Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-30

Continued from PAGE y
and his two companions were assaileC
by band of river pirates, who aD
preached their houseboat in large
junk
One Man 6utchered.
I'VE were boarded during the early
hours of the morning. Without /:
word OF warning the pirates, who We
afterward found out we're soldier.
/ from Human province, stole aboard
THE boat on which we lived, and ther
, and there began an attack, from the
effects Of which | will probably never
| fully recover.
Poor Hicks was killed outright. He
put up brave fight, as we all did Oh
that night. He was stabbed in {
dozen or more places on his body BY
sword thrusts. In several instance.
these entered his lungs, and he died
but few hours following the attack
MY companion, Hoffman, like my
self, battled with the pirates witt
whatever weapons We could command
Hoffman, cut and riddled, finally sue
ceeded in crawling to the rear por
ton of the large houseboat, where he
managed to conceal himself, and was
presumably given up by the Chinese
as dead.
craWled TO Place of Safety.
Il managed to succeed in drivine
on the infuriated Chinese only after
many of them had been severely
worsted in the conflict. Then follow.
ed the hardest task, that of Inducing
the Chinese on our boat to take mat.
tiers in their own hands, and guide
the craft to the first available point
along the river, where medical at
tendance might be secured.
Hoffman as well as myself were
in pitiable plight, admitted Shell
don this morning after some question,
ing. We were finally landed at Chen.
tn, and there turned over to the at
tendants at the medical college and
hospital maintained there by the
board of missions.
"As soon as was able to travel,
was taken to Shanghai, there received
attention from such specialists as
were available at that model settle
ment."
Sheldon is a bright and exceedingly
entertaining college man. He walks
about with decided limp and must
resort to the use of cane or crutches
In going about the ship.
A Wreck Of Former Self.
His left had has been almost sew
cred from the wrist, the member be,
ing denuded of three fingers, while a
portion of the wrist has been sliced
away, leaving mere stump.
Sheldon says that he is in search OF
medical assistance from the best
specialists ON the mainland. He has
been told that there. IS hope that he
may be relieved from permanent lame.
ness, If his case is taken in time.
He shows injuries inflicted on both
legs and body, from long and sharp
sabers or short swords--.
1t was by but q miracle that his life
was spared as the Chinese pirates
before leaving him on the deck of the
'Iouseboat for dead, plunged their
swords into his chest, but failed to
penetrate his lungs
According to Sheldon, he believed
that the attack upon the little party
of foreigners was inspired through the
efforts Of the Yunnanese to involve
the Sechuenese in trouble. 1t was the
intention of the revolutionary sol
diers who had resolved themselves In.
to a piraticai band to lay the attack
to the doors of the people dwelling III
the neighboring province.
American Government Seeks Redress.
The victim Of the pirates stated to-
day that as soon as the story of the
attack had been sent to Shanghai, the
American gunboat Villalobos was I'M
mediately dispatched to the upper
Yangtse. The scene of the murder
was laid nearly two hundred miles
above Ichang, and over seven hum
bred miles beyond Hankow, China.
American Consul Cunningham, at
Hankow, also interested himself in the
matter, and every effort was made to
apprehend the perpetrators of the out
rage, and bring them to punishment.
Several of the fingleaders were caught
and are serving sentence.
SEC FISHE r. :.
Sheldon talks Interestingly of life in
the very heart of the Republic of Chi
ma. For months himself and his COM
panions were Obliged ! to dwell on
house boats because of the congestion
of population to be found in the aver
age interior Chinese city.
His description of house boat life
on large Chinese river, were vivid
and unique. The craft where Sheldon
was nearly murdered and his compan-