508
which implies a fiontier guard, and it is to the interest of all parties that the frontier relations should be conducted on an amicable and honest basis. Smuggling, besides being despicable, does not pay the colony as a whole, though a small section may profit by it. The Chamber of Commerce, as already remarked, has suggested a modus vivendi with regard to opium, and there ought to be little difficulty in arranging for the rest of the trade. As suggested by our German contemporary, a consideration of future application is the bearing of the Customs question on the railway. When we have a railway line from Kowloon to Canton some arrangement with the Customs will be absolutely necessary if serious delay and inconvenience are to be avoided in conduc- ting the traffic.
It may be remembered that Mr. BRENAN, in his Canton consular report for 1897, pointed out that Hongkong's position_ve- cessitated special revenue rules on the West River, and in connection with the question made remarks which gave considerable 5 offence in some circles in Fongkong, but which it may be useful to again quote in the present connection. Having drawn at-
tention to the difference between the con- ditions prevailing on the Yangtsze and the West River inasmuch as on the former the point of departure or arrival is Shanghai, a pórt under Chinese control, while on the West River the corresponding port is Hongkong, a free British port where the Chinese Government can have no control, Mr. BRENAN went on to say "A steamer leaving Shanghai for a Yangtsze port "has been loaded under Chinese custouis "supervision, the custom-house have a cor- "rect manifest of all cargo on board, and "security has been taken for the payment "of all duties. When a steamer from
K
"
re
66
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
remain as they are, and there would be no in- terference whatever with the freedom of the The port as regards legitimate trade. whole business would then be conducted under the British flag, there would be no divided jurisdiction, the Commissioner's ac- tion would in all things be subject to the approval of the Governor, and the Chinese flag on the Customs cruisers, which consti- tutes for many people an eyesore in our harbour, would be got rid of.
ANTI-MISSIONARY DISTURB- ANCE NEAR FOOCHOW.
ALARMING REPORTS.
19th June.
The congregation which attended St. John's Cathedral on Sunday morning were thrown into a state of consternation by the Bishop of Vio- toria reading a telegram which he had received from Archdeacon Wolfe, of Foochow, randing
follows:-
15
"Phillips, wife, Miss Sears, reported killed. Seven converts. Report confirmed various
sources.
The Rev. H. S. Phillips came out in 1888 and has been working in connection with the Church Missionary Society at Kienying, in the Fakien province, ever since. Mrs. Phillips, who was a daughter of a clergyman of the name of Hankin, of Mildmay, came ont in 1892, and married Mr. Phillips about three years ago. Miss Sears came from Australia last autumn, when she passed through Hongkong. L
Mr. Phillips was present at the massacre at Kucheng in August, 1895, when he rescued the survivors. On that occasion eleven persons lost their lives, the victims being all women and children with the exception of the Rev. R. W. Stewart. Indignation meetings were held at Foochow, Amoy, Hongkong, Shanghai,
meeting,
Swatow. The Hongkong and
anger and indig. in addition to expressing its " nation at the criminal connivance of the Chinese Government and its officers in this
and other recent attacks on missionaries and missionary property," expressed its " deep dis- gust at the apathy and indifference of our own Government and its failure to recognise the gravity of the situation and to take adequate measures for the protection of its subjects and for the punishment of the murderers." It is to be hoped that prompt measures may be taken on the present occasion to bring the perpetrators of this diabolical deed to justice and to bring home to the Chinese Government a seuse of its responsibility.
THE FOREIGNERS SAFE-NATIVES
MISSING
[June 24, 1899.
OTHER TELEGRAMS,
Early on Monday it was reported that the supposed massacre had not taken place, but owing to the receipt of contradictory telegrams a state of painful uncertainty con- tinued to prevail was not relieved the welcome news of the safety of all the foreigners was confirmed
The Rev. L. Lloyd received a wire from the Secretary of the Church Mission at Foochow which said:
Mr., Mrs. Phillips, and Sears murdered cer- tain."
The telegram also asked Mr. Lloyd to let The Miss Sears's people in Australia know. telegram was handed in at Foochow at 7:50 a.m. Reuter's telegram, which was despatched later, however, contradicted this. The following have been placed at our disposal by Mr. J. Y. V. Vernon, Reuter's agent
If
"FoÓÒнow, 18th June.
It has transpired that the Rev. H. S. Phil- lips and party sought refuge at the Kienyang Yamen, which not being strong enough to protect them sent them under escort to Kien- ning, and they were murdered on the way. It is reported that the Yamen, Church, parsonage, and hospital at Kienning have been destroyed. The Consul is active, but floods interfere with communication.
FOOCHOW 19th June. "The murders reported near Foochow are contradicted. The Rev. Mr. Phillips and party -
are all safe."
