The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-19
SERVICES OF MISSIONARIES.
New York Independent.

New York Independent.
| Our readers have already seen and will
remember the magnificent eulogy paid by
Minister Conger to the American mission
aries who were his companions in the siege
| they underwent at Picking. Without their
help and their organization of the native
! Christians escape would have been impos-
sible Later reports illustrate and empha-
size what he said in that letter of thanks
to them.
| In a recent issue the Sun, of this city, de-
votes six long columns to the story of the
siege, carrying 1t down to June %. The de-
pendence on the intelligence and skill of the
| American ncombatants-that is, the mis-
sionaries-is made very clear.
| In the first place, they would not forsake
| their native converts; and IL was finally on
| the labor of these Chinese that the saliva
| tion of all depended. The ENJOYS did not
| feel it their duty TO protect Chinese, and
| perhaps had to be Indifferent, but the mis-
| sionaries allowed and encouraged their
| converts to follow them The civilians,
| including seventy Americans, had gathered
| at the Methodist compound. and were noti-
| fed that they must proceed to the British
| legation, at twenty minutes notice So
| the procession started, the hostile Chinese
| looking on; first twenty American marines.
| then the American women and children.
| then the III schoolgirls, then the Chinese
| women and children, then a party of Ger
man marines, bearing their interpreter,
wounded, VIXEN Minister Ketteler was muir
dered, and the missionaries, armed with
| rifles or revolvers, brought up the rear
Not a woman wept, not a child whimp-
cred" One OF the American marines look
ing on with admiration. Remarked:
THE missionary society that appointed
these ladies TO take care of these Chinese
knew what they were about, for certain -
Minister Conger and all the members of
the American legation did all that was pos
sible for the refugees, who had TO stop
there for two hours while on their way TO
the British legation, and here Mrs Squlers
wife of our first secretary, provided all q
luncheon. and then told them TO help them
selves TO all the supplies OF food which
were gathered there and take them to the
British legation.
Now comes a most remarkable fact The
British legation was found to be unfortified
The seventy-nine British marines suddenly
sent up from the coast, did not know what
TO do. They were boys OF twenty TO thirty
and their officers had only their willing
bravery and no military training. The Brit
ish minister, Sir Claude Macdonald. an
piled 10 one OF the Americans whom he
knew as TO whom among them he could
depend upon for assistance In the innumer-
able matters that required attention I'm the
now crowded quarters. He was told that
the missionaries had already before COM
ing TO his legation appointed committees to
take charge OF everything. and that COM
petent men could be summoned i'm five min
utes who had acquired successful experi-
ence. Within an hour dozen committees
we're appointed, the previous chairmen be-
ing retained, reinforced by able coadjutors
An American Congregational missionary
Mr.. Z. G.. Tewksbury. was the indefat-
igabie and omnipresent chairman OF the
general committee. other members being
taken. one each from the British, French
, and Russian legations, and the customs de-
partment.
%ow came the work OF fertilization.
which was independent OF all control ex-