Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-23
THE CHINESE HORRORS,

Shortly after the outbreak OF the re-
volt ia China. the civilized world was
shocked az the stories Of atrocities said
10 have been committed by The Boxers.
Even the sultan Of Turkey ON whose
conscience rests the responsibility for
the Armenian massacres. expressed his
deeply felt dlsapproyal Of the Chinese
deeds Of horror Women IN the lega-
lion. Il was claimed. were taught the
use OF firearms, and were determined
10 take their own lives rather than sur
render 10 the Infatuated Mongolians.
Now there appcars to be another side
10 this story. which also should be told
by the accounts given 10 British Jour
nails by such men as Sir Robert Hart
and Dr. r. j. Dillon Il Is shown that
the atrocities committed By the white
soldiers were at least equal 70 those
charged 10 the Boxers. Dr. Dillon
charges that thousands Of Chinese men.
women and children were put to death
merely on suspicion, and that the rly-
ors were choked with corpses. Neither
age nor sex was spared And count
less Chinese women actually did take
their own lives TO escape a worse fate
than death. Dr Dillon ~ho followed
the path Of destruction. tells these par
uculars,
Chinese women honestly believed
that no more terrible fate could over
take them than TO fall alive into the
hands OF Europeans and Americans
And 1t Is to be feared that they were
right Buddhism and Confucianism
have their martyrs to chastity. whose
heroic feats no martyr0iogy viii ever
record. Some Of those obscure, but
rght-minded. girls and women hurried
themselves into the river and, finding
only three feet Of water there, kept
their heads under the surface Until
death had set his seal on the sacrifice
OF their lie. But a large number
OF ill-starred women fen alive into the
hands of the allied troops ] saw some
Of them IN Pekln and Tungtschau. but
already dead. with frightful gashes In
the breast. or skulls smashed In. and
one with a horribly mutllated body
who. In company with a female coll
league. busted herself TO my KNOWLEDGE
for months IN shielding Chinese women
and girls from being raped by Christian
ana European soldiers. and the work
was anything but easy, though | have
reason 20 believe that II has proved
eminently successful. Even In the broad
daylight soldiers hung about the Refuge
ana employed various devices and
tricks 10 get hold OF the women. whom
they ought TO have been the first to
protect"
Sir Robert Hart, however, exonerates
the officers and soldiers Of English and
speaking nationalitles. No case
OF atrocities against women by them
has come to his notice, And this is a
source Of great satisfaction on the
other hand # Is alleged that even mis-
sIonaries took a prominent part IA the
footing. and that to such an extent that
there now is widespread impression
IN China, that that form OF vengeance
is counted among the so-called Chris
tian virtues.
10 Us not pleasant 70 dNel upon inns
phase Of the Chinese lmbroglio but
since Chrlstendom united IN bringing
civilization" TO China, the record Of
the proceedings should not be SUD
pressed. The public that are annually
asked 10 contribute toward the mis-
gIonary funds intended Tor the "con-
version" Of the pagan Mongollans. are
interested In everything that can shed
any Hight on the situation. Besides,
China Is about to be called TO heavy
account for her part In the atrocities
But who is to execute Judgment upon
the judges2 Unless the christian
nations proceed with moderation, their
day Of reckoning IS sure to come, nc
natter how long delayed