The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-03
FIVE AMERICAN
MISSI0NERSIN
CHINA QUAKE
Only One Reported Safe But
Others Are Believed In
jurcd in Disaster
SOME DETAILS GIVEN
Catholic Priest Gives First
Graphic Ac:Cunt-Surviv-
crs Live in Misery
SOME DETAILS GIVEN

Shanghai, Aug. y.-A)-A check Of
available lists shows that "a Ameri-
can and European missionaries were
in the northern part of China's re-
mote province of kansu, when the
region was visited by the tremendous
earthquake Of May %, in which, ac-
cording to some estimates, more than
100000 persons lost their lives. The
missionaries are all belived to be
alive. except the sister superior Of
Constantine Society Divine Word
Mission, in Sisiang.
The group includes five Americans,
d. l.. l.. HAND of Brooklyn, N. Y;
Mr.. and Mrs. j. S. Fiddler of Chicago,
stationed at Mingsia, F.. A. Gustafson
of Denver, stationed at Tsungsin, all
of the China inland mission, and
Miss +. Peterson of South Dakota,
stationed ut the Chenyuan Swedish
alliance mission.
Stations Not Hit
Only DR.. Rand is definitely report
ed safe but there is every confidence
the others were not injured as their
stations were not badly hit. The re-
mainder of the missionaries arc
British, German and Dutch.
Missionaries and others familiar
with the area express the opinion
that, the quake severely affected co.
600 square miles. Julian Arnold
American commercial attache at
Shanghai. and China representative
Of the American Red Cross, who is
! familiar with Kansu, stated that
since the affected territory contains
thousands of cliff dwcllers, it is i'm
possible to count the victims.
Section Isolated
Chinese Red Cross officials point
out the impossibility of sending i'm
mediate aid to the stricken region
as it takes eight weeks to reach
Liangchow, the provincial capital.
Further graphic details of the
| quake have been received from Mon.
signor Theodore Buddenbrock Of the
! Steyl Mission at Liangchow, who sent
the first detailed account of the dis.
aster to Shanghai several days ago.
1.-The Monday preceding Ascension
Day was unforgettable in its terrors,
he writes. I'VE rose early, as is oul
custom. A beautiful May sun wa.
shedding it's glory over the mountain:
and valleys; there was nothing pre-
saging disaster. My morning media
tion was rudely interrupted by vio
lent shock, the windows rattling anc
the house quivcring. l was excited
for the moment but soon all wa:
quiet again.
"Such shocks are usual here.
proceeded to the Orphanagc chapel
where hundred children and sister.
were assembled for mass. begar
the mass and completed the conse
Grafton, when without the slightest
| warning, there was an indescribablt
noise, a terrible laundering and ter
rifying echoes.
Walls Crack
"As if carried by hurricane,
was pushed from the altar through
the sacristy and into the open. Sis
ters and children rushed to the dool
as the walls crashed. The children
| scrambled over fallen masses; l still
hear their screams. We were tosset
! about and it was impossible to stand
Instinctively, we fell to our knees
imploring Gods mercy, amidst th'
roaring and laundering of collapsini
| buildings and rolling earth.
"The quake subsided in few min
| utes. There was agony until the al
cleared and enabled US to see dimly
! The missionaries and few Chinese
| began the rescue work, carrying Ou
child after child. Three were deat
and six others succumbed shortly.
administered the sacrament to tn,
! dying children. Their agony was in
describable, with arms and legs ant
spines broken
ut is impossible to give an ade
quate idea of the misery of the sur
vivors living in mud and straw huts
fearing to return to the few houses
standing. The quakes continued fol
some time. For miles in all diyec
tions everything is in ruins"
Only fragmentary reports, lacking
details, continued to be. received b!
! the Chiha Inland Mission.