The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-21
CHINESE PAPERS
TELL OF MASSACRE
Thirty-Nine Lepers Are Killed
and Their Bodies
Burned.

Washington, February 2O.-The mas
sacrc of thirty-nine lepers and the
subsequent burning of their bodies is
reported from Manning. province of
kwang-su, China. The account an
peared in detail in issues of the China
Press, the North China Daily News and
the Shanghai Times of January il to
10, the reports stating that the mas
sacre and cremation were carried out
December II last on orders from the
president of the province of Kwang-su
According to the reports printed in
the Shanghai papers. a huge pit was
dug on the parade ground in the town
oil Nanning. and the unfortunate lepers
were driven into the pit by a detach-
ment OF Chinese soldiers, who then shot
men, women and children alike, and
fired the oil-soaked wood in the bottom
OF the pit.
The massacre, it was stated, occurred
after priests of the French Catholic
mission at Manning had asked the
president of the province that they be
permitted TO aid the lepers who had
previously been driven out of the, town
and had established a miserable village
In nearby forest. The president
roam Hao Ming. after promising the
priests an audience and failing to keep
the promise. sent q letter to the priests.
In which ii was stated that the lepers
were rejected OF heaven" and that il
was forbidden to Europeans to do
good here"
Correspondents Version.
The correspondent of the China
Press, writing of the execution of the
order, said
I'm the town the prospective massacre
OF me lepers was as calmly discussed
as If II were measure of public mill
ity. Our provincial president had al
ready caused a similar massacre near
Loung- chow, but Notwithstanding we
called on him TO plead the cause or
the lcpers
His reception Of us was very cor
dial and polite. He praised our pro-
ject. admired our charity and prom
lsed, since we had agreed to erect our
leprosY colony still farther away from
the town. that he would find a suit
able spot for use. He appeared to have
forgotten his promise; we therefore
wrote 10 remind him of il, and he by
letter. assured Us that he had given
the necessary orders TO the project OF
the town TO that effect. In fact, we
received & visit shortly after from the
project who showed himself most OBJ
sequious.
During these deliberations a large
pit was being dug on the parade
ground the intended use of which we
never suspected.
one morning we were startled by
the report: The leper village was sur
habitants massacred.' The details of
this atrocious deed arc as follows
More than 100 soldiers surrounded tho
village so that none could escape. The
lepers were then driven, at the point
of the. bayonct, to the parade ground
to the pit that had been SO carefully
prepared. a thick layer Of wood COW
cred tho bottom of the pit, into which
all were obliged to descend.
One by one the men and women,
the later carrying their babies. de-
scended the ladder and took their seat
on the fatal pile; then the cry. Cha
! kill, burst forth, rife fire was opened
on the poor victims, copious supply
of petrol was poured over them. and Il
burst of flame announced to the town
the victory of our literatt.
This is not all, however. Man
hunting has begun; $40 is the price
laid on the head of every leper-S5 for
information loading to his capture.
and another 50 for arresting l.irn This
morning Il young man was arrested at
his home among his family, conduct
ed to the parade ground, shot and
| burned
The government is proud Of its cx-
plot. AS petroleum had been used to
burn the bodies Of the victims, it felt
1t had need to blacken their character
by vague calumnies in order to save
themselves. Here is the translation
of proclamation issued TO that effect:
81, Toan Hao Ming, in order to
make known to the people: The Iep-
ers commit abominablo excuses, and
are feared by tho whole world. Thcy
profit by their disease, to. modest tho
Inhabitants OF villages, outrage wo-
men, rob them of their money Tho
recital of their crimes makes ones
hair stand on end. referred the mat
ter to the President (his brother-in-
law, our Tutu, Lou Yung T'ing) who,
by secret order, commanded mes to
! seize and Kill all tho lepers In Nan
and on the morning OF the 14th 4 sur
rounded, arrested and exterminated
all the lepers. Thus we are delivered
forever. from their oontagion. ! as
sured myself OF universal approvaI.'