Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-09-27
AN INTERESTING STORY.
Thrilling Experiences of Party Of
American Missionaries Es-
Gaping From China.
CHASED ACROSS THE COBB DESERT,
A TOIIsome and Dangerous Journey,
Beginning June 10, Mt KaIgan,
Province of Chih LII, Across Sc
IBERIA 10 Irkutsl, Thence to St.
Petersburg and London.

aho A<ChoOhs
London, Sept. 24.-The American
missionaries, j. II. Roberts, Mark Will
liams, VIM. 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 London in good health. They
will proceed Immediately to the Unit
ed States.
An Interesting story.
Mr.. Williams, who has worked in
China for "a years, gave a press rep
resentative an interesting story of his
experiences. 1t appears that the first
assault on the mission compound at
Kalgan was made during the night Of
June 10, when a 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.
A Terrible Journey Ahead.
"We had no idea then of the terri
BILE journey which awaited u.s." con-
tinued Mr.. Williams. 1--WE had no no.
ton of having to escape across ST.
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 fight
across the great Cobb desert was in
evitable. Having secured a caravan
we started June %. 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 had
been almost dubbed to death, while
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 for
the ladies and children. For eight
days we travelled over nothing but
sand. The air was like that of an
oven and the suffering was intense.
The animals had no grass and no wa
ter, and marching in the daytime was
impossible. At the few isolated wells
Mongols were encamped in the vi
cinity, and they refused to allow us
to draw water, fearing we would
poison the wells.
Days of Terrible Anxiety.
"After 3s days of terrible anxiety
we reached Urga, on the other side of
the desert. We presented a sorry
spectacle. The Russian consul general
was most kind. He gave up to us IA
rooms in the consulate. But, to our
dismay the consul told us we must
leave forthwith, as there were 1000
Mongol soldiers in the neighborhood,
who might be hostile. He also
warned us that tens of thousands of
Mongols were gathering for relig-
ious festival, and that if we valued
our safety we would better clear out
without delay.
Safety at Last.
"A fortnight later, August 10, we
reached Kiakhta, and remained there
till August 81.
"In the meanwhile Mr.. Tower (Mr.
Charlemagne Tower, United States
ambassador to Russia) obtained per-
mission from the authorities at st.
Petersburg for our journey over the
Siberian railway. Arriving at Irkutsk,
September 2, we took a train and
reached st. Petersburg September IS.
Lord Roberts adds:
"Paget has captured Erasmus
camp, 1900 cattle 5000 sheep and %
prisoners.
"Methuen has made another big
haul of stock"
Lord Roberts also reports that the
few Boer troops remaining in the
eastern Transvaal are completely
"Out of hand" and says they are
mostly burghers, the foreign mercs-
naries having gone to Lorenzo Mar
quez, owing to the Portuguese gov
eminent promising to maintain them
while there and give them passage to