The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-10-30

The Massacre at Bllgovestchensk
Says the Nlga'aki Pres, of the
18th inst
The news OF the massacre at
Blagovestcheusk Of large body Of
Chinese residents, the details of
which we're published in these
columns a fortnight ago, is now
fully confirmed by NJ. M. Collin aud
Tytgat, two Belgian journalists who
arrived here from Wlsdivostock by
the Daphne on Thursday last.
These gentlemen are on their way
to North China in the interests Of
several Of the most important Bel
gian newspapers, and will probably
leave here by the French transport
Nive, due to sail to morrow for
Taku. They travelled east by the
Trans Siberian railway, and arrived
at Bagovestchensk on the Goth
August, I've weeks after the occur
renee Of the terrible tragedy, which
Mr. Collin informs us took several
days to enact. During his stay at
Blagovestchensk be had ample time
to inquire into the circumstances
tteuding the massacre, aud though
the details necessarily differ, the in.
disputable fact remains that all the
Chinese inhabitants or the town
we're ruthl. ssly murdered.
M. Collin learned that on the re-
ceipt of the news Of the trouble in
Tientsin, the Chinese residents Of
Blagovestchensk, who numbered
at that time shout 5000 souls, be
gan to leave ths town. TO stop The
TX )dus, NJ. Bstsr,vitch, the Chiti
OF Police, proceeded to Aiguu, and
informed the Chinese Commandant
there that whatever happened, be
Chinese in Blagovestchensk would
be protected, and that there as no
need for them to leave the town. A
proclamation was also issued to this
effect and was the means OF arrest
ing the exodus, though it is com
puted that about 1000 Chinese
managed to escape into Chinese
territory.
On the l4th July the Chinese
suddenly opened fire on Blago-
vestchensk which was continued in T..
termittently for IL days. On the
18th July Nj. Batsrevitch received a
message from General Gripsky, who
is said TO have been in the neiRhb Dor
hood OF Aigun at the time. The
message was, Of course, in the Rus.
siau langu lge, but the literal trans
lation into English was, do Chin
ese Amur." The Chief of Police
falling to understand the mes-
sage asked for an explanation,
but as answer received he curt
reply, "Ooey orders" The Chinese
we're then collected from their
houses, and escorted ly their Cos.
sack guards seven verats frt m the
city. After being robbed they were
driven into the river, and to expe
dite their drowning many of the un-
iortunat, victims were tied together
b. their queues. The same scenes
Nere enacte the following day, and
out Of the large Chinese popul aticn,
computed at nearly 5000, only some
so or 60 managed to elude their cap
tors and this they did by hidiug
themselves ia the cellars OF houses,
where they remained several days
without food. The victims houses
were afterwards looted by the Cos.
sacks,
M. Collin says thst 20 secrecy is
maintained about the horrible affair,
and that tbs matter Of common
talk all along the banks Of the
Amur.
M Collin also states that Blago.
vsstchensk was nc t the only town in
which Chinese were made the vic.
Tins OF Cossack brutality. All the
Chinese town aud villages along the
Amur have been destroyed and the