Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-26

OOntlnuSd from FIRST FdBeD
Davis voice trembled with pride as
she related this portion of the adven-
ture.
She said she reached Socony Hill
thoroughly exhausted: the men had to
help her along. The sniping grew
heavier until, when half mile from
the hill, they were almost surrounded.
There they took refuge temporarily in
a bamboo grove. Three soldiers who
followed so yards to the rear fired and
hit Private Plumly in the back. He
fell, but gamely returned the fire, kill
ing two of his assailants.
The party ran the rest of the way
and gained the Socony station, where
several Britishers and Americans had
already assembled. Women and chill
dren were sent upstairs as the men
prepared for defense.
Other Groups Arrive.
Other groups of refugees arrived
early in the afternoon, bringing the
total to more than so. Soldiers in Ma
tionalist uniforms began coming to
the house in large groups, dema nding
money and threatening to kill all
within.
This occurred several times. Mr.
Davis and Earl T. Hobart, Standard
OIL manager, risked their lives while
facing the soldiers and arguing with
them in Chinese. Finally one of the
soldiers said to Mr.. Davis: I'VE don't
want more money. We want to kill;
we'll kill Americans, French, British
or any foreigners
At o'clock, the firing, which had
kept up through the early afternoon,
became heavier. Mr.. Paxton, who had
left the party while it was on the
way to Socony Hill, to seek two
Kuomintang (Nationalist) friends, re-
turned with them. bearing a Kuomin.
tang flag. This seemed TO enrage the
soldiers, who tore down the flag and
began attacking the house in earnest,
starting to crowd up the entry way
and steps. The Marines were ordered
to arm and prepare to fight.
A rocket-the agreed signal, ask.
Ing the warships for aid-was sent
up" Mrs. Davis continued.
Marines Answer Fire.
'The women and children were all
shut in the bathroom. where they lay
on the floor, hearing the bullets crash
ing through windows and whistling
overhead, meanwhile praying for the
ssius barrage to begin. The firing of
Mss7aes replied. II is believed they
inflicted heavy casualties.
Nevertheless the Cantonese forced
an entry and began to ascend the
stairs, seeking foreign women.
My husband then shouted: This is
the end Just then the first shells
began bursting around the hill, draw
ing off the attackers. We breathed
again We seized this chance to
escape"
Mrs. Davis then told how the party
climbed down from the second story,
using sheets. ropes, curtains and
blankets. They FASTENED to the city
wall. which is 40 feet high. They
climbed the steps on the inside. but
had to let each other down on the
other side by means of ropes. Mr..
Hobart fell 20 feet and broke an ankle.
Walk Miles i'm Open.
Beyond the wall moat had to be
crossed then two miles across open
fields. Throughout the party was the
target for snipers. The Marines aided
Pvt Plumley and Mr.. Hobart to reach
the river, where the party obtained
sampans and set out in the direction
Of the ships. A British landing party
was hailed and they took the refugees
aboard the British destroyer Wolsey
Later they were taken aboard the
Emerald. where they found Rear
Admiral Hough. MIR. Davis went into
conference with him.
Al 10 O'Clock Thursday night. Mrs.
Davis and her children were placed
aboard the Kungo, which sailed early
Friday morning. Mr.. Davis remained
at Marking.
The Kungwo and Wenchow. escort
ed by the United States destroyer Pres
ton and the British sunboat Cricket.
were fired on at two places along the
river The warships replied. Although
the Kungwo is the largest passenger
boat on the Yangtse. there were many
discomforts during the voyage.
Husbands Left Behind.
Numbers of woman passengers who
had been aboard the destroyers Noa
and Preston prior to the Smelling sailed
without news of their husbands. They
feared for the worst. as when they
sailed from Marking the situation was
direful, but wel~ much relieved when
they learned that a majority of the
foreigners had been evacuated.
Among those who have reached