Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-05
YANKEE DOCTOR
SLAIN ON ROAD
To DALAI LAMA
Medical Missionary on
Verge Of Founding
Hospital in Lhassa.
Had Striven for Years
and Dies Like Moses,
Ewes on PromisedLan

st. Louis, March 4.-The career Of
shelton of Batang," the first Chris
tan missionary to be allowed in the
Buddhist province of Thibet. China,
has ended as he was preparing to write
its glowing climax.
A cablegram to the United Christian
Missionary society here announced that
DR.. Albrecht Leroy Shelton, medical
missionary of the Disciples of Christ
(Christian church, was murdered by
Chinese robbers February II. last.
For sixteen years DR.. Shelton, who
was AZ years old. stood on the
Thibetan plateau, his eyes on Lhassa,
the capital city. where gate had never
been opened to anyone coming in
Christ's name: He was the second
white missionary to cross the forbid
den Himalayas in the land which is
one of the few remaining Businesses
of the earth.
Dies Like Moses
He won his way by acts of healing.
until at last he boldly addressed the
Dahlai Lama, ruler of the Buddhist
stronghold. and after four months came
city and establish a hospital The in
vitation was in recognition of medical
labors among Thibetan soldiers. And
just as he was about to enter the city.
word came of his death.
Details of the murder probably will
not be known for several months as
it takes that long for letter to reach
here. Saturdays S message merely stated
the physician had been murdered and
requested that his daughters IN school
in California, be notified.
Rescued by American Force
A captive for more than two months
of Chinese brigands, DR.. Sheltons
career has been likened to that of DIR.
David Livingston in Central Africa.
half century ago. Held for ransom.
the giving of which he would not
DR.. Shelton finally was
rescued by party sent by the Amer
lean state department, A message
Il am only Is days journey from
the border. / shall proceed to Lhassa
as soon as | can organize caravan
for the 34-day journey from Batang.'
Officials of the missionary society do
not believe he reached his coveted goal.
The cablegram Saturday, announcing
the end of DIR. Sheldon, came from
DIR. W. NJ. Hardy. also missionary
in China, and read:
Robbers killed Shelton near Batang,
February II. Notify girls"
The girls referred to are DR.. Shell
toms daughters. Daisy, Il. asd Dor
othy. 10, who are attending scnool IN
Pomona. Cal. -1.
DR.. Shelton's headquarters were at
Batang. near the Thibet border. and
DR.. Hardvs cablegram was from Liza
kiang. the nearest telegraph station. Is
days' journey. and this, it was explain
ed. is responsible for the delay in news
of the murder.
Mas to Open Hospital
Although Thibet has not been open
to missionaries. DR. Shelton departed
from Vancouver last August. to open
A hospital at Lhassa. He had received
a written invitation from the Dalai
Lama, the supreme power of the Bud
ihist church in the province. to estah
ish the hospital in recognition of his
work in Thibet.
The last word received from DR..
Shelton was when he was Is days
Journey out of Batang. which. he said.
he expected to reach December 23.
The theory of the missionary society
acre is that he reached Batang on
scheduled time. Lhassa is 35-day
rip by caravan from Batang and it is
,er 23 and February II was sufficient
o allow him to organize the caravan.
Consequently, it is believed he was kill
ID while on side trip alone, admin
steering to the sick.
Wife Went to Calcutta
The theory of his safe arrival in Bat
ing is based on the fact that no one
,lse is reported murdered. His wife
lid not accompany him to Batans but
vent to Calcutta to obtain transla-
ions of the Scripture in the Thihetan
ongue
In his party were Mr.. and Mrs. j. r.
Morse and their small child of Tulsa.
Okla. and Mr. and Mrs. NJ. III. Duncan
# Buffalo. who were entering the mis-
lion field.
DIR. Shelton was born in 1ndianapo-
is, June 9. 1876. During the war with
Spain he enlisted in Company Fl OF
he Twenty second Kansas regiment
After q four-year course in the med
cal department OF the University Of
he received an appointment
rom the United Christian Missionary
society as medical missionary to
nina and in 1903 he went to the field.
lie was first stationed at Tachienlu
nut in 1908 he was transferred to Bat
ng.