The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-06
OUTBREAK OF THE BOXERS.
CraEed by SupcrstItiOns, They At
tackled and Killed Christians
Wherever They Found Them.

New York, Aug. Sin a letter from
the Rev. Father Marquee. the superior
of the Roman Catholic missionaries in
the province of Chi Ii. China, just receiv-
ed here, he says that at the beginning
of the Boxer outbreak the Chinese au-
thorities sought to protest the Christians.
He tells how the native Christians fought
against the Boxers and defeated them.
The Boxers say that by the help OF
certain lamentations" writes Father Mar
quet, they became invulnerable as soon
as the spirit to which they surrender
themselves has taken possession of them.
But whenever a Christian is present or
wherever a church stands. the spirit. they
say does not descend upon them, and so
they cannot become invulnerable In
fact not far from the Christian estab-
lishment of Tchu Kin Ho. three of those
who had been initiated volunteered after
their incantations 60 be fired at. The
first of them was instantly killed. while
the two others were wounded mortelly.
"'It was market day and the Boxers,
afraid of losing their prestige before the
people. proclaimed loudly that this was
the fault of the Christians. They spread
the news that neophytes had killed one
of their adherents and wounded the others,
and declared their intention of getting rid
of the Christians, sacking their houses
and burning their churches"
BeGlnninG of the Trouble.
or the beginning OF actual trouble Faith
er Marquet writes
with the exception of three communi-
ties. which foreseeing what was about to
happen, had armed themselves and two
Others, which were protected by Pagan
village chiefs. every Christian establish
ment at Kin Tcheou was sacked At Leou
Pa Tchoang. a Christian who wanted to
save his house, was stabbed, then an In
fiammatory fluid was poured over his body
and set on fire while he was still breath
ing. few days later IL was the turn
of the Christian esta blishments OF
Pou Tcheng. keo Ho and Tong Koang.
The district OF Father Andlauer, the real
hotbed of the Boxers. suffered most.
THE Boxers, numbering 800, attacked
the Christians at Ton Tai kon not far
distant from our residence. The Chris
tians had taken up arms. Intrepid, though
few in number, the Christians waited for
the Boxers and from the roofs of their
houses spread death and havoc in the
ranks of the enemy. The Boxers fed,
tom in a neighboring village and again
were getting ready to storm the village
when trumpets were heard which had the
effect of throwing them into disorder and
made them take flight permanently. The
approaching force was troop of cavalry
OF the regular army. which Father Becker.
in most pressing letter had requested
the mandarin to dispatch to his help The
cavalrymen came In great haste, and,
| though they reached the scene OF action
too late TO take part In the victory they
at least scattered the enemy
Many Communities Devastated.
Altogether forty-five Christian COM
munities were devastated, in which no re-
ligious service of any kind can be f~d
Should the soldiers. which were sent to
our help, be recalled by events occurring
on the seacoasts or at Tien Tsin, we would
again be at the mercy of these countless
hordes, who cherish in their hearts an
implacabfe hatred of Europeans and the
Christian ralfotop