The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-06-23

and detailed account of the Chun-chus
mshis personal experiences in Man
churia.
Since the outbreak of 'hostilities be-
tween Russia and Japan frequent men,
tion has been made in the press of the
Chun-chus and their exploits. Most
of the descriptions given are purely
ina ginary. The Chun-chus. whose
name in Chinese signifies bridandS, are
an organized band of outlaws famed
for their audacity. They have long
been the terror of A1anchuria. and do
not fear to attack the Russian soldiers
themselves. They have spies every
where. at Mukden. Kirin. Hardin, Port
Arthur. and Dalny, to inform them
whenever an opportunity for 4 good
stroke presents itself.
The origin of the Chun-chus only
dates back to the middle of the nine
teenth century. At that time the Pc
kin Government began to turn its at
tention toward the rich gold fields of
Northern Manchuria. This icy region
was still almost unknown even to the
CelestialS themselves when Manchuria
traders brought nuggets worth as
much as $4,000 apiece to China. This
aroused the Government. whereuDon
travellers were questioned and COM
PEELED to indicate the spot where gold
was to be found in such quantities.
The Chinese became acquainted in this
manner with the. existence of three
gold regions in Manchuria, one in the
Sungari basin. near the Russian from
tier; the second on the heights of
Tchenbo-chan, and the third on the
shores of Chetonga, tributary Of the
Amur.
The Chinese Government determined
to monopolize the output from these
gold fields and threatened the natives
with the severest punishments if they
continued to gather gold for their own
use. Chinese miners were then re-
cruited in great numbers by the Pekin
Government and forcibly sent to Man
churia. The working Of the mines was
very soon organized in a remarkable
manner by the mandarins to whom the
Government had intrusted this duty.
They set up in the midst of the gold
fields provision houses and shops,
built spacious barra cl:s, Of which the
ruins still remain, made new, roads
over the mountains and across forests
to facilitate the conveying Of provis-
ions, but were unable, notwithstand-
ing their efforts, to insure a regular
service for the transport OF victuals.
ines and by the arctic cold of this re-
gion, where the temperature often falls
to forty degrees below zero Centigrade.
Poorly paid and i'll fed. many of the
wretches committed suicide. Others
fed to the neighnoring forests regard
less of the fate--capital punishment
meted out to deserters if they were
caught or if hung ger drove them back
to the camp. These deserters were the
first Chtn-chus.
= The existence led by the refugees in
the mountains vas singularly hard.
Without food, clothing or shelter, they
were obliged to protect themselves
from the wild beasts abounding in that
region. Many Of them became the
prey Of wolves, bears. panthers, and
especially of tigers. Nevertheless, the
number of Chun chus increased rapid
ly. The miners deserted the gold fields
by. the hundreds, the mandarins in
charge being unable to track them into
the forests. To replace the fugitives
the Chinese Government was obliged
to gather together beggars and vaga-
bonds and dispatch them to the mines.
But these outcasts soon rejoined the
first Chun-chuS in the mountains, and
thus the ranks Of the brigand hordes
We're increased oy several thousand.
The Chun-chus soon formed them
selves into we'll organized associa-
ton. They had among their number
men belonging to the highest classes
of Chinese society. For years previous
the Chinese Government had deported
to Tsitsihar, in northern Manchuria,
the mandarins who had been disgraceda
for political rea sons and those afiliat-
ed with secret societies which the
Court considered as dangerous to the
State. Many o.: these mandarins had
fled from Tsitslhar and taken refuge
with the Chun-chus, who. aware Of the
mandarins' Intellectual superiority,
placed them at their head and made
them draw up the rules OF the asso-
citation necessary to every Chinaman's
existence.
Gradually the federation Of outlaws
became more and more powerful as
new recruits joined the ranks. In
time the boldness of the Chun-chus in
creased; they established posts Or
every highway in Manchuria, from
which they waylaid caravans and pill
laged Government conveys. They
robbed the inhabitants Of the small
villages and leTied taxes on the most
important towns of the province They
ruled over the country by the terror