Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-03
THE MISSIONARY MURDERS.
News of Chinese Massacre Confirmed
by Letter

News of Chinese Massacre Confirmed
by Letter.
HONGKONG. November 3.-Bishop Merel
of the Catholic Church has received letter
confirming the news of the massacre of
American missionaries at Lienchow and
giving the following particulars:
Dr. Machle requested the removal Of
street theater near the hospital on account
of the noise. This request incensed the Chi
nese. who. becoming violent, attacked the
hospital. The mob then paraded the street.
exhibiting the skeleton used in the instruc-
ton of the medical class and alleging that
II was an example of the foreigners inhu-
manity TO the Chinese people.
Becoming frenZied, the crowd burned the
hospital. the girls school and the residences
of the missionaries.
Dr. Machle Mrs. Machle. their ten-year-
old daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Peale, DR..
Eleanor Chestnut and Miss Patterson took
refuge in a cave. The mob pursued them
and killed all except DR.. Machle and Miss
Patterson, who escaped to the yamen- DIR.
Machle was badly wounded.
The American gunboat Callao and two
Chinese gunboats. with members of the
American board of missions. are proceeding
to the scene of the massacre.
Advices from Canton declare that the
measures taken to suppress disturbances in
the provinces are inadequate and that the
native officials will not give out any infor-
nation on the subject
The Catholic converts have written to
Bishop Merel to petition the viceroy of the
province for the protection of the big French
mission at Lenchow.
1t is declared that the boycott headquar-
tiers at Canton received the first news Of the
massacre of the American missionaries at
Lienchow. but the native gentry assert that
the boycotters are not connected with the
slaughter.
Women Seized Chinese Image.
Special Cabegram to The Star.
HONGKONG, November 3.-The massa-
ere at the American Presbyterian Mission
at Lienchou October IS when five persons
were killed and two severely wounded by
mob of Cinnamon, was caused by the ac-
ton of two members of the mission, the
daughter of DR.. Machie and deaconess. in
enoeavoring to dissuade a number of Chi
nese worshtpers from Offering prayers TO
an idol.
The two women are said to have seized
the image which the Cinnamon were wor-
Shipping and refused to return it.
The mob destroyed all the American mis-
siorary establishments and subjected the
missionaries to many outrages. The bodies
of the five persons who were killed were
thrown into the river. Six French priests
living in the vicinity were not harmed.
There Is no fear of further trouble at
Lienchou. a Chinese mandarin dispatched
soldiers to the scene as soon he heard
save the missionaries.
Chinese officials UNIFORMED.
HONGKONG, November 3-The Chinese
officials at Canton maintain that they have
no information in regard to the massacre
of Americans. and at the headquarters of
the anti-American boycott it is asserted
that the boycotters had no connection with
the killing of the missionaries. 1t Is point
ed out that the native gentry were the
first recipients of the news of the massacre.
Catholic converts have written to Bishop
Mere to petition the viceroy to protect the
French mission at Lienchow.
A Full Investigation Promised.
Mr. Lay, United States consul general at
Canton, today cabled the State Department
in substance as follows concerning the kill
ing of the American missionaries in the
interior: The viceroy of this province
sends me a telegram from the subprefect
at Lienchow reporting the murder of five
Presbyterian missionaries at the mission
station at I.enchow, 800 miles inland from
Canton and near the northern border of
this province. on October 2S-Mrs. Machle,
Annie Machle. Miss Eleanor Chestnut. MIR.
and Mrs. John r. Peele. Mr.. Machle and
w. $. G.. Patterson escaped and are now
in the projects yamen. The church. school.
hospital and residences were destroyed. At
my request the Yiceroy has sent two Chi
nese gunboats and sixty Chinese soldiers,
with two American missionaries. to Lien
chow also an American doctor. There will
be a full investigation to establish the ex-
act cause of the killing though 1t will be
necessary to wait two weeks for the return
OF the missionaries before appointing the
commission.
Minister Rockhill's Advices.
Mr. Rockhll, United States minister at
Picking. telegraphed the Department of
State today that he has just been informed
by the foreign Office of an attack upon the
18th OF October by mob upon the Amer
ican Presbyterian mission station at Lien
chou, In the province of Canton, in which
sionares were killed Two missionaries,
one by the name OF Patterson and the other
having the Chinese name of Ming, escaped.
Immediately upon advice from the foreign
Office the emperor issued an edict ordering
the viceroy of Canton to infiict exemplary
guilty officials. and directing compensation
TO be made, and adequate protection to be
Afforded for all missions.
Mr.. RockhiI is informed that the attack
resulted from the refusal of the mission
aries TO permit the firing of cannon by the
village people during festival. He ex
poets further details from the foreign Office.
A special dispatch to the London STAN
dard from Hongkong says that Miss Z. G.
Patterson member of the mission band
at Lenchau, was badly wounded in the
massacre that took place few days ago.
but escaped TO the projects house Her
wounds are not believed to be dangerous.
Chinese gunboats have been dispatched,
and three observation-disclosures. Noyes Be-
attic and Todd-have left Canton to inves-
tigate the outrage.