Catoctin clarion., 1918-07-25
news FROM THE ORIENT.
u. S. S. Monocacy,
Chinese Waters, enroute to
Hankow, China, March 10.

Chinese Waters, enroute to
Hankow, China, March TO-
Dear R.
How did enjoy your letter, especially
| believe, because it was written on JAM
26, the day our trouble burst upon us, Tor
l feel that you must have been thinking
of me at that time when all here seemed
hopeless.
This past week the Southerners contln-
ued to lose. The Northerners kept COM
ing nearer and nearer and every day
dozens of wounded Southerners were
brought in, or sent further south to
Changsha, some put in the military hos
pital, others in the Red Cross, and our
own foreign hospital stacked full.
On Saturday about midnight came
telegram from the Customs Port OF Yo-
chow informing US that an American
gunboat had arrived to take women and
children. We took it for granted that it
referred to married women with children.
Early Sunday DR.. Bean and Mr.. Owen
went down to interview the Captain and
brought back the word that we were all
requested to 90. Alice and Mary, as the
two nurses and Gertrude and | of the
school department, refused to go unless
ordered out. We wrote letter to the
captain telling him how urgent 1t was
that we stay and absolving him from all
responsibility for any harm that might
befall US and promising that neither we
nor our families would blame our Govern
ment. All afternoon we waited for the
captains answer and did no packing.
About seven while we were at tea the
answer came-we must come or be
brought by deputation OF Marines.
Naturally we did not wish tobe regarded
as insubordirates or to be deported so
we stayed up all night to pack. Mrs.
Hemrichsohn refused to leave and could
not be ordered out so she has taken over
the school and will manage it. We were
forbidden to bring any Chinese with US,
but we arranged for one of our terrlf1ed
teachers to follow US on another ship IN
a few days. We were allowed only one
small trunk and suit case. IT you
could have seen US starting out with our
baggage and lanterns you would not
have been impressed by our cheerfulness.
Row boats had been called for 10 p. m,
Sunday and man left on shore to watch
them. At four o'clo OK he came to the
compound and said the boats were ready
but when we reached the shore we had
to wait until the boats were bailed.
The minute we landed on the gun
boat-about 6.30-we steamed away.
We were Immediately shut up in our ca
bins. In our cabin were seven sailors,
several machine guns, rifles, plenty OF
ammunition and the cannon on the fore
deck was attached directly over our
heads. For two hours we were shut up
like this until we were past the danger
zone. Fourteen times cannon were ley
eled at the ship, one so large that the
captain said had it hit US there would not
have been much left of US. But we
have escaped thus far.
On the way down we passed many
boats of Northern soldiers going south
ward and at one time saw whole COM
pany marching single file along the river
bank.
The captain has explained the circum-
stances to US and see his position quite
clearly. The Japanese, British and
American gunboat captains have all
signed contract to protect the lives of
all foreigners and as Yochow is the storm
center and the most dangerous place
along the Yangtse he would have been
greatly censured had he left us there in
imminent peril and the fact that we had
absolved him would not free him from
responsibility in the least. So here am
on the U. S. S. Monocacy on the way to
Hankow where we will take steamer
for Kinkiang to go to Kuling.
There now seems to be an anti-foreign
feeling, and there may be rise
against foreigners in general. If we do
not 60 to place of comparative safety
at once it may soon be too late. Besides
they are planning to lay mines in the
Yangtse and Tungting Lake and soon all