The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-02-26


The massacre of American mis-.
sionaries in China is the first alarm
ing consequences which the gov
eminent officials in Washington are
seeking to avert. in the threatened
anti-foreign uprising.
Some idea of the situation in
which the missionaries find them.
selves may be had from the story
of the massacre at Poatingfu, in
the Boxer uprising in 1900. This
account was prepared by Captain
Grote Hutcheson of the 9Th cavalry
U. S. A, who was on the ground
and took every pains TO secure the
plain undistorted facts. Here is
what he says:
The following Presbyterian min
listers, Mr.. and Mrs. Simcox and
three children, DR.. and Mrs. Hodge
and DR.. Geo. Y. Taylor, lived in
several buildings located in one
compound situated near the village
of Changchiachuang, lying about
one mile north of the gate of the
city.
On the fourth day of the sixth
Chinese month June 80, 1900 be-
tween 4 and o'clock in the after
noon, the compound was surround
ed and attacked by Boxers and vii
layers, the attack being led by a
local Boxer leader of minor rank,
named Chu Tu TIE, known through
out the city as a ruffian and bad
character generally, but who, the
day before had been presented with
gilt button by the niehtae (pro-
vincial judge. Ting Yund.
This button, which was worn by
the man at the time OF the attack,
was in the nature of a decoration
or badge of distinction, and was
presented by the niehtae as indicat-
ing his appreciation of the mans
zeal and energy in the Boxer move
ment.
AS soon as the compound was
attacked the persons mention all
took refuge in one building. from
the upper story Of which they could
defend themselves. All other build
ings in the compound were set fire
TO and soon destroyed, but a brave
defense was made by the beseiged
In the course of which Chu Tu TIE
was killed and 10 Boxers wounded
DIR. Taylor addressed the crowd
from one of the upper windows in
vain effort to induce it to dis.
perse. Finally a successful effort
was made to set fire to the build
ing. Soon after, the two young
sons of Mr.. Simcox, Paul and
Francis, aged respectively 5 and Z
years, rushed from the building to
escape suffocation. They were i'm.
mediately set upon by the crowd.
cut down and their bodies thrown
into the cistern.
The other inmates of the house
persisted in the flames.
The Chinese Christians and serv-
ants, to the number of perhaps 90.
living in the compound, also per.
ished.
One Chinese Christian who tried
to Kill himsel by jumping into the
cistern was taken therefrom and
removed to the city and tortured
during the night in an effort to Sc
cure evidence against the mission
aries corrobOratiye of their alleged
practices of cutting out eyes
hearts, etc, and of kidnapping chill
dren. This man was afterward pu,
to death.
In the American board mission
compound, located in the south sub
urb, lived the following American
missionaries: Rev. Pitkin, Miss
Morrell and Miss Gould. Near by
In another compound, the follow
ing English missionaries lived: Mr.
and Mrs. Bagnell and one child and
Mr.. VIM. Cooper.
About a. m. the following day
the American board mission com
pound was attacked by Boxers, &C
companied by a throng of lootina
villagers. Mr.. Pitkins has already
heard of the conduct of the Boxers
In attacking the mission to the
north OF the city during the might
and prepared for the worst, writing
letters of farewell to his wife ant
friends and burying them with Ger
tain small articles of personal and
church property near the corner Of