Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-08-19
MOBBED IN CHINA
DR.. EDwORDS In THE HANDS OF A
CHINESE MOB NEAR CANTON.
Relates Thrilling and Dangerous Exper.
ience Of Visiting an Interior VILLAGE.
Where He Narrowly Escapes Injury
at the Hands Of the Chinese.

been mobbed. | now fully realize
what the Chinese feel in California
when they have been through siege
of torment at the hands of one Of our
mobs, and l can also make allowances
for these people for what they have
done to me. 1t is true that the mob
bing was not serious, and that all the
castigation got was verbal. Just
how close came to being stoned do
not know. but.perhaps the fact that
myself and my two companions car
ried revolvers in our hands while we
were forcing our way back to our
boat had a restraining influence on
the ..howling ruffiians who crowded
around us.
have been wanting to go to one of
the interior villages for some time,
but have been advised against it by
the American consul, and also by the
Chinese officials who said they could
not protect me. Just few weeks
ago party of missionaries was
mobbed in this same village and
barely escaped with their lives. Per-
haps. the fact that they were mission
aries had something to do with the
extreme treatment to which they were
subjected for the Chinese have a
W wholesome contempt and dislike for
missionaries.
Despite the warnings of friends and
officials we induced Chinese boat
man 60 row us to the village and then
we walked through the narrow streets.
We had not gone block before the
cry of "fanquai'' was raised by a
boy, and in an incredibly short time
we were in the midst of a bowling
moi Our boatman drew out into the
stream, for he was afraid he might
come in for share of the trouble.
We walked up the street, the crowd
becoming denser every minute. Great
brawny Chinese, looking like the
most evil desperadoes. weuld walk
close up to US, and thrusting their
faces under our hats make wry faces
at us. showing their dislike in every
imaginable manner
We continued on our way until
finally we decided that discretion was
the better part of valor and turned to
go back to the river. Then the howls
increased and we were jostled and
pushed by the more venturesome of
our assailants. We kept our tempers
remarkably we'll. and gave no cause
for trouble, and finally almost fought
our way back to the river. We were
afraid that we would not find our
boatman when we got there, but as
soon as he saw the mob returning he
knew we would need him in hurry,
and as we reached the landing he was
there ready for us. We got IN the
boat and hurriedly rowed from the
shore. followed by a shower of stones
and the imprecations of the mob.
As we rowed out toward the
opposite shore lot Of natives on that
side, hearing the noise of the mob.
came down to the bank and began
calling us names. and making faces at
us. l took out my sketching ap-
paratus and began making pictures OF
them and this was more than they
could stand, for they seemed TO fear
that it was some new, kind OF incata-
tion, and they hurried away, giving
us parting shower of sticks and
stones.
There was absolutely no reason for
this attack upon US, except the gener-
al feeling of dislike for foreigners. 1t
is true that most of the Chinese in
America come from this district in
/ Canton, and this probably accounts
for much of the dislike. for these
people have relatives in the United
States who undoubtedly tell them Of
the abuse to which they are subjected
from the mobs in the mining camps
of California and from the hoodlums
on the streets of San Francisco. l
have learned that this dislike is to be-
met with in all parts OF the Chinese
empire, and that it is not confined to
Am6TlCduH, Uub dIO
treated in similar manner. These
people are SO ignorant of the rest Of
the world, that they do not under
stand the difference between the
nationalities of the different parts of
the globe.
find that the only people who go
about among the Chinese without
much molestation are the Catholic
priests. They have given the Chinese
every reason to like them and have
never been insistent in their teaching.
Still at times of general uprising
against foreigners these same priests
come in for their share Of the mis-
treatment, and there have been sever
al instances where they were muir
dered after being treated with extreme
cruelty. These Chinese are savages of
the worst type, aud their ideas of
torture would put an American