The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-03

protect our property and the lives of
the people to their utmost ability and
that they were perfectly willing to
accept the government of the revo-
lutonary forces and that no fighting
would be necessary in Hai-tang. The
official kept the boat on which his
own special messenger was going to
Foochow back one tide to accommo-
date us and seemed SO happy to do it.
The situation is this The old gov
eminent is fallen. The officials in
the interior, of course, have as yet no
authority invested in them by the new
government, while that given them
by the old is, of course, null and void.
so, in these out of the way places,
the fear is not from the reVOlutiOnistS
or from the Manchus, but from vaga-
bonds and pirates. The soldiers of
the standing army have had no pay
for months and are poorly armed, so
that they are practically useless for
purposes of keeping the peace. In
Tang-tau a society has been founded
for this purpose. Those who are able
are subscribing money for purchase
of arms and ammunition and those
who were not, give of their time. They
are very we'll organized and take
turns in patroling the town day and
night.
The night before we started the pre-.
siding elder came in to say that our
christians were some of them on duty
| expressed desire to see them and
in little while someone came in to
say that they were at the front gate
them. 1t was certainly strange spec.
tacle. Thirty or forty men with
Chinese muskets over their shoulders
and Chinese swords in their belts and
carrying Chinese lanterns of all sizes
and shapes. l would give much to
have their picture.
We were called at 8 o'clock the next
morning and an hour later were on
our way to the dock. The two ottic
ials, all of the leading gentry, our
Tang-tau church members and pastors
and our teachers were all there to see
us off. We passed down the path be.
tween the rows of armed men.
thought how different our experience
from that of the missionaries and Chi
nese students who marched to the
American legation in Picking in 1900
Here it was all for our protection
there it was for their destruction. AS
we were putting off from the dock our
teachers began to sing "He leadeth
me, o blessed thought" and we
joined them with full hearts. 1t is a
strange, strange leading and one that
we cannot understand, but He knows
best and we can only trust Him tc
make it all come out right.
We had good trip over to Ngu
Cheng. Mr.. Caldwell has written to
the consul that we are safer here
| than on the road to Foochow unless
we can lave an escort and at present
we are waiting for further word from
the consul. We are still hoping that
the call may be countermanded and
that we may soon return to the work.
Now, about the revolution. It's pro-
gress has been the greatest surprise
to everyone. While every one &C
quainted with conditions in China has
known that it must come some time,
few, if any, thought Of its coming SO
soon, and when it was actually on
Everyone supposed that a long and
bloody struggle was inevitable. The
ned out before hand and not blow
was struck until all was in readiness
The only question is as to the time
it will take for the Chinese people to
get the government in hand. They
have many fine strong men, however
who ought to be able to hold things
steady.
We have a letter from Miss Trimble
concerning the fight in Foochow.
will transcribe it as it gives a better
idea of things there than ! can pos
sibly give in any other way.
Nov. 8, 1911. The expected has
come. day or two ago the revolu-
tionsts made four propositions to the
Tartar general: |. Hand over things
at once. 2. They promised safe
escort home to Manchus. 3. Those
in government employ now to be re-
tanned three years. 4. They must
lay down arms Everything was
agreed to but the last, and that by
everybody except the Tartar general.
So the firing began this morning about
four We heard at six that the revo-
lutioniSts were victorious, but now at
1915 We hear the fighting is still go