September 8, 1900.]
Friday 31st. Only a few Japanese on shore in one street where Japanese shops are situated Another thief executed close to British Conces- sion and head posted for inspection. Nearly all shops closed, business of all kinds at a stand- still. Owing to presence of British people are gradually quieting down, and exodus diminish- ing. Prices of all provisions steadily increasing. Fishing boats carrying passengers only. Streets of city almost desorted, and everyone cursing the Japanese.
Saturday, 1st Septembor. U.S. gunbont Cas tine and British gunboat Mohawk arrived; Rus sian cruiser Rurik expected.
ITEMS.
During the past week panic has been the or- der of the day; the steam launches were taxed to the utmost, struggling inland with boats in tow packed with passengers and luggage.
Several foreigners have been stopped by Ja- panese marines on Kulangsu, and the night before the British landed the Japanese sentry actually searched the Chinese policeman on duty on the British Concession. The impudence of the Japanese is a mystery to every resident.
The Amoy Hotel is to be resuscitated, so it is Baid. The Hotel is, it is reported, to re-open at once under most favourable management.
All our municipal police have left, as they want higher pay.
SWATOW,
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Swatow, 30th August. HIGHHANDED ACTION OF GUNBOAT "COMETE." During the course of the stay here of the French gunboat, she went out for a day's cruise, and on her return to Swatow the following two narratives were related to me by one of the offi- cials here. It appears that the Comete went as far as Huan Ao, also called by some Huangasee. where she landed some men, for what purpose is so far unknown. Some farmors who were carrying rakes, bamboos, scythes, &e., were just going to their daily work, when they observed the French bluejackets coming on shore. As a foreigner is a very rare sight at Huan Ao, a small island close to Namoa, the farmers. out of sheer curiosity, rushed along to gaze and wonder at the Frenchmen, who, it seems, inter- preted the move of the Chinese as an act of hostility and without more ado fired at the crowd with the idea of dispersing them. Those on board the gunboat on seeing their men on shore firing on the Chinese, naturally thought them in danger and fired a shot from one of their guns at Huan Ao, with the result of three men killed and three dangerously wounded.
The other story goes on to say that the gun- boat had landed a party. among whom there was a French priest, at Huan Ao, and these hooted at and insulted by the Chinese. On re- joining their ship, the French missionary, who understood the dialect of the Huan Ao people. related what had taken place to the Commander. who, thinking that the French flag had been insulted, ordered a shot to be fired which caused the death of three mou and wounded three.
THE CONSEQUENCES.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
as the Chinese greatly resent his mode of pro- cedure; and we could not very well blame them if they started a disturbance just now.
41 1.M.8. "MOHAWK TO LEAVE.
·
MANILA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.].
TO BE RAPIDLY 'IMPROVED.
189
I hear that the Mohawk, which is still here, has received orders to proceed to Amoy owing SANITÓRIA FOR AMERICAN TROOPS—BANGÜED to some trouble having broken out there. I am also informed that the Japanese had landed a party at Amoy which was the start of the trouble, and it is now rumoured that the Yokohama Specie Bank at Amoy had been burnt down.
C
8.8. CHWNSHAN
IN BAD WEATHER.
It took the Chuushan eight days from Hongay to here, and she experienced frightful weather. She was fearfully knocked about and sustained However, nobody on board of her received any several injuries, also losing two of her life-boats.
injuries.
THE CUSTOMS.
Mr. J. W. Innocent from Chefoo arrived here a few days ago and has taken over charge of the ( ustous affairs.
|
|
The Chengtai of Namon on being informed as to what had happened, despatched with all haste a telegram to the Acting Viceroy of Can- ton, asking him to enquire into the cause of the gunboat's action. In his telegram to the Act- ing Viceroy, the Chengtai stated that the gun-| boat arrived at Huan Ao on the 2nd day of the 8th moon and without any provocation opened fire, killing three men and dangerously wound- ing two. She left on the 3rd day of the 8th moon and returned to Swatow, leaving the latter place the same day for the south. The Chengtai reported the above incident to the head French missionary and telegraphed it also to the Act- ing Viceroy for his information.
The strangest thing of all is that those on the gunboat on returning to Swatow kept perfect silence, not divulging a word as to what had occurred. She left here on the 27th instant for Canton, apparently satisfied of having fulfilled her mission. In patiently awaiting the outcome of this incident I merely wonder what account the Commander of the Comète rendered as to what really happened. It cannot be denied that he acted very indiscreetly, for hy his action he endangered the safety of the foreigners here,
A NEW LINE OF STEAMERS.
I am informed from a very good source that a new line, connecting Swatow with North Borneo and Sandakan, is shortly to be inaugu- rated here. The promoters of this route are, I believe, Germans. A wealthy hinamon bas also arrived here who intends running boats between here and Sarawak.
FORMOSA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT}.
Taihoku (Taipeh), 1st September.
