The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-02
is CAPTIVE II
DAYS IN CHINA
Tells Of His Experiences With the
Outlaw Gang.
SUFFERED AWFUL HARDSK|ps
Or. Shelton, Medical Missionary, Sta
toned for II Years in China, Is Cap
tured by Chinese Bandits and Held
for Ransom-FinaIIy Escapes and
for 40 Days Underwent Most Terri.
Bile Travels-Tortured by Tumor.

DR.. A. l.. Shelton, a medical mis-
sionary stationed for seventeen years
at Batang, China on the Thibetan bor-
der, arrived in New York recently
after undergoing surgical treatment
at the Mayo hospital, Rochester,
Mimi, made necessary by his suffer-
ings while held captive for ransom by
the bandit, Yang Tien Flu.
"We left Batang in November, and
was bringing my wife and daugh-
tiers to the coast on their way home,'
said DR.. Shelton. telling his story. II
was going back to the interior. We
had been coming toward the coast
for AZ days, when all of sudden
bandits began firing at us from cliff.
Soon they swooped down and took ev-
erything we had, including myself
"They asked me to 60 up the road
and see their chief. Supposlng he
merely wanted to talk to me, I went.
They tried to take my wife and chill
dren, but soldiers came from the
town and saved them.
1.-THE bandits kept me seventy-one
days. We are greatly indebted to
Father Bailly, French Catholic mis-
sionary, who has lived in Yunnan
thirty years, and who took Mrs. Shell
ton and the girls to Yunnanfu while
was carried off through the country,
constantly on the move, until I es-
capped.
Ransom Demanded.
"The bandits wanted to get the
governor Of the province into trouble.
There were grudges and political rea-
sons. They knew was coming
through and waited for me. They
demanded $4,000 worth Of arms and
ammunition in exchange for me, but
I talked the chief, Yang Tien Flu ont
of this, saying ! would not be ran
somed, because 1t would get every
missionary in the district into dan
ger. Then he demanded a blanket
pardon for himself and 800 followers.
was in favor of this, for In his
band were many good fellows who
wanted to get back to civil life and
honesty. Everything was ready to he
signed up on this plan when the gov
ernor tried to surround them in the
night to put them to death. This was
In the first month of our wanderings.
"They escaped with me. and for
forty days thereafter. underwent the
most terrible travels, with soldiers
after us, sleeping out on the noun
tains, forced marches. and all the time
undergoing torture from tumor that
tegan growing on my neck. At the
end of the second month was SO
tied and held on. Then they carried
RE another five days on two poles; at
the end of which was SO nearly dead
they left me in an old hay barn with
four guards and instructions that If I
died my body was to he secreted. If
got better they were to be notified
and would come back after me.
"For five days lay in hole in the
rice straw and rested. Then came
report that soldiers were coming, and
the whole village fled except an old
man who brought me rice.
His Escape.
1.-THE soldiers did not come, but
small official went through, and In the
excitement I got out Of the barn and
made my way to the nearest Christian
village, where l got small pony. and
the church elders held me on him for
twenty hours until, the middle of the
next afternoon, I reached place
where there was magistrate and SOL
diers.
"Three days later, with an escort,
was met by DR.. e. P. Osgood OF
Chuchow, sent by our mission, and
J, P. Thornton of the Standard Oil
company, who had been appointed
special representative of the United
States to negotiate with the bandits
for my release"
Dr. Shelton was operated on at the
- hoo,;+oI ~ Vupponf,1 united