The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-04-19
A 4

JUST IRON Ouild has
given the Sphere some very
interesting details OF her
flight to safety during the
revolution In China.
After Ave days travelling by road
In native conveyances." she writes.
putting up at Chinese inns except
when we were fortunate enough to
meet with a mission station. we were
Tn the highest spirits at finding our
selves once more on a railway station
platform. We were now collected,
party OF 20 of various nationalities. all
having been recalled to the coast by
our several ministers. The station
was Yutze. the last but one on the
French line which will in time cross
the province OF Shansi from north to
south. The present terminus Is Tai
Yuen Flu. the provincial capital. where
fierce fighting had recently taken
place when the city fell into revoiu-
tionary hands.
Our train was timed for ten a. m,
but Ii was four p. m. when II arrived
from Tai Yuen Flu containing several
Uficials on their way to Man tz Kuan
on tho northeast frontier OF the
province. On either side OF the noun
pass at this point were massed large
numbers of soldiers belonging to the
army of the emperor and the army OF
the people. as they are called by the
Chinese. impatient at this time to be-
gin fighting. We were aware OF this.
4nd hoped to pass through the arm
les before the fighting began. This
hope was soon dashed when our train
after three hours travelling stopped at
a station called Yang Chu'en. and Mr..
Lin. the secretary of the Tai Yuen
foreign office. appearing at the door
of our compartment. said: Velly
much tightly; train no go on II was
true, and We were soon detached from
the remainder of the train. which with
military officials on board. steamed
towards the scene of action and left
us on a siding.
MIR. Lin was most attentive. but
the situation looked black. There
were no inns open, the innkeepers
having closed their doors and run
away for fear of the soldiers, who
commander everything and do not pay
We we're therefore obliged to make
ourselves as comfortable as we could
in our large third-class railway car.
which fortunately was new and clean.
No Heating Apparatus.
I'VE had a good supply of rugs
land Chinese wadded coverlets. Our
luggage was piled up In our car. and
so we made our beds as best We could
and spent a pretty uncomfortable
might In an icy atmosphere. for the
heating apparatus was not working.
and for all light couple OF candles.
which we dared not use for fear OF
running short We did not suffer from
hunger. for we had provisions with
ius, and Mr.. Lin kindly sent us rice.
eggs and bread cooked In the railway
station kitchen That night we heard
trains continually passing through.
and peeping out we saw truckloads OF
revolutionary soldiers. packed like
sheep, going to the front. They must
have suffered terribly from the cold
In spite OF their wadded clothes and
sheepskin coats. The next day we
bad TO resign ourselves to remaining
In our car for another night. They
were fighting at Man tz Kuan. and
we were told It would be impossible
for us 10 pass across the frontier into
the province OF Chilli as the railway
Tines were mined by both parties
The station officials were evidently
very anxious to get rid of us and Of
fered either to send us back to Tai
Yuen or find us lodging In a village
close by. But we felt safer where we
were. and preferred discomfort to un
known danger
The next day news came-first ru-
Tnored and then confirmed--that the
revolutionary army had been beaten.
Soon trains loaded with them were
hurrying back to Tai Yuen. There
were many wounded. and we we're
able TO render some little assistance
with bandages and simple remedies
There were closed wagons of dead.
and we heard afterwards that the
rebel losses had amounted to 500 men.
As for the unhurt. they streamed back
all day by train. trolley and on foot
our Mr. Lin, who had travelled up
with the soldiers, now returned to us
very crestfallen. He announced that
the imperial army would soon be com
Ing. and considering himself In posi-
zIon of great danger prepared to fly