124
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND .
| August 15, 1895.
a vote of thanks to the Chairman and convaders | for information and received a reply to the above | sought safety by going over to the other bank,
effect. the meeting dissolved.
INDIGNATION MEETING ATJAMOY.
Hongkong, 13th August, According to latest reports from Fatshan all At an indignation meeting held at Amoy it was then quiet there. So far there is a sign was resolved to send the following telegram of trouble at Canton. It is reported amongst to Lord Salisbury-Meeting Amoy community the Chines that there has been some missionary unanimously expressed abhorrence Kucheng trouble in Kwangsi, but no partionlars are massaore; consider common safety involved, arge strong prompt measures. steru retribution and material guarantees obtained, also that no blood money be accepted."
ATTACK ON MISSION PROPERTY AT FATSHAN.
DESTRUCTION of propeRTY AND THREATS OF MASSACRE.
QUIET RESTORED.
given.
ATTACK ON THE CATHOLIC MIS- SION AT HỘ YUN.
GALLANT DEFENCE.
MANY OF THE ASSAILANTS KILLED.
We have received the following account of an attack on the Catholic mission at the village of Wa Nai, near Ho Yun, a town on the East River, about six to eight days' journey by boat from Canton :-
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Another nocturnal attack on the mission was again repulsed.
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On the 7th several encounters took place. The mandarin tried to reach the chapel, but his way was barred and he was threatened with death if he brought succour to the Christians. heavy rain again brought about a suspen- sion of operations and the assailants retired to their outrenchments. The mandarin tock. advantage of this to come to the missionary and he wished to take him away. "Protect my Chris- tians," said the priest, "and I will go with you.” "How can I protect your Christians," replied the mandarin, when I cannot protect myself ?" "Then 1 will protect myself and my Christians,” said the missionary, "but wo have no more am- "I will send you powder and shot; munition." defend yourself without fear of killing," said the mandarin, and he left by his boat.
On the 8th a severe coufliot took place under the eyes of the mandarin, two being killed and many wounded. In the evening the robbers made proposals of peace.
On the 9th peace was concluded by the pay- ment of Tls. 300. Hardly had the robbers left when another band appeared numbering a men, who commenced a savage thousand attack and advanced up to the walls of the houses, but were repulsed. Some soldiers who had been sent to Wing On to put down the rebellion came to the assistance of the Mission, but as they were not authorised to fire on the robbers they were of no service.
Hongkong, 9th August. For some three weeks past for some unknown Alarming reports concerning the foreigners reason the people of Fatshan have been display. had been in circulation for some time in the ing a hostile feeling towards the few English | district, of which the mandarins had been in- missionaries located at Fatshan. There are no formed. The ill affected to the number of about The 120 had brought an accusation against the missionaries of other nationalities there. Wesleyan Mission is represented by Dr. and Christians of having disturbed the feng-shui, Mrs. Macdonald, who have one child; Dr. but they averred that they had no intention of Wenyon, whose wife and family are at home; rising against the missionary, ás was alleged. and Dr. Anderson, whose wife and family are Affairs were in this position when on the 2nd & baud of three hundred also at home. The London Missionary Society July, at 6 a.m., has also a representative there. The work of the bandits appeared at the north-east of the village Wesleyan Mission is almost entirely medical and and attacked the Orphanage, which was situated
On the 10th there were more conficts and is as a rule highly appreciated by the Chinese, about four hundred paces from the remainder
men were killed and many wounded. Latterly, however, a hostile feeling has been of the group of buildings, and pillaged and burnt three manifested. Inflammatory placards were as it. The children fled at the approach of the robbers Another hundred soldiers arrived. Peace pro- usual the precursors of overt acts of aggression. and only one, more rash than the rest, allowedposals were again made, $2,000 being demanded. On the 11th there was more fighting and then On Tuesday, the 6th inst., placards were posted himself to be taken. This child was out to pieces.
The arrival of two stating that the hospital was to be destroyed | Another building between the village and the peace was made for Tls. 200.
to
be school was also burnt. At nine o'clock another hundred more soldiers terminated this unequal that day, the foreign residences burut the following day, and the foreig band of about nine hundred arrived from the struggle. The bands dispersed and quiet was pers to be beheaded, this last being probably south and were followed by still another from the re-established in Wa Nai.
All the outlying buildings were soon in intended as a hint to them to 1 ave. On Tuesday west. a crowd commenced to assemble at the hospital flames and egress from the village, where the and seemed inclined to be troublesome, so it was chapel was, was completely blocked. It was im thought better not to resist them and they were possible to fly. The missionary saw the danger, allowed to enter the premises without hindrance the cries of "kill" apprising him of the fate that On entering some of them made remarks about awaited him and his flock if they fell into the having defeated the Japanese, although the hands of the robbers. It was necessary to defend Japanese were assisted "by the British, and themselves or die. shortly afterwards the mob commenced to smash up all the cases and bottles of drugs in the dispensary, but desisted on the arrival of soldiers, the authorities having been appealed to for protection. The soldiers on arrival seemed to be in more awe of the people than the people of them and some contented themselves with wander- ing about staring at everything. At night the soldiers were withdrawn.
