The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-05
MENACED BY THE BOXERS
Thrilling Experience Of Miss Emma
BOughtOn at Wei Hsien.

B0ughtOn at Wei Hsien.
Was n Member of Presbyterian
Missionary band in That City-In-
timations of Trouble First Pre-
scented by Celestial Juveniles.
Miss Emma Boughton. a missionary to
China sent out by Or. Parkhurst's 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.
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.
one for men and one for women: dispen-
saries and high schools for both sexes:
also chapel and six dwellings for for
eigners, and few Chinese houses. Hav-
ing received a warning some days before
that trouble was brewing. the teachers
had taken the precaution 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 F.
Halves, three Chinese teachers, and two
others.
AS by June % many of the buildings
were in flames word was sent to Mr..
Chalfant. who was the only male for
eigner about the place; and although he
flourished 4 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 a right
TO expect assistance. was quite unmoved
by their dangerous plight. Missiles Of all
kinds were thrown at them. and Mr.. ChaI-
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 nightfan When
the crowd of fanatics came surging up
the street within the compound the mis-
Slonaries barrtcaded Their. selves in their
house and took a position on the second
floor. BY this time word had gone forth
to Kill everybody. the chapel was in
lanes and their chance Of escape locked
dark indeed
Fortunately a ladder that had been used
about the building a few days before Of
fered a possible means of escape from
their dangerous plight. 1t was then about
o'clock, and not very dark. The ladder
was placed against the wall and the na-
tive women were first helped across and
the others followed. The mob was so in
terested in looting the buildings that the
refugees We're seen by only a few Of the
Boxers. Then began a dangerous journey
across the fields. The Chinese women /
went to the homes Of friends. but the mis-
slonaries 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 so kept
crouched In the fields much of the time
They reached the mines at midnight and
were hospitality received. Immediately
they telegraphed the Chinese Governor
for military protection, but he refused TO
allow foreign soldiers to be sent out.
Inc missionaries remained at the Ger
man mines four days. during which time
I
refused to sell them anything. Their next
journey was to the bay and city. of Kiao
Chou, where an attack had also been
planned. but was fortunately frustrated
For the i90-Tniie Journey they had great
difficulty 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
as 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 to 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 IL has since been returned.
Asked If she thought that the Chinese
Government would pay the large indem-
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 Russia's attitude toward
Manehuria. Miss Boughton said that there
was no question that that territory was
greatly desired by Russia. and that she
would get II. 1t is significant that Russia
has psfrately requested the missionaries TO
discontinue their work in that territory
a least fer the present.
Miss Boughton has just learned OF this
the VI 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 o. 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
The Usual Way.
(From the Montreal start