Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
FUG|T|VES TR|CKED
ESCAPING NANK|NG
Flight Delayed by Cantonese
Soldiers, Who Detain
Them by Ruse.

BY Cable to The Star and New York World
LONDON, March 27.-The Daily
Mail today is printing the following
dispatch. dated March 26, from Sir
Percival Phillips. it's correspondent in
Shanghai:
The first coherent account of the
thrilling experiences of a small group
of foreigners besieged at the Standard
Oil Co.'S compound during an attack
by Cantonese soldiers at Marking was
given me by T. F. Laughlin, manager
of business firm, when he arrived
here today with $50 other refugees in
the steamer kungo.
They escaped death by a narrowt +
margin than the garrison at the lega
tion at Peking during the Boxer re
bellion Of 1900 They were huddled
together in the general mana ger s
house. which is on the crest OF a hill
adjoining and above the top of the
city wall, during Thursday forenoon.
when all foreign property was being
Systematically pillaged, when men
and women were beaten and robbed
and those resisting were either wound
ed or killed.
Under Constant Fire.
This little company drifted together
TO the compound. They came from va
nous directions and were under con-
slant fire. John X. Davis, United
States consul with his wife and two
children. and several others, followed
circuitous route, escorted by Amer
lean Marines who had been forced to
abandon the consulate.
Others included Mr. and Mrs. Ho-
bart, d. G. Sims and E. NJ. Green, all
OF the Standard Oil Co.; F. c. Jordan,
). Bolton and l.. It. Bernard. all of
the British-American Tobacco Co.: J.
i. Bowker of the Asiatic Petroleum
Co, j. T. Mcconnell and E. r. Ware
or the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co..
ana Capt. Heathcote of the Royal
Marines
The managers house was used as
q relay point for signals between the
tinted States consulate in the city
and American warships In the harbor
This fact saved the lives of the refu-
gees. The shortest route to the river
was by the top of the wall and across
open country. 1t was decided to take
the party that way.
Several men went to the top of the
wall with ropes and prepared to lower
the others. Mr.. Halvorssen. chief ex-
aInlner Of customs; Mr.. johnson, also
OF the customs, and Mr.. Lebas of the
postal service, negotiated the wall in
safety.
Detained by Ruse.
Before the others could be sum.
moned and lowered. two Cantonese
soldiers approached with friendly ges-
lures and shouts to go back to the
house, promising full protection. This
was ruse to get the refugees inside.
hair-
body of soldiers entered the compound
and began footing the assistant man
ayers house.
Meanwhile the ropes left beside the
wall We're stolen, leaving the party
helpless. After ransacking the empty
house adjoining. the hooters tried the
door of the general managers resi-
dence, but found 1t locked. They
were trying to break it down when
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Hobart descended,
leaving ahe remainder Of the party
lying on the floor above in utter
silence.
They tried to pariey with the
soldiers, who. thinking there was no
one else inside the house. first de.
manded surrender of all arms. Hop
Ing to satisfy them, Mr.. Davis handed
over four automatic pistols belonging
10 the Marines, who had hidden their
rifles for more than two hours. Mr..
Davis and Mr.. Hobart argued and
cajoled In an effort to prevent the
soldiers from entering. Finally the
soldiers declared they were determined
10 search the building for themselves
and started to force their way in.
saying, come, kill all the British
THE Marines recovered their rifles.
loaded them and prepared for last
stand st the head of the staircase.
bal hxr
ment with American gunboats In the
river, rocket was sent up which the
warships knew to be an S. o. s.
Shell Bursts Near Wall.
"A moment later a shell exploded
against the wall a few yards away
tearing a great hole and showerlng
broken bricks In all directions. The
soldiers Immediately fed. Other shells
arrived at regular intervals, so &C.
curately placed that there was not
the slightest danger to occupants of
the house. They fell about the open
ground at the front.
I'm systematic and thorough fash
ion the Emerald alone fired IS rounds,
using only one gun. Immediately the
soldiers were in flight. the party
emerged from the house, carrying
blankets and sheets, with which they
eddy broke, one such accident result
ing in Mr.. Hobart fracturing and dis
locating an ankle.
women and children were first low
cred to safety. Az soon as the she'll
ing began a combined British Aneri-
can landing party started for the
house via the new gate, but before
they reached 1T they saw the refugees
making their way across the open
4. country in the direction Of the river.
Trip Takes 50 Minutes.
''Tt was a difficult Journey OF so
minutes through fields and over
canals. with marines in front and be-
hind. Mr. Hobart was carried By two
of his compa MONS.
THE party saw many Chinese CT
villains and Northern soldiers hiding
under every available cover I'm ex-
treme terror. AS they approached the
hank the Wolsey. in nlidstream, moved
closer tnshore and boats were sent off.
THE British staff of the Picking
Railway also arrived in the Kungo.
They said the Cantonese boosted they
came 10 Marking TO turn out or kill
foreigners. and that the warships
dared not take action