The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-05-15
CHINESE BANDITS DRIVE
CAPT|VES KILLING PACE
HUSBANDS RIVEN ON AS
THEIR WIVES, UNABLE TO
KEEP UP, FALL IN ROAD.
DEMAND $2,OOO,OOO RANSOM
Twenty Foreigners, Including Amer
leans, Taken Captives When Out
laws Raid Express Train U. S.
And Britain Call on China to Act.

ana Britain Nau on OnlTla 10 ACT.
PEKIN. - Approximately twenty
foreigners, many of them Americans,
Including a prominent newspaper pub
Usher and two American army Off
GERS, are in the hands of the gang of
Chinese brigands, who raided the
Pekin express at Suchow, province of
Kiangsu, shot dead one English pas
senger named Rothnlan and drove
scores of others, white and natives,
off like herd of cattle.
| Advices received here from several
sources indicate that the women
among the white passengers were re-
leased, but only after they had been
beaten and spat upon by their cap
tors i'll an effort to make them keep
Iup with the fast moving cavalcade as
lit Travelled through the darkness away
from the scene of the hold-up. Most
lof the men and women, who were
routed from their berths, were clad
Ionly in their night clothes All of the
passengers lost everything they had
with them.
Husbands of the helpless women
were forced to leave their wives where
they had fallen or were driven ahead
as the women dropped to the rear un-
able to keep up with the main party
despite the heatings administered by
their guards.
$2,0O0,0O0 Ransom Demanded.
A report received from official head
quarters says the bandits have de-
manded 100000 ransom for all of
the captives. One of the women was
Miss Lucy c. Aldrich, sister-in-law
of John d.. Rockefeller, jr., OF New
York. She was released and was I'M
harmed in small village fifteen miles
from the main line. of the railroad
where the hold-up was staged.
Among the prisoners still believed
to be held captives are Robert Scripps,
prominent American newspaper pub
Usher, who is making a tour OF the
Far East. Others held are. Mai. Row
land Pinger, Of the United States
army in the Philippines, with his old
Ier son, Rowland, jr., aged 8, and Maj.
Robert Allen. also of the American
army in the Philippines with his son,
Robert.
AS the express train struck the
wrecked right of way the brigands
opened a fusillade from their carbines,
hattering the car windows and rous-
ing the occupants of the sleepers
The mauraders went through the
train seizing everything portable and
then drove off upwards of thirty white
passengers and Approximately hum
bred native travellers. One man fell
before bandits bullet His name was
given as Rothman and his nationality
as British.
Without giving their captives an
opportunity to dress, the Chinese gang
forced them at high speed over the
rough country in their bare feet. Some
fortunate ones eluded the brigands
and hid in the tall grass, but the re-
mainder were herded along under the
guns of their captors.
Chased by Soldiers.
When the bandits had departed the
soldiers arrived and took up the chase.
Later advices we're received that the
troops had come up with raiders and
were firing upon them while the
Ibrigands are said to have replied that
they would will their prisoners unless
the troops withdrew. The government
had instructed the military govern
ors of the neighboring provinces to
turn out their soldiery in the chase.
Suchow, near which the raid was
made, is situated on the Grand Canal.
Iffty-three miles by rail northwest OF
Shanghai, and is an important station
lin the railroad between Shanghai,
Marking and Pekin. 1t is an ancient
walled city founded iii the sixth CEN
fury B. c., and has native popula-
ton of upwards Of 100000.
HOW WASHINGTON VIEWS 1T
Washington, D. C.-Comment here
on the Chinese situation revealed a
doubt on the part of some officials as
to the ability of the Pekin government
to bring about the release OF Ameri-
cans and other foreigners taken pris-
oner by Chinese bandits. and to pay
the ransom demanded. II was point
ed out that none of Minister Schur-
mans reports had shown definitely
what motive inspired the brigands.
Whether they sought ransom in cash
or recognition and immunity was
said to be a question, the answer to
which would throw considerable light
on the central governments ability
to fulfill the obligations it has as
sumed.
China Has Promised to Pay.
The Picking government, it is I'm
derstood, has agreed to pay any ran
som demanded by the brigands and
to dismiss the civil and military gov
errors of Shantung province. The
Portuguese minister at Peking, dean
Of the diplomatic corps, presented
, concerted demand for action on be-
half of the other foreign representa-
tives. 1t is believed that a progress
i've indemnity for every day after
Nav 18th that the foreigners remain
captive will be demanded.
Jacob Gould Schurman. minister to
China, has been ordered TO make
vigorous representation" to the
Chinese government and to act as he
sees fit to secure the release of the
4 American captives Various nations,
+ including the United States, have
armed forces in China, and it would
be no surprise if these troops were
used to pursue and punish the band
its.
i Most 7 ondoners die from bronchs