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Victoria re- ceived a telegram on Monday evening to the effect that Mr. Phillips and all the missionaries were safe in the Yamen at Kienyang.
SAFE ARRIVAL OF MR. AND MRS. PHILLIPS AND MISS SEARS. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE “DAILY PRESS."]
FOOCHOW, 22nd June The Rev. H. S. Phillips, Mrs. Phillips, and Miss Bears arrived at Foochow all well at mid- night on Wednesday.
DETAILS OF THE OUTBREAK. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE" DAILY PRESS.
property.
On Thursday the mob burnt the Church at Kienning, the dispensary, and the leper station, and murdered a leper Christain, whose body. they threw into a well. They then fanud an
old
Hongkong bound for West River ports ar- "rives in Chinese waters, the customs have no knowledge what is on board, and great
Foochow, 23rd June. "frauds on the revenue are possible before
Details of the disturbance at Kienning and "the vessel arrives at the first treaty port,
Kienyung have now been received. Early on over 100 miles up the river. It is inevit-
Wednesday. 14th June, a mob of several hun. "able that the customs regulations should be
drei armed countrymen arrived at Kienning city bringing with them five men as prisoners more stringent than in the case of a steamer
whom they accused of procuring children for plying between two Chinese ports. There
the missionaries, to be killed and portions of is here room for an arrangement equally
their bodies used for medicine. The mob " convenient and advantageous to merchants,
waited in the city elders, who advised them to steamers, and the Chinese customs--some Rumours of impending.trouble at Kienying go to the Yaman. The first Yamen told them system by which a vessel clearing from have been current for some weeks, past and
to go about their business, but the second Ya- "Hongkong for a Chinese port could be great anxiety has been felt, but it was hoped men took the prisoners into custody. The mob “loaded under Chinese customs inspection, that the trouble had subsided. When details insisted on the instant decapitation of the prison- of the sad occurrence are received it will probers, threatening that if their demand was not "but in matters of this kind sentiment has ably be found that it bears a close resemblance complied with they would destroy the Mission
greater weight than practical conveni- to the Kucheng (or Hwasang) tragedy. Kien- ence, so probably nothing will be done.ying is some little distance further inland than "If it is conceded that all merchandise ar- Kucheng.
riving in Canton waters from Hongkong "must pay a duty, it is not conceding very "much more to say that the duty shall be paid "before starting." The Germans at Kiao- chau appear to have accorded weight to
FOOCHÓW, 19th Jane, 7 p.m. practical convenience, or what according to
Information was received at Foochow on their view is practical convenience, and that Friday that the Church Mission house and without any sacrifice of sentiment, for the dispensary at Kienyang bad been destroyed by Commissioner of Customs at Kiaochau is a a mob, the rioters probably being the same as German, his notifications have to be counter-before, and that the Rev. H. S. Phillips, Mrs. signed as approved by the Governor of the Phillips, and Miss Sears, were reported to have colony, the service is conducted under the been killed. German flag, and practically the Customs officials become German officials. Hong- kong is going to take up a somewhat similar line in respect of opium, and it would, we believe, be a practical convenience if some friendly arrangement could be arrived at in t of the whole of the trade between the colony and Chinese non-treaty ports, that is to say,
the junk trade and the trade by small steamers plying on the inland waters. For vessels arriving from or de- parting for Chinese treaty ports things would 1
respe
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE" DAILY PRESS,"
The British Consul induced the Viceroy to take action.
Later, it was reported that Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and Miss Sears were safe in the Yamen at Kienyang and that the locality was quiet. This is confirmed by Dr. Rigg.
At Yenping five native Christians have been killed or are inissing.
To-day, '(Monday) the Viceroy is sending troops.
The Rev. W. C. White leaves to-night for ap-river.
Fairly reliable news has just been received that the foreigners are hil safe.
man who had in his possession forty dollars and a knife. This was taken as proof
positive of the man's complicity in the abduo- tion and mutilation of girls. The money was really his daughter's dowry and he had othe kuife for his protection. The mob brutally beat the old man, then carried him to the river side, boat his brains out with a stone, aud threw the body into the river, where they continued to pelt it with stones until it finally disappeared. Heavy rain stopped further violence.
ร
The mob went back to the Yamen and again- demanded the decapitation of the prisoners. The Mandarin said there was ao proof that the men had committed any offence, but he de capitated one man and gave the mob fifty dollars and light refreshments.
The mob then dispersed, some of the rioters going to the hospital, which they looted, but the building itself was not injured. One or two heather were killed in the riot.
News of the disturbance arrived at Kienyang at daylight on Friday, Mr. Phillips' cook at once prepared to leave for Foochow, and Mr.