The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-16
THE SHANS|
- sV|LLA|N|Es
Detailed Account Of the
Murders.
.,suEEERIAGs
Letter Received by Mrs. J. B. Ather-
ton From Mrs. HartweII at
Chefoc.

nc AohO"inB account. OF the TERRIBLE
shansi murders OF missionaries in Chi
ma was received by Mrs. ]. Il. Ather-
ton from Mrs. j. Il. Hartwell OF the
baptist Mission at Cheefoo:
A native Christian teacher. a graduate
or the North China College at Tung-cho,
VINO mas been employed as a teacher IN
boys school at Feng Chow ia Shansi.
arrived In Tien-Tsin Saturday evening.
september LIST. having escaped from the
general massacre. He left Shansi on the
zsth OF August and after many yicissitudes
arrived safe. He Is a remarkably intelii-
gent young man. who. within the past
two years. has learned to speak English
with great precision.
He is abundantly qualified to give an ac-
curate and detailed report. His account
IL as follows: .r.i.-
\ On June 18th the first murders were
committed as far as known. This was at
Ifsiaop Hsien. where two ladies of the
China Inland Mission were living alone
Miss Whitchurch and Miss SeawelI. Their
death was reported by telegram long since.
On the day mentioned some 600 Boxers
broke into their compound subsequent to
the following incident. A few rough
youths began attacking their front gate.
They sent helper to the District Magis-
trate TO ask for help. The Cficiai came
himself. and, finding no further harm than
tho smashing of the gate, reproved the
Informant and struck him with his own
hand. This gave notice to the crowd that
they could attack with irnpunity. They
began at once. Another appeal to the
Magistrate was made. who replied that his
urderlings were intended to protect Chi
nose and not foreigners. a larger crowd
AT once entered the premises
\ The ladies' in their helplessness kneeled
before the crowd and begged for mercy,
but they were replied TO by being beaten
on the heads with clubs at intervals. Some
also took glass bottles and broke them
upon their heads. The ladies lived about
an hour from the first attack upon them.
Their clothes were taken off and their
watches taken away. When the official
was Informed OF their death. he sent over
two boxes for collins. These collins were
placed In the new Baptistery recently fin
ished In their own court yard. The de-
tells OF this terrible affair were learned
| through messenger sent from the
American Board Mission at Fen Chow Flu.
The next disaster In order of time was on
u ne %. at Sheo Yang. seventy miles east
OF Tai Yuen city. This IL the mission sta
tion OF independent workers under Mr..
IT. W. Piggott. There were here at the
time Mr.. and Mrs. Piggott and son. Mr..
Robinson, tutor OF the lad recently ar
rived. two daughters OF Rev. Atwater OF
Fen Chow Fu. and Miss Duval. also a
teacher.
These seven persons were driven from
their homes into the huts not far away.
They soon returned to their home how
4 EYER. and were there arrested by the Dis
trict Magistrate and compelled 10 go 10
the capital. Tai Yuen. On the way they
were chained with handouts and collars.
and not permitted TO buy food. The SOL
diers were not even allowed TO sell them
eggs at dollar apiece. On July 9th the :
were taken. and on arrival at Tai Yue1
placed I'm separate rooms. Mrs. Piggoft
not being allowed to communicate with
- O, ~ ~
foreign houses at Tai Yuen had been
burned. the missionaries, with the excep-
ton OF Miss coomhs. having. escaped 10
the house OF Mr.. Farthing. of the English
; Baptist Mission. Miss Coombs was un-
able 10 escape. being burdened by heI
native school girls. Hundreds of Boxers
and rough people had crowded into their
houses. but several OF tho missionaries
managed to fight through the crowd and
; 80 escaped. the lady being left behind IN
, noticed. During the rioting. many were
trampied upon. two school girls being trod
to death.
Miss Coornbs pleaded with the soldiers
who were sharing In the looting anc
burning to save her life. They seized hei
instead and threw her into the flames o.
the burning houses. Later nothing bu
a pile Of ashes was found I'm the place
where she fell The above missionaries
must have remained several daysNat tn
house OF Mr.. Farthing. On July 9TH tn
Governor sent for complete list Of IN
ne mes OF the foreigners. on the 9tn
! which was n Monday. he ordered then
, all TO come TO his Yamen under the pre-
= terce that he intended to escort tnsn
safe 20 the coast. On entering the frs
gate OF the Yamen they were surrounde'
r b. guard Of soldiers. This being com
Melted. about thirty Boxers with draw
swords were allowed to enter the circi
7 4. nd each foreigner was cut to pieces b.
ltrese invited guests. They were all be
nc aded and the heads placed in baskets
were hung upon the four gates OF IN
!. city. About forty native Christians wer
. killed In the same tline.
: The following day ten Roman cannon
priests were killed I'm the same way. The
are reported as chiefly Frenchmen- ~
bodies of the thirty three foreigners XII
cd were placed I'm wooden cases and a.
D hurled In the Baptistry. presumably
. the court in Mr.. Fnrthing's house.
; The list Of those killed Is not complete
/. but as far as known. u as follows: MI
stokes ard wife, Mr.. Simpson and wife
!. Mr. Beynon. wife and three children, sii
Farthine. wife and three children, ~,
: lIovitt. wife and one child, Dr. AliIier w
lson and wife. Mr.. Whitehouse and VIE
This makes twenty-five at Tai fuer
which. with the seven from Sheo-yant
makes twenty nine. There are thus lou
nsmes TO be supplied. IL Is Tor the mas
Isacre Of thirty-three foreigners that IN
Iffudisn GOveruOf Ol 6htahSt
reward. II Is also reported that In an
i around Tai Yuen 300 native Christian
rave been killed The English Baptis
! Mission at Hsin Chou. Is thirty-hve mlIe
north Of Tai Yuen, on the great roa
J. running north. The six missionaries ses
toned here were: Mr.. and Mrs. plxol
J. Mr.. and Mrs. McCurran. single sen'.s
man and a single lady. These are a
to have escaped on horseback 20
a IN the mountains. and may possibly nav
= avoided their pursuers. IL Is distressin
lto no unable TO hear OF their whereabouts
The mission OF the American Board Q
4. lTai Ru. some twenty miles south or Ia
lYuen. seems TO have escaped the nrst IN
- ltsnsity of the general attack upon FOL
elrners. This Is said to- be due to IN
friendly spirit OF the local official. wn
had rad abundant occasion TO be friendl
:. Ito them. on July 31st the Boxers came
hi a crowd of about 800 to attack these NIL
sion premises. One of the principal ma
= tive helpers was killed and the gates
the compound were broken In The men
hers OF the mission present were as 70
lows: Mr.. r W. Davis, Mr.. G.. ID. WI
I, iiams. Mr.. u. IT, Clapp and wife. Mis-