The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-11-14
FIRST DAYS or REBELLION
TOLD BY AN EYEWITNESS


uayf, was written ~ FANn NuihA
Pfessn correspondent In Wuchang and
Forwarded through friends arriving in
Shanghai October 10.)
Tuesday morning, October 10, dawncd
an WuchanR on a closed md guarded
city and our most authentic informa.
ton OF the source Of the trouble was n
Chinese teacher who lived on the Hsiao
Tsoa Kni (Small Court street) and who
had seen soldiers attack o house on tho
opposite side Of the same street He
said that twonty.one revolutionaries
had been taken after struggle in
which shots were fred, and in the house
arms and ammunition had been found.
Three men had been beheaded.
But our anxiety Of further trouble
was relieved by the opening Of the city
gates during the morning upon which
business seemed TO progress much as
usual in our part Of the city, which
section is entirely removed directed
from the Viesroy's yamen. A telegram
to "The China Press was not received
by the telegraph office.
Tuesday night, as we prepared for
bed shots were heard and the compound
was quickly on the alert, but so small
was the uproar that no school boys
were aroused from their beds and
probably they all slept through it.
Two foreigners went at once to in
vestigate. They proceeded through the
city streets and found all quiet until
they reached the top of. Serpent Hill,
which divides the city of Wuchang into
two parts. This hill runs back from the
river bank directly into the country
"a
and west walls of the city cross it. On
the south side of the city lies the Of
fetal section, in which are situated the
military camps, viceroy's yamen, treas
urer's vamen, mint, government bank
and residences of officials, and the
greater part of the Manchu citizens
of the city.
From this hill foreigners command
ed a clear view of this south side of
the city and the uproar spread out be-
fore them was terrific. Ammunition
was being wasted in enormous quaint
ties but apparently much of it was
blank firing as no screams or dying
and wounded could be heard and the
object of the uproar seemed to be to
keep the people off the streets.
Shots Fired at Them.
AS they stood watching three shots
were fired at them and they dropped.
The shots were followed up the side
of the hill by three soldiers who fairly
danced up to the foreigners in their
excitement and began in a most demon
strative way to assure them Of their
protection and to- advise them TO get
out of the city, finally ordering them
down the hill. The soldiers proclaimed
themselves to be revolutionaries and
wore white band on their left arm.
So the foreigners retired to watch the
progress of events from the mission
compound in the north half of the city.
Not long after, big guns Were brought
into action and the whole city became
involved in the disturbance, shots COM
ing periodically from everywhere and
presently big blaze showed where the
vieeroy yamen was1being burned AS
the day dawned the fire became less
and the morning found us in the hands
of the soldiers, all of them wearing
white bands on their left arms. But
they maintained an air of secrecy and
little could be found out of what they
represented. They claimed only to be
the Chinese army. They were patrol.
ling the city streets and maintaining
perfect order and assuring everyone of
protection and by conducting them.
selves in most exemplary way they
restored great confidence in both Chi.
nese and foreigners. And SO we in the
American Church Mission were able to
proceed with our regular work and
Boone University went ON with its
classes as usual, as did other mission
/ C1hnnVc IN Aha 1-sasnsk1v
dered were the streets that the citizens
went quietly about or stood unafraid
in their doorways and the impression
got about that the city was guarded
by Imperial troops and that the rebel
lion had been mastered in the night.
After breakfast / climbed the hill
upon which is built the north city wal
facing Hankow across the river anc
inquired Of the citizens gathered there
who the soldiers were. They could mo-
tell so proceeded along the wall Il
the Grass Lake gate where I mixed
with the soldiers and asked questions
They all wore white towel or any ole
rag on their left arm but guarded theii
talk quite as well as they guarded the
city and learned little. / found NJ
officers among them and no prospects o.
any dfilhiHS ldleF. Inc toughest i0Oh
ing OF the soldiers, besides, carrying
a rife wore also the finest of the of
ficers' swords and sometimes a revol
Yer to boot.
No military system was to be de
teeted, the soldiers came and went il
the quietest way possible but no on
seemed to be in command, it carrie,
evidences of well understood schem,
to control the city. An artillery.mai
struggled along after foot soldier Wit
might be carrying fine overcoa
which evidently once belonged to NJ
officer and cavalry man, known b,
his short gun, mixed with the crow
of miscellaneous uniforms representing
all branches Of the eity's military ser
vice. All pulled together with no de
teetable cross purpose.
Unique Explanation.
So 1 asked IL they were rebels bn
still got little satisfaction. However
they enqnired Of my country and find
ing that I belonged 20 an American
mission became more cordial in thei
frieudlineas aud finally one demonntral
ed tho situation Ia very dramati