Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-06
PENNA. MAN Tells
OF CHINESE MURDER
Horace lequear Says the Rev.
w. A. Relmert Was Offering
Food to Bandits When Shot
U. s. FLAG DISREGARDED

The story Of the killing Of the Rev.
w. A. Reimert, the American mission =
nry shot by soldier robbers at Huping
College, Yochow, Human, China, is told
graphically in q letter from Horace
Lequear, Of New Britain. about twenty
miles north Of Philadelphia.
Mr.. Bequear was an eye witness to
the shooting, which was done while the
clergyman was promising food to the
murderers and pleading with them to
spare women and children.
tragedy" wrote Mr.. Lequear, "the
political phase must be told. The
Chinese Government at Pekin appointed
Chang Yao governor of Human pro-
vince. His rule has been cruel and
greedy, and both he and his rabble Of
northern soldier -rabble have been but
little better than murderers and robbers.
Outraged Hunanese, supported by
the southern Chinese Government at
Canton, had driven Chang and his
troops out of Human, but unfortunately
we at Yochow City were, in June, In
the line Of retreat, and suffered because
Of that fact.
Some Taken to Safety
"Retreating Chang soldiers appeared
and fearing trouble we asked the Gus :
tom House people to take our women
and children to a point Of safety ten
miles from Huping, where they could
get steamship transportation to Kuling.
The commissioner himself responded In
person and took Mrs. Lequear and our
little children and one other family
away with him, others waiting for Q
later trip.
Two hours later a band Of the
soldier robbers landed from a boat and
started to loot the village below our
compound. The people appealed to ut
for protection. Mr.. Reimert, Mr.
Brakeman and myself went amoni
the refugees trying to quiet them. ant
we ran the American flag to the top Of
the staff.
Just as this was done, a captain ant
eight Of his brigands demanded entrance
at the main gate. They declared to tht
Rev. Mr.. Reimert that they were hun
cry, and his reply was that food woult
be prepared for them IL they would wal
brief time. Some laughed at him
others showed their anger-and as tn,
missionary stood there, pleading they b.
merciful to women and children, they
shot him down.
"Then they forced their way in ant
started to loot. Mr.. Brakeman wat
dragging the dead body of Mr.. Reimer
away, and I guided the women-Mrs
Hoy, Mrs. Reimert and her eleven
year-old daughter-into the thicket
and long grass. Mr.. Brakeman. will
the aid Of students, removed the min
ister's body to the Reimert home. {
third Of mile away. Then, while thu
robbers were still looting, we slipped
from the thicket to the house.
|
Fled in Disguise
more of the bandits were comini
from the shore, so We changed oul
white clothes for gray garments, ant
we again took to the thickets. At mid
night Doctor Adams, who had beer
reached by one of our messengers, ar
rived with horses and took the womer
away to a place Of safety.
'After a sleepless night, because O
heavy rains and terror, we crawled on
after daylight and mingled with tn
throng of teachers, students and farm
ers---a bedraggled, wearied lot Of mel
and women. In addition to Mr.. REIN
ert, q farmer was killed and severa
wounded.
eat the funeral a guard Of fifty sol
diers from Yochow division was OF
duty and we were not molested. Ant
during the funeral services the U. 8
8. Quires steamed into the bay. From
that day to this we have been guarded
by either American sailors or Chimes
soldiers"