The Portland daily press., 1900-12-25
Brings Copy Of Pathetic Letter
Written to Friends
just Before the Writer
w as Murdered.
The Cruelties of the Froneh and
Russian Troops.

Mr.. Charles n. Cannon formerly ot
Portl ana has just returned home from
China, where he had many exciting ex-
periences in the Boxer uorisInR. de is
staying at present with his brother In
law, Mr.. Harry Merrlweather on Vesper
street.
The following clipping from Chinese
PAPER in Mr.. Cannon S possession are
the letters written by Mrs. Atwater just
before sts was murdered by the Chinese.
They have never been printed In any
American paper. Tbs clipping Ia as fol-
lows:
The following two pathetic letters
have reached Iienstin this week, Novem-
Der Sth, and We're written by Mrs. At
water shortly before she was murdered
and given into the care of the gate keep
er, who appears to have faithfully full
TILED the trust and forwarded them here
by his son few days ago. These letters
will be treasured by the bereaved rela-
tives, and tell us all the little that we
shsll probably ever know of a personal
naure Of the last hours of the victims
Of Yu Hsien fiendish cruelty. This is
the only word that has reached the coast
of the titty-nine persons done to death
in Shansi,
Fen. chou-fu, Jnly 10th, 1900.
lear Ones at 1ai-ku:-Mrs. Clamp,
howena, Louise;
n The gentlemsn letters Will tell you
what our next step is, SO won speak
of 1t. This last news from you confirm
ing our fears concerning the dsar ones at
Tai-yuan was hard. God knows how
hard for us to bear, but L cannot write
kAf, - In Mt ny
In tine morning there was the very III
Shat proclamation ordering us out almost
at once. / could do nothing but cry
koday; 1t seemed as II could bear no
more in my present condition. No one
talked at meals. We seemed to be waiting
for the end, and 1 for my part lon ged
that it might come specify. he
went like brave fellow to the Yamen
to ask II we could not have an escort to
the river. We could hire nothing unless
the kuan helped us. He stayed SO long
we feared he had been beaten, but our
fears for once were groundless. And yet
although as no escort has been promised.
1 feel very uneasy. The new kuan has
come, but the old one will not give up
his authority, and there Is considerable
friction In consequence. How 1t may
affect our going do not know. We are
in thu Lords hands What Will you
plan to do? We wish we could know. l
DO pray you may be led every step.
wish l could think 1t safe to 90 toward
Hankow, 1t seems such q risk, but
there sesms nothing else for ir now. May
GOD keep each one OF You. He Is our
only help. With much love to each OF
you, ana kindest regards 10 MIR. Davis,
Mr.. Clapp and Mr.. William, ever lovingly
Lizzie A5wa1sr.
Our plans are unset, we do not think
we can escaps from the city. Several OF
the church members are planning to
concsal us IL we divide up. IL Is hard
to do that. Mr.. Lei wishes TO conceal
me in his home right here in the city,
bat want to stsy with my dear husband
while Iifs is given to us. Heaven sfems
vsry near, these last hours, and l feel
quite calm.
There Will bs joyful welcome for US
all above. am fixing my thoughts more
and more on the glorious hereafter, and
It gives me wonderful peace. GOD bless
you all Yours in blessed hope, l.. A.
Note on the envelope. The foreigners
at Tai-ku, six in number were beheaded
yesterday, august lst.)
Fen-chow-fu, August 8Id, 1900.
My Dear, Dear Ones.-l have tried to
gather courage to write to you once more.
now am l to write all the horrible de-
tails of these days. ! would rather spare
you. The dear ones at Shou Hang,
seven in all, including our lovely girls,
wers taKen prisoners and brouaht to
ernor's orders beheaded, together with
the Iai-yuan friends, thirty three souls.
The following cay the Roman Catholic
priests and nuns, AT Iai-yuan, were al 80
behsaded. ten souls yesterday. Three
weeks after these had perlshed our Mis-
sion at Iai-ku was attacked, ana our six
friends there anu several brave Christians
who stood by them were beheaded. We
are now waiting our call home We have
tried to get away TO the hills, but the
n..u 4, aw,. kANw.
stolen right and left, for the people
know that we are condemned. Why our
uves have been spared we cannot tell.
The Proclamation says that whoever kills
us Will be doing the governor n great
service. Our magistrate has kept peace
so far, but II these men come from Tai
ku there Is not much hops, and there
seems none any way we turn. The for
eign soldiers are in Pao-ting-fu and 1t
Is said that peace is made. This would
save us In any civilized land, 20 matter
what people may say. The governor
seems to he in haste 20 finish his blood
work, for which there is little doubt he
was sent to Shansi, Dear ones, l long
for a sight or yonr dear faces, but fear
we shall net meet on earth. l have loved
you all SO much, and know you will not
forget the ones who live in China.
There never were sisters and brothers
like mine. l am preparing for the end
very qutetly and calmly. The Lord IL
wonderfully near and He will not fail
me, l was very restless and excited while
there seemed a chance of life, but G od
has taken away that feeling, and now l
lust pray for grace to meet the terrible
end bravelj. the pain will soou be over
and, oh, the sweetness of the welcome
above
My little baby will go with me. /
think God will give 1t to me In Heaven,
and my dear mother will ee so glad to
see us. l cannot imagine the Saviour's
welcome. On, that will compensate for
all these days Of suspense. Dear ones live
near to God and cling less closely TO
earth. There is no other way by which
we can receive that Peace from G cd
which passeth understanding. would