
$50 miles up the Yang-Tse River from Shanghai
81 the entrance Of the Grand Canal The popuIa-
tloa Of The city consists Of 100000 Chinese and
about G0o0 foreigners
TIE whole city. as well a all other cities and
rswns along the Eang-Tse, were greatly excited
and on the verge OF an uprising when Mr. Wood
bridge left Chin -Kang on June 10. In fact the
DAY had beer fixed for the destruction OF all the
property owned by foreigners, and the murder
of the foreigners themselves, and Mr. Wood
bridge believes that by this time a terrible fate
has NET those foreigners who failed to heed his
warning and fy from the impending massacre.
Hs said
i would be difficult to estimate the number of
foreigners along the Yang-Tse River. There are
literally thousands Of missionaries in the great
valley and beyond, further in the interior.
Nearly every one Of them has q family. and
hope The missionaries have al least sent their
families 70 Shanghai Just before I left Chin
Karg telegraphed TO Two hundred Presby
ra-iau Missionaries TO wait no longer. but TO
come down To Shanghai as quickly as possible
The fate of all the Yaug-Tse country hangs on
-La words Of Two y-fcer0vs one - rhar, i
Chen Chin Tung- at Haukow. the other is Liu
Kun YIN al Nanhing- II these men waver an
uprising II terrible proportions viii result
among the many millions in that tsichIy popu-
lated portion of the empire
some time ago NlcerOy Cheng published a book
entitled Learn" in which h outlined various
reforms believed tC be necessary IN China. and
! believe The circulation Of that work hastened
Tie coup 6'era-- The suggested reforms were
rot fsvo-a5Iy entertained al Peking, nor by the
"a -- 70 IL in 2 N~r1r~ SD tod
me BOOK -llo LLg-sh, Tor glrcu-allon among
English speaking people in China, hence I am
familiar with the political situation in China.
AS 1 say this book Of the Nlceroy precIpltated
The present troubles. in my opinion.
Up 70 The time I left Chin-Kiaug no Outrages
had been committed. but the Chinese We're be-
coming ugly. those in the cities being more
worked lp than those in the outlying districts.
All me immense traffic on The Yang-rse had be-
come paraLyzed, boats had ceased TO run. and
there was every indication that the foreigners
were about 10 be attacked There is a place
near tAln-hlang Where aoouI lhousahu lot
sgners usually spend this part OF the year 10
escape the heat. but nobody had any intention Of
going there when left
Dr. Worth, grandson Of Governor Worth OF
North Carolina, has house and hospital al
hiSLE-ELn. and was ordered by the natives 10
r. away and mis- prorer-v was 10 be consigned
1c flames. i Re stayed he was 10 be murdered.
AL through the Eang-tse valley, from Shanghai
up 10 and beyond Chin-kang. these orders had
been given TO foreigners. and the day had been
fixed -or carrying out the threat. DO not Know
what the date was, but there is not the slightest
doubt that the Chinese VIII do as they threaten
n these things
The American Consul. Martin. telegraphed for
& gurboaJ Just before left Chin-h iang but il is
nor likely one could be sent as all had gone 70
Taku. This leaves the situation very bad at
Chin kiang- II Is great central point. where
ffrv million people pass every year There and
some distance further on the Yans-tse the salt
srnuEglers do much as they please. Salt is
uonopoIiZed by the Government, and the stealing
Of IL by natives cannot be prevented The
Chinese cut I'D the officials no are sent 10
arrest them This has given rise % Sc much
trouble that hordes Of Chinese in that district
have become enemies Of the Government and
naturally NAV be expected to join with the
Boxers. They oppose foreigners, and II the op-
pCrtUuiry arises. millions Of Chinese along the
Yaug-Ise may be depended on for murder and
YTlsge-
Shanghai the greatest port in China is by
10 means safe The protection there IS entirely
Inadequate. Hundreds OF young men especially
Americans, were forming themselves into VOlun-
reer companies when I Ief- Shanghai The mis-
sisaares from all along the Yang-tse were COM
ing tu-o Shanghai for pro -ectoD. but 1 fear
rha- hundreds VIII not BE- able 70 get there. Con-
si5erirg the immense nOTdes in China, who have
been becoming more and more restless, the out
Jock cannot be considered too serious l
heartily concur with the request sent TO this
Government bv the missionaries at Shanghai
tupl0r+-g Immediate aid