The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-11
I've Thirds Of The City Destroyed Dur-
ing Fighting fer Several Days
MANY MADE DESTITUTE
Horrible Stories of Brutality and
Cruelty OH the Part Of Both Chi
nese Rebels and Regular Troops
Hundreds of Half Burned BodieS
Lie Among the Ruins.

Two-thirds of the city of Hankcw,
China, has been destroyed by fire dug
ing the last ten days, following fight
ing between revolutionists and Loyal
troops. The lowest estimate of the
loss is $5O,0O0,000. Four hundred
thousand persons are destitute. Hun
dreds of half burned bodies lie among
the ruins Many of them are the bod
les of women and children
The customs house, the post-ofice
and the American missions have been
spared. The city has been looted, the
imperialists taking hand in the pill
lage. Imperialists officers tried to-
check this work and executed nurn-
Der. of the soldiers. Refugees were
deprived OF their Loot on entering the
British concession, cart loads Of val
liable furs, silk and .jewelry being
seized. 1t is suggested that the Red
Cross receive the proceeds. -,
On Friday afternoon Of the last
week the consuls appealed to the iE-
perialists to cease burning the town.
A proclamation, which was issued Inn
n;ediately, declared that the rebels
were responsible for the fires and Or:
dered that thess be checked. The
following day new fires started IN var
ious quarters. .r....
The David Hill Memorial school for
the blind, connected with the Wes-
leyan mission, has been looted, while,
in contrast, all the property In WW
Chang, which is held by the rebels.
has been protected. On November 8
there was considerable artillery firing
beginning before daylight.
The imperialist battery behind Han
kow moved to the southwest in belat-
ed fulfillment Of the promise to shtft
the line of fire from the concessions.
This battery and another stationed
on the plains engaged in heavy duel
with Han Yang Hill. The WI Chang
forts joined occasionally in the de-
fense of Han Yang.
A few hundred Of the revolution
lists are still in Hankow. Riflemen on
opposite of the Han river fought all
day and there has been similar fight
ing Sunday, but steadily decreasing.
There Is much open revolutionary
talk among the imperialists. 49,.
Foreigners, are hearing horrifyins
stories Of brutality. The imperialista
have hanged men, and falling to
strangle them, tortured them to death
by prodding with bayonets or crush
ing with stones. The outrages against
women can not be told. Red Crosa
bearers have been killed or wound
ed. Soldiers on both sides have kill
ed their wounded enemies.
It was ascertained that Yuan Shf
Kai, the premier desinate, Is In this
neighborhood, but he is keeping his
presence hidden. 1t is suspected that
he went aboard a British gunboat,
and it Is reported that he has been in
taryiewing Republican ministers Sc
cretly.
A thousand revolutionary soldiers
from Hu Nan reached WI Chang. At
I-Chang and other river ports the re-
pubMcans are collecting the custom
dues. Consular reports from 1-Chang
say refugees from Chung Chang, in
Sze-Chuan privnce, are bound thither.
Secret societies, 1T is reported, are
gathering control in Sze-Chuan. The
mobs at Klu Klang are violent.