The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-19
REPORTS FROM CO.NGER
Native Christians Massacred and
Chapels Destroyed.
ANTI-F0ReIGN RIOTS NEAR CHEN TU
Coz ger Acts With Energy and Officials are
Removed for Failure 10 Suppress Out.
breaks, Ex'orlionate Taxition a
Spur to the Boxers.
(By the Associated Press }

(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Sept. 1S.-China is on the
verge of another Boxer uprising which
may equal that of 1900, according to mail
advices received at the State Department
from Minister Conger, dated last month.
The troubles appear to arise principally
from extortionate taxation combined
with resentment against the presence of
missionaries.
Mr.. Conger's first advice bears date
of August 9th. from Pekin, and he re-
ports serious anti-foreign riots near
Chen Tu in the province of See Chuan
in which number of native Christians
had been massacred and chapels destroy
ed Mr.. Conger appears to have acted
with energy upon telegraphic complaints
from DR.. Canright, an American medi-
cal missionary at Chen Tu, not only ad-
dressing the Chinese Foreign Office by
letter, but calling there in person to i'm
press upon the officials the Importance
OF an immediate and effective action.
finally succeeding in causing the removal
OF the local Chinese officials, who had
failed to repress the riots and preserve
life and property
Mr.. Conger encIoses with his report
the communications that passed between
himself, DR.. Canright and the Foreign
Office. Under date of June goth, from
Chen Tu. DR.. Canright telegraphed,
'Sze Chuan repeating nineteen hundred.
Chapel burned, ten Christians killed
Boxers multiplying four months. Off
cials taxed
Mr.. Conger Immediately telegraphed
DIR. Canright to demand adequate protec-
ton for missionaries and the native
Christians from the local officials. He
also addressed note to Prince Ching at
the Foreign Office, stating that there
were several American missionaries.
and many chapels and converts in SEE
Chuan and that it was necessary that
immediate provision be taken to stamp
out these troubles at their very incep-
tiOn.
in his answer Prince Ching enclosed a
copy of an imperial edict saying:
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 followers; to seize the
ringleaders and to punish them according
to the vigor of the law, and so, nip the
rebellion in the bud"
Another dispatch from the Foreign Of
flee to Mr.. Conger, dated July Sd, states
that the vicerOy reported that the mis-
sionary killed was a Chinese, and that
quite number of leading Boxers had
been captured and punished and sharp
lookout was being kept for those still at
large.
Mr.. Conger again had occasion to ad-
dress the Foreign Office on July 30th in
forming them that DR.. Canright had
again reported that robberies and mas
sacres We're occurring daily: that all were
In great danger, and that he had de-
manded protection in vain. The minister
urged the Foreign Office to take more
effective measures Sin order to avoid the
fearful responsibility of further loss
of life and property"
The Foreign Office replied that several
edicts had been issued directing the
viceroy to suppress the troubles.
letter of later date from Minister Con-
ger transmits two imperial edicts. order
ing several changes among provinvial Of
ficials as a result of the disturbances.
The most important of the changes, Min
lister Conger states, is the removal of
Kwei Chun as Viceroy of SEE Chuan
Province because of his failure to sup
press the recent serious disturbances in
the territory under his jurisdiction.