Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-05-15
AWFUL SCENE IN CHINA.
Story OF mercIless. Slaughter OF Men, Women
and Children al Tai Yuan Flu.

Washington, May 12.-The last mail
from China brings thrilling account of
the murder of the missionaries at Tai
Yuan Flu on the ninth Of last July, which
was taken down IN writing by DR.. j. A.
Greasy Smith from the narrative of
Yung Cheng, member of the Baptist
church, who was an unwilling witness of
their martyrdom. Yuug Cheng is
vouchcd for as a Christian Of excellent
character and absolutely Trustworthy.
llo says that he was taking treatment in
tho hospital on tho Baptist Socioty's
promises at Tai Yuan Flu, when on the
Stl of July he saw Rev. Mr.. Pigott, his
wife and child, John Robinson, Miss
Duvai and two young women named
Atwatcr brought into the town. The
two gentlemen were handcuffed and
escorted by company of soldiers and
followed by immense throngs of natives.
Wherever, they stopped to rest Mr..
Pigott and Mr.. Robinson preached to the
people, who gathered around them and
were very much astonished, saying,
You arc going to bo killed for preach
ing, and yet you continue to do So"
That night tho party was placed in
prison with numbor of other mission
aries and their wives and children,
including several Catholic priests. The
next morning they were all executed.
"'rho first to DO led FORTH" Yung
Chcng says, twas Mr.. Farthing, Bap.
tist minister. His wife clung to him,
but ho put her aside gently, knelt down
without saying a word and his head was
struck of by one blow of tho oxccu-
TONER'S knife. Io was quickly followed
by Pastors uoddle aud Beynon, aud Drs.
Lovitt and Wilson, all of whom were
bchcadcd with ono blow by the execu-
toner. Then tho Governor, Yu Hsien,
grew impatient and told his body-guard,
all of whom carried big bcheaCling knives
with long handles, to help kill the others.
Pastors Stokes, Simpson and White
house were next killed, tho last by ono
blow only, the other two by several.
'When tho mon were finished the
ladies were taken. Mrs. Farthing had
hold of tho hands of her children, who
clung to her, but the soldiers parted
thom and with ono blow bcheaded their
mother Tho eXecutionor beheaded all
the children and did it skillfuily, ncod-
ing only ono blow; but tho soldiers were
clumsy, and some of tho ladies suffered
| several cuts before death.
Mrs. LOvitt was wearing her spec
tacles and held tho hand of hor little
boy, even when she was killed. She
spoke to the people, saying as near as
can remember: "Wc all came to China
To bring you the good news of salvation
10y Jesus Christ; we have dono you no
harm, only good; why do you treat us
SO? a soldier took OFF hcr spectacles
before bchcading her, which needed two
blows
"Whcn the protcstants were all killed,
the Roman Catholics werc led forward.
The bishop, an old man, with long,
white beard, asked the Governor, Yo
llsien, why ho was doing this wicked
deed. did not hear the Governor givc
him any answer, but he drew his sword
and cut tho 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 handcnffcd and
SO was Mr.. Robinson. He preached to
the people to tho very last, when he was
hchcadcd with one blow. Mr.. Robinson
suffered death very calmly. Mrs. Pigott
held the hand of her son, even when she
was bchcaded, and he was killed mme-
diatcly after her. The lady and two
girls were killed also, quickly.
"On that day forty-tive foreign people
in all were behcaded, thirty-threo Pro
trStants and twelve Roman Catholics.
The bodies of all were loft where they
tell till next morning, as it was evening
before the work was finished During
the night they were stripped of the
clothing and other things, such as rings
and watches. Next day they were.
removed to place inside the great
South gaze, except some of the heads,
which were placed in cages on tho gates
Uf the wall"