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There was neither room nor
been placed at the disposal of the British consul. provisions on board the "Kian" for this additional crowd; so after a short broken night, they were sped on their way to Hankow.
The Arrival of His Majesty's Ship “Thistle."
Sunday, the 17th April, was a memorable day. On Saturday news had come to us of a British ship ashore in the lake. "Ai ya, it is a big one!" was all that we had to guide us as to which ship it was. Speculation had a fine field. The river was falling rapidly. It would be the, well, it doesn't matter what, it turned out to be the She couldn't get off till June, &c. How can thirty odd refugees wrong name. crowded into a saloon built for a dozen passengers help talking? On Sunday, we got news that the British boat was off; that the admiral of the Yang-tsze was coming with a cruiser and 2,000 Hupeh troops. Then at 4 r.m. the white ensign came in sight; and not long after three ringing cheers from the "Kian" greeted His Majesty's ship "Thistle."
While the newly-arrived captain and the consul were consulting, the Chinese "Ts'u Yu" came in sight. She is a much faster boat than the "Thistle." Still the "Thistle's" anchor was down, and it became evident to a schoolboy's arithmetic that the faster boat was bound to pass the "Thistle" before the latter could reach Changsha. At last, back came the orders to the "Kian" to follow after the "Thistle" at full speed. On came the "Ts'u Yu" and just walked past the "Kian" in such a way as to make it hopeless that the British flag would be the first. There was a race and no mistake. The two funnels of the "Ts'u Yu" seemed to belch more smoke than could have come from a dozen funnels.
"Jack's" account of the race was worth having. We on the "Kian" got too far behind to see it well. "Jack of the engine-room" says that a laconic message came down from the bridge: "Engineer, that boat must not pass us." It is not for an outsider to try and repeat how many more revolutions a minute the screws of the Thistle" made than ever her builders contracted they should make. Nor would I repeat all I have heard about the way in which this place got too hot and that. All I have to say is that "that boat" did not pass the "Thistle," and the first flag to fly opposite Changsha after the riots was the Cross of St. George and not the Dragon of China.
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The Return to Changsha,
Oh, the tales that greeted our ears as clerks and converts, servants and friends came on board.
We had a hastily-gathered meeting in the saloon, and one English and one American speaker tried to voice something of the feelings of unbounded admiration wo felt to the British consul, and to the captains and officers of the steamers. I add copies of the addresses which were hurriedly drafted, one for Mr. Hewlett, the others for the two British firms to which we were indebted.
It is evident the fight is over. What particular shape the diplomatic victory will take will soon be known. But everyone who has passed through riots-and this is the fourth your correspondent has experienced-knows how the pendulum swings far back in the reaction. Humbled Changsha! We who have been watching for the past few years the growing vanity of the people, and especially of the scholarly class, and have known the utter powerlessness of the boaster, have again and again foretold the inevitable crash and the inevitable advance of the very things that Changsha was determined should not advance. Now her streets are patrolled by Hupeh men, who know how Changsha has scorned their fellow-provincials. Her scorn is returned with compound interest.
One boast belongs to us, and we make it. For the past two years the diplomatic fight that has been waged has chiefly, though not entirely, centred itself on the British consul. No one can point to any unjust or even unkind demand on his part. No share of this mess is due to him. When the victory is fully won, the name that will stand out foremost is that of His Majesty's consul, Mr. W. M. Hewlett.
The "Kian" is back in Changsha; but the consul forbids those of us under his control to land on the city side, and all non-British guests obey willingly the wise precaution. The local officials are by no means sure that the trouble is over; and as the consul says in his circular to us, it would be selfish for any one to imperil the
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lives of those in the interior by doing anything so rash as to go into the city at some risk to their own life merely to look after property.
The governor is alive. His seals are handed over to the treasurer.
Address to His Majesty's Consul.
The following address, dated the 17th April, 1910, was presented to Mr. W. M. Hewlett-
"Dear Mr. Hewlett,
"We, the undersigned, on our own behalf and on behalf of the whole European and American community of Changsha, desire to express to you our sincere thanks for your services to us during the recent crisis, caused by the riots of 1910.
"We recognise with profound thanks to Almighty God that not a single foreign life was taken during the riots. We desire to express our opinion that but for the wise steps which, under God, you have taken that happy result would not have been attained,
"Throughout the long hours from the evening of Wednesday, the 13th April, until the arrival of His Majesty's ship 'Thistle' this Sunday afternoon, the 17th April, you have been awake night and day with the exception of too few hours of sleep. We could not have marvelled had the strain rendered you unfit for work; but you have not even swerved from the courtesy that has always marked your ordinary intercourse with us. Of the wisdom of the provision you have made, the
successful issue is the fullest praise.
"For the way in which you have exercised your hospitality on board the boat which you chartered on behalf of His Britannic Majesty's Government, the non- British members of the community desire to express especial thanks. The fact that the British portion of those rescued by your help is not the majority of the whole number rescued is in itself significant; but that fact is rendered still more note- worthy when we say that there has been absolutely no distinction in your treatment of us all. It is our wish that a copy of this very inadequate expression of our thanks be forwarded to the American, Dutch, German, Italian, Russian, and Swedish Legations, and on behalf of the Norwegians to the British Minister, and on behalf of the Swiss to the French Minister at Peking, with a request that all the Governments that have benefited by your services may know what cause they have to thank you.
"We confidently anticipate for you a brilliant career in the honourable service which has been adorned with so many great names with which we shall always associate yours."
(Here follow the signatures of fifteen British, seven Americans, one Dutch, two Germans, two Italians, three Norwegians, one Russian, one Swede, and one Swiss.)
Extract from the British Consul's Circulars of April 18, 1910.
Circular No. 1.
The officials state that if one foreign life had been lost during the riots that the whole province would have risen Preparations [for further rioting] had been made throughout the province. Word was awaited from Changsha, and it is to be hoped that the fact that no lives were lost will deter the disaffected from further action.
Extreme uneasiness still exists.
Circular No. 2.
The acting governor will call to-morrow morning. His Majesty's ship "Nightingale" left for Changsha last night from Yochou, and His Majesty's ship "Snipe was leaving at once.
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