THE DETENTION OF JAPANESE TROOPS. I telegraphed to you on the 29th to the effect that a Japanese military expedition of 1,200 mon was being despatched to Amoy. To-day I wired you that they had returned to Taipeh. No explanation can be obtained as to the reason for their sudden change in plans, but the fact remains that after the troops had been actually embarked on two transports specially requisition ed for the purpose, and were about to sail, orders were suddenly received to disembark, and the whole forec accordingly returned to Tai- hoku.
Manila, 29th August. Foreigners in the Philippines whose field of observation is limited to Manila and its sur- roundings have no idea what this island of Lason offers in the way of cool, bracing and healthful province up north called Benguet, where droves climate and beautiful scenery. There is a hilly of fine sleek cattle graze over thousands of acres of good range,
where cold mountain streams churn down rocky gorges, where cool winds moan through miles of tall pines and where strawberries and cream are not luxuries, Lown hard to realize this good country is little more here in hot, sweltering, muddy Manila it is than one hundred and fifty miles away.
The American authorities in Manila, both civil and military, have decided that an accessi- ble health resort is necessary for the well- being of themselves and of the men under them, and to this end they have been casting about for the best location in which to establish military sunitoria and a summer capital. They have decided upon Benguet province. Spain was also confronted with a similar need when she controlled these islands, and she also decided on Benguet for this purpose. She sent a commission there to report on the province អន a health resort. This commission's re- port was most favourable; they spent nine months in Benguet, and among the much detailed information they submitted about the locality is the fact that the highest temperature registered during the time of their stay was 76 deg. Fahrenheit, and that in the colder months the thermometer drops to the freezing point at night. Spanish physician in Manila, speaking to the A prominent
writer about Benguet, said he once had occasion to order to Bonguet to be cured a number of Spanish army officers all suffering from diseases prevalent in these islands. Some of the officers followed his instructions, while others disobeyed and remained in Mauila. Those who went up north were cured, while the majority of those who stayed in Manila died. It is easy to find THE GROUNDS OF JAPANESE ACTION AT AMOY. proof that Benguet is healthy; the American Several hundreds of Formosa Chinese who Civil Commission have lately taken much testi- have become naturalised subjects reside in Amoy, mony concerning this province, all of which and they, together with the Japanese residents convinces them that it is well adapted to the there, have been constantly threatened by the pressing needs of the Americans, namely, a unruly classes among the Vmoy Chinese. health resort and a recuperating station for the On the news reaching the capital of the at-army. General Wright, of the Civil ommis. tempted destruction of the Japanese temple by sion. Col. Dr. Mans of the Army. Mr. Higgins, fire, some auxiety was felt among the authorities General Manager of the Manila-Dagupan Rail- as to the safety of their nationals, and arrange.road, and Dr. Frank Bournes have just returned ments were unde accordingly to send over from from a trip into this province, whither they went Kelung a considerable military force. It is quite to make a personal examination.
Their re- possible that at the last moment Dr. Goto, the port is most favourable; they found a delightful local chief, who was at the time in A moy, decided country and they fully concur in what the that the situation was not sufficiently serious as to Spaniards have said of this province as a require so large a force and that he accordingly sanatorium. wired over recommending that the despatch of the military le postponed.
LOCAL TROUBLE WITH SAVAGES.
The island is quiet and there are no indica tions that the Boxor" troubles on the China mainland will spread across the channel. In- creasing trouble, however, has occurred with a tribe of savages who occupy the forest district ham). in the immediate vicinity of Taikokan (oko- After futile attempts on the part of the guards and police along the border to put them in order, it has been decided to send one com- pany of infantry against them. It is believed that this will have a salutary effect and induce them to abandon, at least for a time, their head- hunting raids on the lonely settlers.
L
A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
Benguet is hilly and high, its general elevation ranging from three to six thousand feet; the formation of the country is of limestone, which accounts for the remarkable purity and sweet- ness of the mountain streams; the air is fresh and cool and invigorating. Delicious coffee is grown on the lower altitudes of this province and vegetables and fruits of the temperate zone thrive and do well. There is an abundance of grazing land and the local cattle resemble the Jerseys of England and America. Benguet also contains gold, copper and coal. Some American prospectors have already staked out mining claims on a gulch where the whole hill. side is composed of easy milling ore running in value, according to assay, from five dollars to six hundred dollars a ton; while certain rich riens assay as high as a thonsand dollars ton. Within the confines of Benguet He was there is a vein of copper thirty feet wide and several miles long, and ont-croppings of good coal have been found in several locali-
Mr. David Oliphant, who was one of the few Englishmen killed at Peking, was the third son of Mr. T. T. Oliphant. Queen Mary's. educated at St. Andrews University and abroad, and in 1896 passed high in the examination list of student interpreters for the East. In 1897 he joined his first post in Peking, where he acquired an excellent reputation for ability. and, on the special recommendation of Sir Claude Macdonald, was, early this year, pro- moted to be a full second-class assistant in the Consular service.
1
1
ties.
For this province to become of value to the Americans it must of course be connected by rail with Mauila, and with the idea so doing Mr. Higgins accompanied General Wright on the latter's recent trip of investigation. Mr. Higgin's railroad now runs from Manila to
Է