The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-25
MISSIONARIES TELL OF
AWFUL EXPERIENCE
Chased Across the Gobi Desert by
Monsois, suffering All Panss
of Thirst.

LONDON. Sept. 2i--Amercan Mission
aries Roberta Mark Williams Mr..
dock. who escaped from Kalgan, pro-
vince of Chilli China, In June, and were
chased across Cobb desert. then travelled
London in good health, although they
endured terrible hardshps
The missionaries will proceed immedi-
ately to the United States.
Mr.. Williams, who has worked In China
for thirty-four years, gave a representa-
tive Of the Associated Press story Of
his experiences 1t appears that the first
made during the night of June 10 when
yelling mob attempted to batter down
the gate with stones. Seeing the useless
ness OF remaining. the missionaries, In the
course OF the night, evacuated the conf
pound and proceeded to the magistrates
yamen. The following day they We're or
dered 10 leave. the magistrate declaring
that he feared not only for the mission
aries safety. but .aiso Tor his own yamen
II he continued to protect them. Allow
Ing the Americans 10 draw their money
from the native bank the masistrate
escort through the great gate in the wall
into Mongolia.
Terrible Journey.
I'VE had no idea then Of the terrible
Journey awaiting u.s." continued Mr..
Mam 70 ws had no s ns,sn n5
only proposed to remain In some place
Of safety and return after the CRISIS
Wherever we attempted TO stop, how
forthwith, declaring the Boxers were on
our heels. Finally, reaching n Mon
golian encampment at Harausa. We saw
that flight across the great Cobb desert
van, we started June a. Just before we
started seven Swedish missionaries. with
their families. who had Just escaped with
their lives, Joined us. One lady had hor-
rible experiences. She had been almost
dubbed 10 death. while some Of the men
were .frightful spectacles, being covered
''Our caravan consisted OF twenty cam
els. nineteen horses and six camel carts
for the ladies and children. For eight
DAYS we travelled over nothing but sand.
The air was like that of On oven. and the
suffering was intense. The animals had
no grass and no water, and marching I'm
the DAYTIME was Impossible. At the few
isolated wells Mongols were encamped
in the vicinity and they refused to al
low us to draw water. fearing we would
poison the wells
Russians Were Kind.
After thirty-eight days of terrible anx-
iety we reached I.rga- on the other side
spectacle. The Russian consul general
was most kind. He gave VS. fourteen
rooms in the consulate. But, to our dis
forthwith as there were 1900 Mongol sol
diers in the nei.hborhood, who might lie
hostile. He also warned us that the tens
Of thousands Of Mongols were gathering
for religious festival, and that II we
valued our safety. we had better clear
out without delay.
August IA we reached Kiakhta. and re-
NAMED there until August n. In the
meanwhile Mr.. Tower tMr. Charlemagne
Tower. United States ambassador 20 Rus
sia) obtained permission from the au-
thorities at ST. Petersburg for our Jour
ney over the Siberian railway. Arriving
at Trkutek. Sept 2, we took train
and reached 81. Petersburg Sept Is
ut IN Impossible TO speak TOO highly nf
the great Kindness Of the Russian officsais.
Everything possible was done for US by
them. even 10 Offering us money. on
the transsihcrian railway. though II was
choked with troops and closed TO civil.
lans, the authorities provided reserved
car for us. We passed immense mum.
bers' OF troops. apparently conseripts
hastily collected. They wore no uniforms
and some had no guns. All % them wore
straw hats,
at the United States legation In st.
Petersburg. we expressed the opinion that
Russia was preparing 20 seize Manchuria,
hut We were informed that the American
legation bad been assured that Russia
had no such Intention.