Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1915-07-09
An Incident Of the
Boxer Movement
In China
BY JOHN Y. LARNED

United States government at Picking
Worthington was more interested In
seeing the country than in his official
duties, which We're nominal, and he
travelled over such parts Of China as
were open to foreigners. One day he
fell In with mandarin who had been
a good deal in England and spoke the
language. The mandarin travelled in
ttyle, being carried in chair, common
In Europe until near the beginning of
the nineteenth century, by two men
and attended by several other serv-
ants.
Worthington, who travelled on horse
back, on joining the mandarin rode be-
side the chair, chatting with him. The
American knew enough of China to
understand that it was infested with
robbers and was armed to the teeth.
The mandarin was an elderly person.
unused to arms, but his servants were
prepared to defend him. They were
armed with pixies. short swords and
other weapons, which Worthington
considered next to useless in a fight
with an enemy properly accoutered.
Suddenly while passing through
narrow cut In the road the party was
attacked by a dozen men bent on rob-
berry. They were not much better arm
ed than the mandarin's servants, but
they outnumbered the latter, who i'm
mediately took to fight, leaving their
master in the hands of the enemy.
Worthington drew a revolver from
under his coat at each hip and began
fusilade that put the robbers to
flight Upon this the servants return
ed and humbly begged the masters
forgiveness for having deserted him
He was profuse in his thanks to the
American, who had not only saved a
| considerable amount Of money for the
Chinaman, but his life as WELL He
begged Worthington to name some ia.
vor that he could do him, but the lat.
ter said that he wanted for nothing in
the world. Then the mandarin took
up a bamboo umbrella and opened it.
Calling for writing stick, he wrote
on it something as unintelligible to his
preserver as the receipt of Chinese
laundryman in America. Handing II
to WOrthington. he said In voice sc
low as not to be heard by his servants
"A time is coming when there vii
be movement on the part of our ig
norant and superstitious people to rit
China Of all foreigners. Keep this UNI
brella and II attacked open 1t in the
face of your would be murderer"
Worthington paid no attention to tn,
mans warning. Every one knew tina
foreigners were hated by the Chinese
and there had always been talk abou
the latter being massacred. The Amer
lean was young, and the young TAX,
little thought of danger. But he wa
too polite not to assure the mandarin
that he would keep his gift as re
membrance Of him and the episode.
An American named Preston lived II
Picking, who operated banking hous,
which was branch Of one In New
York. Worthington spent a good dea
Of time at his house, attracted by tn,
bankers daughter, Emma Preston
When the Boxer trouble broke out
month after the foregoing episod
Worthington was at Preston's house
1t was without the regions of the EN-
bassies and entirely unprotected
WorthingtOn on the first sign of dan
ger returned to the embassy for leav
to absent himself for the protection
Of the family In which he was interest
ed. Having attained 1t, he was abou
to start back when he noticed the um
brella given him by the mandarin
The day was very hot and 1t occurre,
to him to take it for protection agains
the suns rays. AS to the words spo
ken concerning 1t If attacked by al
enemy. he had forgotten them, but h
pie Of revolvers and supply Of cal
tridges.
AS Wortkington approached the Pres
ton home he noticed knots of China
men talking together excitedly. Som
Of them scowled at him, but sine
they had as much dread as hatred of
foreign devil" they did not attac
him. He reached the Preston HON
safely, but found the family in grea
trepidation, expecting that at any tim
mob would attack and murder then
The anticipated trouble occurred th
next day. The bankers residence wa
well known, and a crowd Of Chiname
armed with all sorts of implement
from a scythe to razor came dow
for murder. Worthington knew tina
though armed, he could not withstan
50 large a force; nevertheless he st,
toned himself at window over tn
front door. ready 10 use up his ca
tridges.
The bowling mass came, stopped b
fore the house and were about to NAL
an onslaught upon it when suddenly a
their eyes were cast to a window d
rectly beneath the one Worthingto
occupied. Then every weapon W,
lowered, every knife was sheathed al
the Cinnamon moved on.
Worthington was at loss to accoul
for this sudden change, but 1t was SOC
explained to him. One Of the fami
had caught up his umbrella, as
drowning person will catch at a stray
opened 1t and held 1t at window {
the ground floor as protection again
stones that were being thrown In. G
It was a message signed by a man
|