The times., 1901-05-05
MENACBD BY THE BOXERS
Thrilling Experience Of Miss Emma
BOughtOn at Wei Hsiem.
Was Member of Presbyterian
Missionary Band in That CitH-Tn-
timations of Trouble First Pre-
scented by Celestial Juveniles.

Missionary Band in That City-In-
timationS of Trouble First Pre-
scented by Celestial juveniles.
Miss Emma Boushton a missionary to
China sent out bv Dr. Parl,hursts church,
New York, is spending her time in this
country in getting that complete rest
which is certainly hers after the several
weeks suffering which she endured at the
hands of the Boxers last summer She
came here the latter part of January and
will remain until August She has been
visiting friends in different sections OF the
East since her return. and for some days
past she has been the guest Of her cousin.
Isaac Van Horn, Of Brooklyn.
Miss Boughton was at Wei Hsien about
eleven years. and the first intimation she
and her associates had of trouble was
when the Chinese children began to make
demonstrations outside the compound; for
it is a remarkable fact that when acts OF
violence or disorder are contemplated the
children are always sent out in advance
to pave the way for further disturbances.
The mission covered about nine acres of
ground and was surrounded by a wall
seven feet high, with two gates. one at
the north side and one at the south side
within the enclosure were two hospitals.
saTfes and high schools for both sexes:
also a chapel and six dwellings for for
eigners, and a few Chinese houses. Hav-
ing received warning some days before
that trouble was brewing, the teachers
had taken the precautiou TO send the for
~ girls TO their homes. and although they
eventually were reported as safe they
often had TO disguise themselves as boys
and travel in the night TO escape the Box
ers. With Miss Boughton at the time of
the uprising, We're Miss Charlotte +.
Hawes, three Chinese teachers, and two
others
As by June p many Of the buildings
were in flames word was sent to Mr.
Chaifant, who was the only male for
eigner about the place; and although he
flourished q revolver, and even fired it
into the air it made no impression on the
Boxers. who feel that they possess a
charmed existence. a passing policeman,
from whom the missionaries had right
TO expect assistance, was quite unmoved
by their dangerous plight. Missiles OF all
kinds were thrown at them. and Mr. Chal-
fant had a. foot crushed. So largely out
numbered were the imprisoned people
that they felt their only chance for safety
was in the approach Of nightfau When
the crowd of fanatics came surging up
sionaries barricaded ther. selves in their
house and took a position on the second
floor BY this time word had gone forth
10 Kill everybody. the chapel was in
flames and their chance of escape locked
dark. indeed.
Fortunately ladder that had been used
about the building few days before Of
1ered possible means of escape from
their dangerous pigh,. 1t was then about
. clock, and not very dark. The ladder
was placed against the wall and the ua-
nd
the others followed. i he mob was so in
terested in ioOung the buildings that the
refugees were seen by only a few Of the
Boxers. Then began a dangerous journey
across the fields The Chinese women
went 10 the homes Of friends. but the mis-
sionaries started eff in the direction Of
the German mines. some nine miles dis
tant. They dared not take the road At
any point OF the journey and 50 kept
erouched IN the fields much of the time.
hey reached the mines at midnight and
were Hospitality received immediately
they telegraphed the Chinese Governor
Tor military protection but he refused 10
allow foreign soldiers TO be sent out
The missionaries remained at the Ger
man mines four days. during which time
they were boycotted by the Chinese, who
refused TO sell them ANYTHING Their next
journey was 10 the bay and city. Of Kiao
Chou, where an attack had also been
planned. but was fortunately frustrated
toT the leo-mfle Journey they had great
ulHcuty IN getting conYeyances. on
reaching the coast they proceeded to the
German settlement Of Using Tau. five
miles distant, which was as safe a place
any in China during these troublous
times They remained there all summer
and were frequently visited by some OF
their old associates. who were obliged TO
disguise themselves as beggars.
When Miss Boughton left China the for
eigners were preparing lists Of losses 70 be
submitted TO the authorities for indemnifi-
cation. To the credit OF some Of the Chi
nese IT is worth noting, she said, that in
many cases where money was stolen all
OF II has since been returned.
Asked II she thought that the Chinese
nifty demanded BY the foreign nations,
Miss Boughton said that restitution would
be delayed as long as possible and in the
end it would not come out Of the richer
element: but the burden would be borne
by the poor people.
Asked about Russias attitude toward
Msnchuria, Miss BoughtOn said that there
was no question that that territory was
greatly desired by Russia and that she
would get IL. II is significant that Russia
has ps-ately requested the missionaries 70
discontinue their work in that territory,
al least fer the present.
Miss Boughton has just learned Of this
through the medium Of private CORES
pondence from China On the other hand.
the Chinese do not take kindly to the
Russians and are likely to bitterly contest
any encrOachment.
All the buildings destroyed at the mis-
sion station OF Wei Hsien Will be rebuilt
soon. sufficient funds having been raised
for this purpose by the church which sent
Miss BOughton out; but they cannot be
replaced for the same price. for since the
advent Of the Germans in China the price
OF building material and labor has in
creased.
Miss Boughton was asked TO give her
views about the reported cases Of loot
Ing on the part Of the missionaries. but
this she declined TO do. Personally she
had seen nothing Of the kind at Wei
Hsien.-The Boston Transcript