The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-06
MURDER OF
MISSIONARIES
Frightfu sin China Mar
rated in Thle7I q erms.
THE VICTIMS ARE 81 2 a
Two of Them, Handcuffed, Preached
Wherever They Stopped to Rest.
BLOW OF ExECUTIONER's KNIFE
The Governor, Impatient, Orders His
Body Guard to Help in
the Murder.
Rsx York Sun soeofaI Se-vEcs

Washington. May 6-The last mail from
China brings a thrilling account OF the
murder Of the missionaries at Tal-yuan-Iu
on the 9Th OF last July, which was taken
down in writing by DR.. J. a. Greasy
Smith from the narrative of Yung Cnens'
2 member of the Baptist church VINO was
an unwilling witness of their martyrdom.
Yung Cheng is vouched for as Christian
of excellent character and absolutely
trustowrthy.
He says that he was taking treatment
In the hospital on the Baptist society 5
premises al Tai-tuan-fu, when on the
Sth Of July he saw Rev Mr.. Pigott, his
wife and child, John Robinson, Miss Du-
val and TWO young women named AtWater
brought into the town. The two gentle
men were handcuffed and escorted by a
company Of soldiers and followed by i'm
mense throngs Of natives. Wherever they
stopped 10 rest. Mr.. Pigott and Mr.. Rob
insOn preaced TO the people, who gathered
around them and were very much aston
tshed, saying: You are going 10 be killed
for preaching, and yet you continue TO do
So" That night the party were placed in
prison with number Of other mission
aries and their wives and children, in
cluding several Catholic priests. The
next morning they were all executed.
The first to be led forth, Yung
Cheng says, was Mr.. Parthing, a Baptist
minister. His wife clung to him, but he
put her aside gently, knelt down without
saying a word, and his head was struck
of by one blow of the executioner's knife.
He was quickly followed by Pastors Hod-
die and BeynOn, and Drs. IlOvitt and VIII
son., all Of whom were beheaded with one
blow by the executioner. Then the gov
ernor. Yu Hsien, grew impatient and told
his body guard, all of whom carried big
hn VII "a
help Kill the others. Pastors Stokes,
Simpson and Whitehouse were next killed,
the last by one blow only, the other two
by several.
When the men were finished, the la
dies were taken. Mrs. Parthing had hold
of the haids OF her children, who clung to
her, but the soldiers parted them and
with one blow beheaded their mother.
The eXecutiOner beheaded ali the children
and did it skilfully, needing only one blow,
but the soldiers were clumsy, and some
of the ladies suffered several cuts before
death.
Mrs. Lovitt was wearing her spectacles
and held the hand of her little boy, even
when she was killed She spoke to the
people, saying as near as I remember:
We all came to China to bring you the
good news Of salvation by Jesus Christ;
We have done you no harm, only good;
why do you treat US so?'
a soldier took off her spectacles before
beheading her. which needed two blows.
When the Protestants were all killed,
the Roman Catholics were led forward.
The bishop, an old man, with long white
beard, asked the governor, Yu Hsien, why
he was doing this wicked deed. I did not
hear the governor gives him any answer,
but he drew his sword and cut the bishop
across the face one heavy stroke; blood
poured down his white beard and he was
beheaded. The priests and nuns quickly
followed him in death.
Then Pastor Pigott and his party were
led from the district Jail, which is close
by. He was still handcuffed and so was
Mr.. Robinson. He preached to the people
till the very last, when he was beheaded
with one blow. Mr.. Robinson suffered
death calmly. Mrs. Pigott held the hand
of her son, even when she was beheaded,
and he was killed Immediately after her.
The lady and two girls were killed also
quickly.
"On that day forty-flve foreign people in
all were. beheaded, thirty three Protest
ants and twelve Roman Catholics The
bodies Of all were left where they fell
till next morning as it was evening be-
fore the work was finished. During the
night they we're stripped of the clothing
and other things, such as rings and
watches. Newt day they were removed
TO a place inside the great south gate.
except some Of the heads which were
placed in cages on the gates of the wall"