On Wednesday morning the mob began to gather again and bricks and stones were thrown at the hospital, breaking windows, etc.
Mrs. Macdonald left Fatshan at 10 a.m. in a native house boat with her child and called at the paper mills at Tien Po, about halfway be tween Fatshan and Canton, where the manager and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. McHattie, made her at home till steam could be get up on their steam launch, and as soon as the launch was ready they brought her on to Shameen.
Dr. Macdonald remained at Fatshan to look after the missionaries' residence and Dr. Won- you and Dr. Anderson remained to look after the hospital, which seemed to be the first object of attack.
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The Viceroy was notified of the seriousness of the occurrence and he sent soldiers, some of whom arrived at Fatshan on Wednesday morn- ing. As the paper mill launch was on her way down to Suameen another launch was met towing a boat load of soldiers.
Mr. and Mrs. McHattie, after an hour or two's stay at Shameen, returned to the paper mills, deeming it quite safe to do so, all being quiet there when they left and there being no signs of any ill will on the part of the people of the locality.
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Hastily some old muskets were prepared and the battle commenced all along the line. With three dead and several wounded the enemy had to give way and seek what cover the nature of the ground afforded for protection from the bullets. During the whole night they continued to bowl and attack the village.
The Christians, who had only twenty-nine com- batants amongst a number of frightened women and children, did not leave their cover, but availed themselves of the darkness of the night to make loopholes so as to be able to fire from the interior of the houses without risking their | lives too much.
On the morning of the 3rd flags were flying all around. It was a veritable siege and to leave was impossible. Women took part in the affair, carrying faggots to burn the houses and robbing the fields of their crops. The battle recommenced and two robbers were killed and several wounded,
On the 4th the besiegers received reinforce ments, bringing their number up to fully two thousand, with from five to six hundred rifles andTM A heavy rain did not damp their three cannon. ardour and they made four assaults, each us in- effective as those of the previous day.
On the 5th the rain evidently annoyed them and they retired to over a li. The little garrison profited by this to make a sortie and seize the supplies of wood that had been brought up to burn them, for they had none left them- At the same time selves to cook their rice. bamboo ladders intended for the assault were captured and a length of wall which afforded cover to the enemy was pulled down. The noise aroused the robbers, who, with horrible cries prepared for another attack.
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During this long siege, what had happened in the district? All the Christians were robbed, women were carried away, houses were burnt-in a word, nothing escaped the rage of the pagans. A village of 190 Christians was attacked, but soldiers came to its assistance and it was saved. At present some hundreds of soldiers occupy the the country and the Profect of Wei Chow and the sub-Prefect of Ho Yuu are on the spot.
The courage of our Christians has certainly preserved the neighbouring districts, for the robbers after having ravaged Ho. Yun would have been ready to invade other places. The losses of the Christians have been considerable; more than 120 buffaloes have been stolen and all the moveables of fifty families pillaged.
In this general rising it is astonishing that the loss of life amongst the Christians has not been greater. Only one chilt was cut up in pieces and an adult Christian burnt in his house, while the pagans had to count their dead and wounded.
BRAVERY REWARDED.
ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'S MEDAL FOR A HONGKONG RESIDENT In response to a circular a large number the members of the Victoria Recreation Club as- sembled Wednesday afternoon in the Gymnasium to meet his Excellency the Governor." His Excellency entered the room accompanied by Hon. . E. Wodehouse, Chairman, and Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
His EXCELLENCY-Mr. Chairman and gentle- men, I am very glad to see so many present this afternoon. I hope you are not doomed to dis- appointment, because I notice in the newspapers it is reported that I have some important state. meht to make to you, and naturally you expect that this roll contains a grant of land upon which the new Victoria Recreation Club is to be built. (Applause). I am sorry to say it contains nothing of the sort. (Laughter.) I believe this is the only meeting of the Club at which there On the 6th some soldiers of the Ho Yun has not been an agenda paper. I think no Pre- Yesterday morning an exaggerated report of the occurrence was circulated in Hongkong and mandarin arrived under arms, but they were sident of this club-I do not know how long it has been in existence-[The COLONIAL SECRE- several telegrams were sent asking for informa-driven away and put to flight. Three severe tion. When inquiries were made for replies to assaults on the village were made. One of the TARY-25 years. the Colonial Secretary says 25 the telegrams the statement was made that the enemy's cannon burst, killing seven men, but it years-I do not think any President of this club line was broken down. Later in the day, how- also damaged the chapel. More reinforcements has had the pleasure of doing what I have to do ever, traffic was resumed and the welcome in arrived from all parts and there were more than this afternoon; it is to make a communication to one of your most popular members from the formation was received that all was quiet at two thousand men surrounding the village.
At nine o'clock in the evening the mandarin's | Royal Humane Society. (Loud applause.) Yon Fatshan. Consul Seymour, the United States representative at Canton. is at present in H.ng. boat appeared on the river. The insurgents killed will probably recollect that on Easter Sunday on board and the boa. I last four young gentlemen rashly took a boat kong and he was one of those who telegraphed three of the soldiers