The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-10-03
SHE WAS NOT HARMED.
Miss Kate L. Schaefer Reported
Massacred is Safe.
TELLSOF THE TROU BILE.
She Says that if Anything Happens
She Can Easily Escape to
q Refuge.

Kenosha, Wis. Sept. Is Special. j
Miss Kate L. Schaeifer of Somers. Wis.
who was reported to have been killed by
the Boxers in the island OF Hainan, is
safe AID we'll, for this morning letter
was received from the young lady telling
Of her safety and Of the conditions in
China. No word had been received from
Miss Schaeffer for many weeks and the
worst was feared until the letter was re-
ceived this morning The news of the
safety Of Miss Schaeffer has caused
great rejoicing in the little town of Som
ers. and the Congregational church, for
which Miss Schaeffer had gone to Chi
ma, will hold a special thanks service
this evening to give thanks for her de-
liverance. The letter was dated Kiung
Chow. Hainan, China. August u. Miss
Schacffer says:
ITO those of my personal friends who
may be wondering where | am | vii! say
! safe and III my usual place III kiung
Chow city
I'm the latter part Of July [ left Hal
nan for the British colony of Hong Kong,
in company with a number Of other mis-
sionaries and business men. This was
because there were runlors at1oat that
! the foreigners and the native banks and
pawnshops were to be attacked during
heather festival that was held in Hoi-
not from the local pOpulace, but from the
vast crowds of people that gathered at
that time from all parts of the island
| and from the mainland. 1t seemed pru
| dent fer women and children to be away
| under the circumstances. but the gentle
men OF the mission and the customs peO-
| pie remained. They informed the local
| officials of the rumors afoat and asked
for proclamation ordering the people
to remain quiet. After some delay these
were posted, Hollow was given a guard
Of 100 men to police the streets and two
saint and the customs cruiser 'Likin'
took up their stations in the harbor,
ready to lombard both Kiung Chow and
Hollow should trouble arise.
Away Ready for Trouble.
THE festival passed off quietly. and
after a three-weeks vacation. [ am
again in Hainan. I do not venture to
take any country trips. however, and nay
shotgun and ammunition are kept ready
to hand. though | anticipate no trouble
here. In Hainan the rebels arc known
as 'Triads,' instead Of Boxers They
were very active in their dPpredations i'll
the spring and the lives Of the poor terri
fed villagers in the interior were scarce
~ worth living. Nearly all were forced
TO Join the Triads as Il means Of self
protection, for If they refused to join
they were robbed of their cattle, grain
and valuableS. besides. III many cases,
being kidnapped and held for ransom Or
tortured to death.
y spent May and June out on coun-
try trip and in 4 visit to my fellow mis-
siCnarics nj Nod0a market ninety
miles from king Chow. This station is
in the midst Of Il rebelliOus people. and
while there. we had enough excitement
to make things decidedly interesting.
Loaded guns and dark suits were kept In
convenient places. so that if we should
he attacked and had to flee, we could
do so armed and inconspicuOusly. This
movement of the Trads was not anti
foreign nor anti-ChriStian. but anti-gov-
ernmenta. OF course, being a heather
organization with idol Worship as Il
prominent feature. the native Christian
could not join. and so incurred the dis
pleasure of the Triad. One small vii
lage moved out completely. bringing their
cows. rice and household effects to the
mission compound for safety. But there
were also heather villages. which, by
reason Of their wealth and the conse
Ouent heavy initiation tax asked Of them,
refused to join. They secured guns, for
titled their villages with stockades and
held out.
Guarded by Native Soldiers.
.'The mission compound was guarded
by thirty soldiers furnished by the friend
" officials whose fort was next door.
These soldiers fortified the place by lay
ing heavy planks up against the yeranda
ratings of the mission house. threw IN
earthworks in various places inside the
hedge which surrounds the yard. They
built lookout in tree near by, kept
sentinels Oh duty at night and guards at
the gates in the daytime and we felt
quite safe. But if this official and
his soldiers. who are from the northern
provinces. had turned traitor to us, as
seems to have been the case III many
places in the North our story might have
been a sad one. The different district
magistrates. in obedience to the instruc
tiOns of the vicer0y in Canton. have been
indefatigable in hunting down the thiev
ing tribes, decapitatlng some and Gag
ing others. The latter is a form Of slow
death worthy of the medieval times.
The culprit's hands and feet are tied and
then he is suspended by board around
his neck on which his chin and the back
of his head rests. The whole is enclosed
in balloon cage and set out in q court
OF the yamen, where crowds of people go
to see the CHASTITY sight Three Wretches
were thus Gagged in this city few weeks
ago They were suspended in the even
ing and endured their agony until about
II o'clock the next morning, when the
scorching sun of our tropical summer
helped to end their lives.
when the first news of the Pekin
trouble reached us, the situation was eX-
ctedly discussed by the Chinese, but
since it is an affair OF SO long standing
and Of such distance from Hainan
there is very little talk ut present. We
keep sharp lookout on public sentiment
and can get away quite easily, SO no one
need fear for our welfare.
COLLECTING CAMPAIGN FUNDS
A Stranger Soliciting Money is Ar