Catoctin clarion., 1918-03-21
news FROM THE ORIENT.
YoCHow, CHINA,
November, 1917.
Dear M.

lNONcIlOCl, loA''
Dear M
These have been exciting times here.
For more than a week we were expecting
a battle. The first excitement came when
thousands of retreating northern troops
without commanding officers, under no
control whatever, passed through the
city. They were in pitiable condition.
starved, exhausted, with many wounded
among them. They had looted the cities
through which they passed, and in 4o-
chow sold this loot and tried to exchange
promissory notes for silver. All the sill
yer in the banks had been paid but yet
they came by hundreds demanding the
money and threatening to loot and burn
the city. One of our missionaries sent
to another city for silver and succeeded
in quieting the mob until the money ar
rived. For several nights few people
slept. The city is now under martial law
and the streets full of soldiers. Food Is
scarce. The farmers are afraid to bring
their produce to market. Every day the
Mission men see terrible sights. | can
not go into detail.
The English people (contractors) left
in private car for another city, and in
vited US to go. but we decided to remain.
Now we fear the Consul may send
special boat and order us out. 1t would
seem dreadful to break up school, drop
everything and run. The nurses might
be allowed to stay for Red Cross work.
and I've applied for commission. The
church, together with the Red Cross, have
fitted up two large buildings in town for
hospital work. do not think can ever
forget some of the sights have seen the
last week, and when think that this Is
only mild example of the millions OF
cases in Europe think the world must
be raving mad. have spent hours at
night lying awake and wondering what 1t
all means. The hospital is crowded with
soldiers. I'll tell you about very few
of them. go over nearly every day, ell
ther to visit or to watch the wound dress
ing, and have witnessed some distressing
operations One young chap was brouht
in with hand terribly crushed and as
he had gone several days without atten-
ton, the hand was alive with maggots.
The arm was amputated, and after living
in agony for week he died. A welcome
guest ofttimes is death
Another young fellow had both legs
crushed These were amputated and he
suffered terribly The last time | saw
him was Sunday night when the stumps
were being dressed While this was be-
ing done, he would turn his head and look
at me, and say over and over again,
Foreign lady, did not die, did not
die. | thought he meant that he was
at least glad he was living, but the doc
tor, Chinese, said no, he was telling
me that he wanted to die. but hadn't yet:
On Tuesday he had his wish One spec
ial case is that of a young boyish lad, so
bright looking, with an expression in his
eyes that reminded me of my own broth
er w. He came in the hospital with one
leg torn off above the knee, and piece
out of his scalp as large as my hand. He
is the most patient creature ever saw,
and when one goes to see him. he mus
ters up a smile and says all kinds of com
plimentary things, and if you give him
friendly little pat he is so very, very
grateful. can scarcely believe he is mt
really just little child. But no more
of this now
In the compound are being sheltered
dozens of women and children. In one
corner rough shed has been put up and
it will soon be packed with refugees.
Every inch of space available is piled up
with trunks full of possessions of many |
people. The women even now are terri |
fed, and from what have heard, they |
have some reason to be- I've come to
think more of Old Glory than ever be-
fore. Just think, in all this mess, with
the Stars and Stripes floating over us, we
are perfectly safe. On our boat today
we had hoisted huge flag, and not once
were we held up by the many soldiers
stationed all along the way.
The BIS and daughters come last week.
They are fine. Had to come up in small
boat as the water is too low for the large |
yaccalc tn copno Tbav wara hold IN hy |