Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-24
Captive Makes Dash for Life From Band of Chinese

Returning from his birthplace
In England to Picking, where he
- well known in business and
social circles, Mr.. Weatherbe de-
termins I'd to carry out an ambi-
ton OF years-to follow the
overland route through a wild
ard mountainous region of China
to its capital. AS told in a pre-
ceding article, after travelling
more than four hundred miles
northward, he found the road
closed by bandits and was forced
to retrace his steps.
On his southwark journey he
was seized with his retinue by a
band of thousand brigands, led
by brutal youth with six
fingers on one hand, named Yang
Yu-lin, and was held while a de-
mand for ransom of 100000
was made to the Chinese govern
ment. A time limit of two
months was placed upon his life.
For several weeks before the
events narrated in this article
Mr.. Weatherbe, dangerously ill,
was forced to accompany the
brigands, undergoing excruciat-
ing hardships and witnessing
scenes of inhuman torture.
BY DARCY WEATHERBE.
A S the brigands had received
~ no answer to the demands
"A made upon the Chinese gov.
4 a eminent, they persuaded Pere
Degeneve, a Catholic mission.
airy whom they respected. to go into
Talifu to treat with the authorities
for my release on certain conditions
being fulfilled. AS I have already
handing 100000 for my release, as
an alternative they were dickering
for an amnesty for themselves and
other robber bands.
l still had with me five mule loads
of my baggage, which were a great
nuisance to the muleteers and other
members of the band because I fire.
quently wanted to get things from
the loads. They seemed only toe
pleased to allow me to send to Talifu
with Pere Degeneve everything tina,
] did not actually require for my
immediate personal use.
1t was great relief to me, fol
this made my plans for escaping
much easier: and / would have few
regrets for losing the articles ! re.
tanned. l handed over, therefore
two mule loads of my most valuable
Pere Savin, who had come up from
Talifu to help in arranging my ran
som.
Owing to the fact that I was very
III and weak. and as | might-as far
as l knew-remain in the hands of
the brigands for months, I did not
select for transmittal to Talifu nearly
AS much as l should have done other
wise. Although my heart was set on
escaping from my captors, ! did not
anticipate an early freedom. was
very closely watched all the time
and had few chances of getting
away. even if ! had been in full pos
session of my normal physica
strength.
Before Pere Degeneve'S departure
for Talifu with my spare baggage
had made attempts to escape from
my captorS, but on each occasion cir
cumstances had been too strong for
me and had failed. Once on very
dark night, when it was raining hard
the unexpected appearance of an un-
usually Jealous sentry put an abrupt
stop to my ambition to obtain free
dom, and on the second occasion |
was cut off by fire in the streets of
Fongyu. After these two failures
had begun to despair. chiefly on ac-
count OF my very weak condition. but
| was always on the lookout for a
favorable opportunity.
At length. having lain in camp for
several days together, l had obtained
a certain amount of rest. The fever
had abated considerably but I had
lost great deal of weight and 1 was
still totally unfit for long march
across country should a favorable
chance to escape present itself.
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