The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-09

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9.-Rev. Father
| Athanasius, Of the Order OF Friars Minor,
who is here from Sian-fuh, staying at the
franciscan residence. confirms the state
ments made il the cable dispatches con-
| corning the sufferings from famine in
Shen-si and Shan-si and a part Of Honan
| 10 the south. He said when seen today
/ that diEtress was daily increasing and ad-
ded:
For two years crops have failed and
| people have already entered upon the third
year OF want and suffering. There havs
/ been no rains during the famine period and
| consequently no crops harvested. The
| people live by agriculture, depending en-
| tirely upon soil to supply all their wants.
| The country Is not wooded, there are no
| lumber regions in the vicinity, therefore
during dry seasons there is nothing 70 eat
| no fuel and nothing TO wear, for the peo-
pie weave cIothing from cotton and fibre"
Father Athapasius says that in Shen-si
his province, the Christians number 81. 600
and in Shan-si there are q, coo. The SUI
ferings Of these Christians have been par
lcuIarly great as persecution was added
to their distress, for, in being driven from
place to place TO seek protection. they lost
many Of their belongings
Sian-fuh is commercial centre for
northern provinces and has a population
Of about Se0,oe0 Chinese, with a few Euro
pean missionaries On this population.
the Empress DOwageF with her court and
the soldiers have been quartered like
wolves The advance guard of soldiers
some 10000 or more, levied on the people
as soon as they entered the place and took
by force the rice and all provisions they
could seize. When Father Athanasius
he Isl Eaf-z
ing mulberry leaves, elm bark, cotton
seed. and roots OF all kinds. The children
were starving and dying. parents were
abandoning them and the missionaries
were collecting them into parish houses
and engaging aged women to feed them.
Much could not be done. The oFphanages
we're crowded and the resources we're lin
tied In the face Of all this. there were
storehouses and granaries rich in food
stu1fs, but money was the only key that
would open them.
Father Athanasius viii travel through
the United States and Europe, collecting
money which will be sent on 10 Shanghai
and from there telegraphed to banking
houses Of Sian-fuh. from which residents
and missionaries viii draw 1t 70 open the
grauaries for starving multitudes until
rain comes Father AthaaasiUs is very
fond CT his Catholic converts. In speak
ing of them he said:
1T is held that it is very hard TO con-
vert the Chinese Let me say II is easier
than it is TO reform bad Christians. and
they are such true Catholics The little
feet women viii walk four and FIVE miles
10 attend mass"
Father Athanasius this week received
cablegram announcing the death IN Sian
fun 81 Bishop Pagnucei and Coa5iutor
Bishop Coltelli The latter was only con-
secrated last year and was but thirty
sixty eight years old. He had been for
thiFty-four years IN charge OF the Episco-
PAT See The priest necessarily feels
alarmed at the unexpected informa ton.
Both of the bishops were well when he
left Shen-si- a violent death at the handE
of the enemy is the most natural Cc7cIu-
sion TO reach. Poison is the method that
Father Athaaasius thinks would be most
probably resorted to in such trOublous
times IN China.