Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-23
ATLANTA GIRL WATCHED CHINESE
SOLDIERS AS THEY BATTLED FOR
POSSESSION OF CITY OF WUCHOW

Into such a chaotic state have most
OF the provinces Of China been thrown
by the revolution that bands Of armed
robbers have the temerity TO attempt 10
capture cities OF $4,000 or more inhaoi-
tants and IN several instances they
have been successful.
In this disturbed country are many
Neutrality-suspicious. some At
Iantians. Among the latter Is Miss Eliz-
abeth NJ Lewis. daughter Of Ulysses
Lewis, an Atlanta attorney, who has
Offices in the Temple Court building
Mss LEWIS, an Atlanta girl. was born
here. and went through the public
schools OF the city Later she studied
at a missionary institute in New York
and for the past three years she has
been connected with an American mis-
sion at wuchow. South China
Miss Lewis last letter to her father
wildly describes the attack on that city
then in the hands OF the revoluuonists,
BY a horde OF river pirates
Her letter IN part follows:
Wuchow, South China, Nov 70. 1911
NY Dear Father: This has been an
eventfuI day here. although the Sabbath
day. We had a battle royal right here
in Wuchow. Yesterday Mr.. Hess. who
lives in the city and lately has been
frequently going to the telegraph Of
nee for news, went and found il desert
ed. He had heard some rumors and
he knew trouble was brewing. He sent
US word I'D here on the hill, and last
night a signal was agreed upOn-he was
10 ring the church bell IL they were
really in danger ia the city. Although
we joked about the trouble expected, We
felt some uneasiness. and all retired
with one ear open About midnight one
OF the gentry and a policeman came up
t. r.uN~u
him TO go with them TO see the British
consul on thhe adjoining hilltop. This
one OF the gentry said bOatlOad Of
robbers had arrived and had come say
ing they were revolutonists and wanted
the city, and II resistance was shown
they would take it. as they had num-
Der Of guns.
This member Of the gentry had been
on their boat negotiating between ruling
officials here Cthe Tao-t'aD and the rob
bers. Mind you, the robbers telegraph
ed UP from Do Sing that they were COM
ing. so the terrified telegraph operators
fed. They got here o. K last night
CSC or mOre) on two Chinese boats and
a launch. and they also had Chinese
torpedo boat with them which they,
no doubt. captured down below here
They anchored at a prominent place In
the harbor and said they would not do
anything until morning. but that they
expected to take the Yamen at 10 O'Clock
this a. m.
we sighted two launches on the West
river below the consulate and watched
them for amout two hours. They were
full OF soldiers and were drifting around
in one spot on the river. Finally we
missed them and saw them just get
ting out OF sight behind the cOnsul's
hill, Just flying down toward the rob-
bers' boats, and at the same time We
noticed a big river steamboat "a Canton
sternwheelerJ pulling her anchor and
moving down the river. then IL stopped,
and we knew she was just getting out
OF the way OF shells: then the next mo-
meut such a volley OF shots filled the
air and the expected moment had come
The firing was very rapid and lasted a
long time-everybody was wild with eX-
element. Mr. JafTray had returned from
the city. and II was about 2;50 p. m.
The people were wild in the city and all
along the river banks and all the Chinese
boats on the river. the boat population.
moved up the Flu river as fast as they
could go. yelling all the time. We were
running here and there. trying to see
the battle, but the consurs hill hid Ii
from our view. however, Mr.. Jaffray,
Mr.. Carpenter and Mr. Anderson yves
Ieyan misslon) made a dash for the con-
sulate to see the firing
IAN that time. we had the pleas
ure Cd OF knowing that Air. and Mrs.
Hess and Mr.. Cadman were locked in
the stores also closed UP. Oldheld was