The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-19
Minister COnger Reports Serious
Anti Foreign Riots Near Chentu,
in Szechuan Province.
NATIVE CHRISTIAN MAsSAcRED.
Prompt Action of American OF
fetal Put Down the Movement,
Temporarily, but 1t Is Liable
TO Break Out Again.

Washington. Sept. 1s-ChHs Is on tn,
verge Of another Boxer uprising. which
may equal that OF 1900. according to mai
advices received at the State Department
from Minister Conger. The troubles appear
to arise principally from extortionate taxa
ton. combined with resentment againsi
the presence of missionaries.
Mr.. Conger's first advice bears the date OF
August s. from Pekin. He reports serious
antiforeign riots near Chentu in Provinc1
II Szechuan. in which several chapels were
destroyed and the native Christians mas
sacred Mr.. Conger appears to have acted
With energy upon telegraphic cimplaints
from Doctor Canright. an American med
'eal missionary at Chentu. not only adj
dressing the Chinese Foreign Office by let
ter but calling there in person to impress
upon the officials the Importance of an in
mediate and effective action. He finally sue
ceeded in causing the removal OF the local
Chinese officials who had failed to repress
the riots.
Mr.. Conger incloses with his report the
communications that passed between him
SELF. Doctor Canright and the Foreign
Office. Under date of June 30. from Chentu.
Doctor Canright telegraphed: "Szechuan
repeating (troubles of 1870. Chapel burned.
ten Christians killed. Boxers Ohave beenD
multiplying Qor) four months; officials
taxed."
Dir. Conger Immediately te~legraphed Doc
tor Canright to demand adequate protection
for missionaries and the native Christians
from the local officials. He also addressed
a note TO Prince Ching at the Foreign
ONCE. stating that there were several
American missionaries and many chapels
and converts in ~Szechuan. and that il was
necessary that immediate provision be
taken to stamp out these troubles at their
very inception.
IMPERIAL EDICT.
In his answer Prince Ching inclosed a
copy of the following imperial edict. which
declared that the uprising must be sup
pressed. In IT he says:
Such fierce and lawless outbreaks should
certainly be quickly put down. They must
on no account be allowed to spread. We
command Kwei Chun to strictly order the
troops to disperse the rebels and their fol-
lowers; 10 seize the ringleaders and to pun
ish them according 10 the rigor of the law
and so nip the rebellion In the bud"
Another dispatch from the Foreign Of
fee to Mr.. Conger, dated July 3, states that
the viceroy reported tina, the missionary
AAAt[ elA that 0uAlc =
number of leading Boxers had been cap
tured and punished and a sharp lookout
was being kept for those still at large.
Mr.. Conger again had occasion to address
the Foreign Office on July 90. informing
them that Doctor canright had again re-
that robberies and massacres were
occurring daily; that all were in great Ian
ger and that he had demanded protection
In vain. The Minister urged the Foreign
ONCE to take more effective measures
in order to avoid the fearful response
bility OF a further loss of life and proper |
ty."
The Foreign ONCE replied that several
had been issued directing the
TO suppress the troubles. 1t had re- |
ceived q telegram from that official stat |
.ng that the rebel Hslung Ching He. of
j-en-Chou-Hsian. made his appearance
suddenly at the head of a crowd and
burned a chapel and some thirty odd hous-
IS early In that moon and also killed a
They also committed other |
'utrsges. Thereupon the Vicory dispatched |
troops to the scene. who killed some TWEEN |
" or more persons. The leader of the riot |
vas also captured and orders were given
o have him beheaded and his head ex- i
POSED. tn rebels at other points were |
ilso attacked by the Government troops
routed. Three or four hundred of
hem were killed. The Judge of the Prov
Ince reported that there was no need for
he missionaries to seek temporary refuge.