The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-04-28

China.
"Rumors of bandit raids mean
nothing to those who live in China.
One hears Il rumor today and tomor-
row it is never thought of. All day
long Christmas we had heard ru-
mors and thought nothing of them
until the day following when again
we heard about them. We went to
the "Yamen," which corresponds to
the American court house and three
times we were told by the Mandarin
to "Yunyang" which means to let
your heart be calm.
"After we had received this mes
sage three times we thought that we
were safe and went to bed about
$3.50. Mrs. Julina Kilen lived on
one side Of the duplex we had and
Mr.. Hof and lived on the other
side. When we heard the disturb
ance we thought we had better stay
there as we had been told during the
day that there would be no danger
if we stayed inside of our own COM
pound.
"Our mission was walled in with
high brick wall and inside the
space there were many buildings in
cluding the Girls Mission school con-
Quoted by Mrs. Kilen and the house
where all Of us lived, the little Chi
neses houses which we used for
store rooms and the mission Offices"
Tko Chnnt:ur
When Mr. and Mrs. Hoff and
Mrs. Kilen had left the house they
went into the compound and while
debating what was the best policy
to pursue they heard some one say
in the native tongue, Run! Rum"
Thinking that the voice was that CT
a friend warning them they imme-
| diately climbed the ladder which
| they had fastened on the wall and
| which lea into the compound which
| was next to theirs which belonged
to Chinese person. AS they climb
ed over the wall they heard shots
| and it was here that Mr.. Hoff and
his wife were injured. Mr.. Hoff be-
ing struck by bullets which went
into his shoulder and thigh. Mrs
Hof was injured in the shoulder.
! Mr.. Hoff was taken to hospital in
Siany Fancheng where he died Jan.
III. He was buried February 20.
| The body was sealed in a thick
Chinese coffin which received sew
eral coats of varnish. No definite
plans for the final resting PLACE OF
his body have been decided upon.
Tsao-Yang, the scene Of the raid
in which Mr.. and Mrs. Hoff were
injured. is 1000 miles in the inter
Tor of China and is 300 miles from
HanchOw.
Mr.. Hoff was a graduate of the
University of North Dakota and of
Fargo college and Mrs. Hoff is a
graduate of the state university and
of the Wahpeton School Of Science.
Mr.. Hoff went to China in 1922 as
missionary. Mrs. Hoff went there
to assist Mrs. Kilen who had charge
of the girls school at Tsao-Yang,
and to study. 1t was kere that a
friendship founded in childhood
ripened into love and the couple were
married but a short four months be-
fore the terrible raid which brought
disaster to their romance.
Pillaged Mission
Nor were the bandits content with
injuring both Mr.. and Mrs. Hotr and
then leaving them to die; they raw
aged the mission compound and pill
LACED the furnishings. An investi-
cation Of the premises after ths
bandit horde had passed. showed
that trunks and drawers had been
plundered and the contents strewn
about on the floor. Among them
was the wedding gown which Mrs,
Hoff had worn only short time be-
fore. ..
Tsao-Yang, a typical Chinese town
of 5000 inhabitants. was not the
destination of the bandits when they
started on their raid, it was later
learned. They had intended to sack
the towns of Tancheng. Loo Lokon
and Scangyang.
Under the direction of Mrs. Kilen.
the 200 girls in the mission cleverly
daubed their faces. not with powder
ETC., to make them appear more beau
tiful, but with mud and ashes to
make them appear as unsightly and
old as possible in order that they
might be passed up by the bandits
and not taken prisoners. They were
also dressed sin' tattered clothing ia
appear as beggars and thus as w.
desirable in the sight of the bandits
as possible.
Miss Chu will enter st. Olafs col
lege at Mortified. Minn., where sht
will first take up English and ther
regular college work. Her parent:
are Christians and she has been ed
ucated in the Chinese schools ir
Pekin and has a good understanding
of the English language. After 81,
years Of college work in America
she expects, to return to China tc
take up teaching.
Miss Gjefsjeld, who has been ir
China for seven years, will visit ir
America for several months and will
then go to Norway to visit relatives
before returning to her mission work
in China.
The raid in which Mr.. and Mrs
Hoff were injured. occurred ON th'
(Continnao m oava ~