New-York tribune., 1902-11-09
THE SHAN REBELLION IN NORTHERN SIAM.
DR.. THOMAS, AN AMERICAN MEDICAL MISSIONARY, DE
SCRLBES THE UPRISING DUE TO OPPRESSION
OF THE GOVERNMENT.

1m hO bDy g found 1bs 5ssred the
Then ali the princes Chinese shans. Burmese,
etc. Were called TO the courthouse: and were re-
quired TO drink the water Of allegianGe, pedgnS
themselves to support one another in keeping olit
the Slarnest from tnf 5f ram. an. t ,b r,oneV aud
Governor that they dld nor want int hioiieS' anu
would hand II over 10 him in due time
people and kin them At first no distinction was
made and men. women and childrfn W9rr aI,Kg ,K'i
awful a reward was offered or 90 rupees
for every Siamese killed Bands OF Sh3ns ana
Laos people Were formed, and city, VII
lages, houses and woods secured In the hunt
for Siamese all being naGdened by the thought
OF 300 rupees a head. and absolutely lawess mobs
were IN possession for few days
on that awful first day the Shans gave notice
that princes. Europeans and Laos people were 10
be unmolested; but such notice was only the spoken
awful because Of the intense anxiety Of one hun hun
night. and early Saturday morning all were astir.
Outwardy. in the city everything seemed quiet.
day reports came in Of this and that siamese hav-
ing been captured and cut to pieces thus spread
ing throughout the entire province. On this
victory, forgot their promise TO the Governor and
divided the money in the treasury among them
selves. giving the Governor 1000 rupees.
tinued unabated The little band Of Christians. of
whom there are about hundred in the province
thoroughly frightened. gathered together in the
little chapel that day. Some Of the bravest OF
the Christians had not been idle. They too. had
been hunting Samese women and children 10 save
them. On Friday night they had taker some OF
Saturday. On thFt day they several times met
Shans. who asked them what they were doing ana
SATURDAY they said they could not keep the women
were close their track. and they asked If they
could bring some Of them on the mission com
pound. Having at that time about fifty Christians
the place. and fearing a general massacre and
raid on the mission property If the Samese were
luctantly declined and suggested that they he
theIn ana Tor an imagine the surprise on SUNDAY
morning to learn that there were three Siamese
the house. in fun view Of everybody. and the
Christians were standing about looking at them.
ooPf1 f1a fba arrffa Of fha OnH Or
OF Course tbnI coud not he turned ont To- certain
wards and cared for. That day the Christians had
that God would soften the hearts of the shans
and deliver US from that terror On Monday morn
ing n Shan came and said that on Sunday the
Shans had decided upon the Governors request.
When this good news was confirmed. the women
and children a .h were sent 70 the city and put IN
With their hands tied bebnd them inst nutstGe
the city wall, Within two hundred Yards Of the
mission compound. where their heads severed
and their bodies literally TO pieces and in less
than an hour from that time more than fifty vut-
ures were devourng the bodies. Thus were all
The first warning the mission compound received
OF the attack on the city was by man running
his right hip laid open by fierce sword cut to the
extent Of a foot. laying bare the bone. the wound
gaping open about six inches He was one of the
gendarmerie. While he being dressed. another
peared with frightful gashes ali over their bodies
II was expected every moment that the shans
voive the mission because of the help given 10 the
wounded But after the decision OF Sunday
the women and children there was less dan
ger.
on Monday the Shans a letter their con-
sui giving their for the uprising setting
forth their grievances. and closing the letter by
saving that they had killed the Samese Commits
sioner and were now awaiting advice and nstruc-
tOns from him.
on Wednesday. July 30. the conference was held.
The Shan leaders freely told of their grievances.
Among them the following:
First-The Siamese Government refused them
timber TO build temples
Second-The Siamese refused 10 grant passports
and subjected the Shans TO Imprisonment for trav-
elling without passports.
Third-The taxes were eXorbitant, and increas-
ing For instance could kill a pig
beef without paying from one-sixth 10 one-fourth
its value 5 a privilege tax
Fourth-It becoming more ana more lmprac-
ticabe for the Shans 10 procure homes and rice
Other oppressions were mentioned. and the pres
ent regime was compared with the old order OF
things very much against the present system.
The conference resulted in the foreigners present
drafting letter 20 the British Consui AT Nan IN
the Laos language, briefly setting forth the con-
dition OF affairs. and asking the eonsui 10 come