Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-08
CHINESE BANDITS
DEMAND FABULOUS
RANSOM FOR MEN
All Women Reported Freed
Sister of Mrs, Rockefeller
in Party Held Up as Train
Is Wrecked

is wrecked
PEKIN, May III p. m. Pekin
time)-One million dollars ransom is
demanded by the Chinese bandits
for the safe return of the foreigners,
including many Americans, who
were kidnapped Sunday after their
train was wrecked in the wilds near
Lin Cheng.
The demand for the ransome was
brought in from the bandits by an
aged Chinese who had been taken
prisoner with others nthe train
but was released upon condition OF
his delivering the message.
In addition 20 the million dollar
payment, the bandits set forth fun
terms under which this will be &C
cented The first condition is that
the bandits be assured Of freedom
from attack by troops while negotle-
+ions for the return of the prisoners
is in progress.
The second condition is that fuli
pardon be granted the outlaws.
AMERICAN TROOPS MAY
BE SENT TO RESCUE
WASHINGTON, May 7.-(By the
Associated Press. "A situation ap-
parently regarded as seriously men,
acing good relations between the
limited States and the Pellin gov
eminent in China was described to-
dav nv American Minister Schur-
man in the first official report 10
reach the state department regard
ing the capture of American cltl-
gems by bandits near the Shantung
border.
The report was prepared by Mr..
Schurman on the basis of informa-
ton furnished him by an American
citizen who was on the spot when
the bandits attacked the tourist
train on which many Americans
were riding. 1t was indicated that
30 far as known none of those taken
prisoner had been harmed, and the
minister apparently was hopeful
that they all would be releaseS.
ALL WOMEN RELEASED,
SHANGHAI REPORT SAYS
SHANGHAI, May 7.-(By the AS
ISOLATED Press.)-One foreigner was
killed by bandits who held-up the
Shanghai-Pekin express train near
the Shantung border and carried OIL
the $50 passengers early yesterday,
according to a message from Lin
cheng, but all the women captlves,
including Miss Lucy Aldrich, sister
in-law of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
have been released. The men, still
held, are said to be in grave danger.
The message said the bandits had
notified the authorities that all the
men among the foreign captives
would be killed unless troops were
withdrawn.
Miss McFadden and Miss Coralli
were released with Miss Aldrich, the
report added. Troops were pressing
the bandits on both sides, firing, at
last advices.
The kidnapping plot presumably
originated in Shanghai when it be-
came known that a large party was
leaving to attend the ceremony in
cident to the completion of the
Kungchapa dyke at Tsinan.
The bandits stopped the train by
removing the fish plates from the
tracks, causing derailment, accord
ing to reports received in Shanghai.
1t was said there were 1000 bandits
in the attacking party.
The messages confirm the capture
Of Fred Elias, Edward Elias, Theo'
dore SAPPHIRE, Emile Gensburger j..
G. Powell and Lloyd Lehrbas, all of
. whom were among the So foreigners
who left here Saturday.
Leon Friedman, Lee c. Solomon, G.
D. Musso, a prominent Italian attor-
ney and his secretary, Mist Alba
Comalli.
An unconfrmed report said one
British subject named Rothman was
. killed.
Miss ,Aldrich, daughter of the late
United States Senator Nelson w.
Aldrich of Rhode Island, started on
a, tour of the world last October and
had visited several European coun-
tries, India and Burma and was
planning to sail for home from
Japan late in July.
Robert Scripps, newspaper pub
Usher, formerly of San Diego, Cal,
but now a resident of Washington,
d. c., with his father, E. w. Scripps,
and Mrs. Robert Scripps, left San
Diego March 10. in their private
yacht, the Ohio for a tour of the
Orient. Word received here indicated
that Mrs. Scripps and E. w. Scripps
had remained aboard the yacht while
Robert left for the interior.