Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-05-09
AWFUL ACT IN CHINA.
STORY CT MERClLESS SLAUGH-
TER OF MISSIONARIES.
Victims Remain Calm and Preach to
the People Till Executioner Strikes
Thirty-three Protestants and Twelve
Roman Catholics Are Beheadeo'

A late mail from China brings thrill
ling account of the murder OF the mis-
sionares at Tai Yuan Flu on the 9TH OF
last July, which was taken down III WRIT
ing by DR.. J. A Greasy Smith from the
narrative of Yung Cheng, member OF
the Baptist church, who was an unWlll-
ing witness of their martyrdom. 1unS
Cheng is vouched for rs Chrlstlan Oh
excellent character and absolutely trust
worthy. He says that he was taxing
treatment in the hospital on the Baptlst
Socety's premises at Tai Yuan Flu, when
on the Sth of July he saw Rev. MI.
Pigott his wife and child, John Robin
son, Miss Duval and two young women
named Atwater brought into the town.
The two gentlemen were handcuffed ana
escorted by company of soldiers and
followed by immense throngs of natives.
Wherever they stopped to rest Mr.. flgott
and Mr.. Robinson preached to the pe0-
pie, who gathered around them and were
very much astonished, saying: You are
going to be killed for preaching, and yet
you continue to do So" That night the
party were placed in prison with a num-
Der of other missionaries and their wives
and children, including several Catholic
priests, The next morning they were all
Executed.
'"The first to be led FORTH Yung Cheng
says, twas Mr.. Farthing, Baptist MN
lister. His wife clung to him, but he put
her aside gently, knelt down without say
ing q word and his head was struck OFT
by one blow of the eXecutioner's knife.
He was quickly followed by Pastors
Hoddle and Beynon and Drs. Levitt and
Wilson, all of whom were beheaded with
one blow by the eXecutioner. Then the
governor, Yu Hsien, grew impatient ana
told his bodyguard, all of whom carried
big beheading knives with long handles,
to help kill the others. Pastors Stokes,
Simpson and Whitehouse were next kill"
ed, the last by one blow only, the other
two by several.
"When the men were finished the
ladies were taken. Mrs. Farthing had
hold of the hands of her children, who
clung to her, but the soldiers parted them
and with one blow beheadcd their
mother. The executioner beheadcd all
the children and did it skillfully, need
ing only one blow; but the soldiers were
clumsy, and some of the ladies suffered
several cuts before death.
Mrs Levitt was wearing her spec
tacles and held the hand of her little
boy, even when she was killed. She
spoke to the people, saying. as near as
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"
soldier took off her spectacles before be-
heading her, which needed two blows.
"When the ProtestantS were all killed,
the Roman Catholics were led forward.
The bishop, an old man, with longwhite
beard, asked the governor, Yu Hsien,
why he was doing this wicked deed.
did not hear the governor give 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
We're 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 very calmly. Mrs. Pigott
held the hand of her son, even when she
w dS bcHttlued, anu lie WIS kHIcu ILllIIe-
diately after her. The lady and two girls
were killed also, quickly.
'On that day forty-five foreign people
in all We're beheaded, thirty-three Pro
testants and twelve Roman Catholics.
The bodies of all were left where they
fell 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 gate,
except some of the heads, which were
placed in cages on the gates of the WALL
ON TRAIL nE MIEE nCcERrEpc