Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-20
DR.. SUN VAT SEN.
There Has Long Been a Price on the
RevoIutionist's Head.

Revolutionists Head.
DR.. Sun Vat Sen, slim little man
with the air Of scholar about him,
has been a thorn in the flesh of the
Manchu dynasty for many years. Since
some time in the nineIies there has
been a price on his head, but he has
slipped noiselessly about the world,
escaping the nets Of the imperial au-
thorities and always active about the
revolutionary propaganda on which he
hopes some day to build the fulfill
ment of his dream-a Chinese repub-
lie for the Chinese. He was in New
York as recently as last spring.
Sun Vat Sen was educated in Homo
lulu, where his father was a Chinese
merchant OF considerable means. 1t
was while a medical student in Hong
kong that he was thrown in with
countless numbers Of his fellow coun-
trymen who had returned to China
from all parts of the western world,
and had brought with them much of
the history and some of the spirit of
the popular governments In Canada
and the United States. Out. of this ell
ement was formed the China Reform
association, housed in Hongkong and
back of one of the most daring plots
in tho history Of the empire. And Sun
Vat Sen was credited with conceiving
the conspiracy.
One morning in 1895 native chapel
keeper in one Of the Christian mis-
sions near the city gate at Canton re-
ceived a note asking permission to
store what purported to be a large
consignment of cement barrels on the
missions premises. Unfortunately for
the conspirators, uneasiness was al
ready abroad in the land, and Chris
tians had just been notified to remove
their families to places Of safety, so
when the missionary saw the note he
scented trouble and rushed 1t TO the
American consul, who lost no time in
getting word to the Uiceroy. Mean
while a message had arrived with the
report that several thousand conspira-
tors were leaving Hongkong by boat
to arrive in Canton next morning.
Troops were called out who broke
open the barrels to find that they con-
tanned ammunition Of all sorts, the
weapons for a plan that included the
staying Of all the mandarins and the
call to the uprising of all the revolu-
tionary clubs and organizations in
Canton. The same troops met the in
coming boat from Hongkong, and a
few of the rebels on board were cap
tured. AS soon as 1t was discovered
that Sun Vat Sen had devised all this
trouble, a large reward was offered for
his capture, alive or dead. but he an
ticipated the action and left the coun-
try unobserved aboard a steamer for
the United States.
He spent three months In San Fran
cisco and few knew who he was as he
moved about Chinatown talking things
over with the leaders of that world.
Presently the China Reform associa-
ton began to appear in the form OF
branches in every important Chinese
settlement in this country. Hundreds
wore the badges Of the society In San
Francisco. but the prospectuses all
peaceful means.
When Sun Vat Sens identity be-
came known in San Francisco. no dis
appeared. He was next heard of in
London and in difficulties, there, for
he was arrested and imprisoned In the
Chinese legation. In behalf of the
Manchu dynasty an effort was actu-
ally made to kidnap him and snug
gle him to China, where he would
surely have paid with his head the
penalty for his activity against the
throne. Ho managed. however, to
pass a letter out from his place Of i'm
prisonment, and this fell into the
hands Of Lord Curzon. then undersec-
retary of state. DR.. Sun Vat Sen de-
clared he was British subject and
the Marquis of Salisbury was one Of
those who insisted upon his release.
The upshot of the matter was that Sun
Vat Sen did not go back to China. He
was next heard Of in Japan, and in
the early part of 1898 it was reported
that he had at last fallen into the
hands of the Chinese imperialists and
had been condemned to death.-New
York Times.