last evening.
Six Hundred Troops in readiness
to embark at shortest notice if required.
Troop
at Shanghal.
Ship Adventure" at.
THE CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1870.
MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY CHI NESE ON FOREIGNERS AT TIENTSIN. THE FRENCH CONSULATE AND CATHEDRAL DESTROYED. THE following was issued from this office as an extra, this morning. The news it contains was conveyed in an extra of the N. C. Daily News, dated Shanghai, June 27, brought down by the S. S. Nile, which put in here last night to land despatches -
News of a startling nature has reached as from Tientsin. It appears that for several days past there has been a great excitement among the Chinese against For- signers at that place. It was openly said, that the French Cathedral would be burnt and the foreigners exterminated. To a certain extent this is sadly verified. By a special courier via Taku overtaking the steamer Dragon, which left Tientsin on the afternoon of the 21st in- stant, the news was conveyed that the French Consulate, and French Cathe- dral were in dames; and that the French Consul, several other Frenchmen, and Sisters of Mercy, had been murdered. H. M. gunboat Opossum was lying at Chefoo when this news arrived, and started at once (on the night of the 23rd instant) for Tientsin. H. M. G. Dwarf leaves Shanghai this afternoon for Tien- tsin, in consequence of this news, and the French gunboat Flamme will start to- morrow morning, In the meantime the Aspic and Scorpion remain in port; and H. M. Zebra at Nagasaki bas been re- quested to come over,
We learn by private information, that a meeting was held at Shanghai con- vened by Sir Ed. Hornby (late com- mandant of the Volunteers) and resolu- tions passed thereat, in consequence of which the Volunteers were called out în order to defend the settlement in the absence of the gunboats,
The steamers Manchu (Russell & Co., S. S. Navigation Co.) and the Appin (Jardine's) were detained in Tientsin to give as much protection to foreign resi- dents as possible.
No cause is assigned for the murder- ous assault at Tientsin.
It is reported that M. Rochechouart, who holds the position of Minister at Pe- king had been also a victim; but this is not so correctly ascertained as the other facts. One of the victims at Tientsin is stated to be a French medical man, but we have not learnt his name.
The steamer Nile left early this morn- ing, and we understand that she carries despatches to Saigon from the French Consul here. Among other rumours, it is said that the wife and child of the French Consul at Tientsin also fell vic tims to the rage of the infuriated Chi- nuge. Mr Robert Hart, it is expected, will at once leave Hongkong for the seat of the outrages. A rumor is also current that Mr. W. H. Lay (British Consul) has been wounded; but this, it is to be hoped, may prove an exaggeration. The statement that Count Rochechouart had been murdered at Peking also appears to require confirmation, though the oc currence of a simultaneous outburst at Tientsia and the capital is not unlikely,
The steamer Chu Kiang, which left! Shanghai at 5 am, on the 1st, arrived this afternoon, but she brings little more than corroborative evidence of the terri- ble affair and the consequent excitement at Shanghai. The gunboat Diberf was the first ship of war which left for the scene of the disturbances, the two French gunboats following her next morning. Messrs Russell Co. (agents for the 8. S. N. Co.) : had placed the Shantung at the disposal of any residents who desired to go to Tientsin. The mail steamer Sunda had been postponed until the afternoon of the 1st, and she may possibly be in this harbour to-night. The Manchu, from Tientsin, was hourly expected in Shang- hai, and the greatest anxiety prevailed in that settlement. No reason whatever has yet been assigned for this sudden attack on foreigners in a Treaty Port.
Our latest news from Shanghai is from the Daily News of June 30, which says...
A Ningpo correspondent writes that the nativo merchants are much disturbed by the news from Tientsin. They fear war may follow, and consequent interruption
to trade.
The Courier of June 29 says—
No further news has come to hand to-day about the Massacre at Tientsin; and the arrival of the Manchu which is now expect- ed hourly, is looked for with great anxiety. !
The following version, substantially the same, is from the Shanghai Courier : Very serious news has reached us to day by the Dragon. The Chinese have risen against the French, An official! despatch, the very brevity of which is a significant commentary on its contents, says that the French Consulate, the resi- dence of the Sisters of Mercy, and the French Cathedral were burning at the time the despatch was being written. The French Consul, (Mons. Fontanier,) all the Sisters of Meroy and several other Frenchmen (Missionaries) had been mur- dered. The steamer Appin and Manchu were detained (well armed) to afford some protection to foreigners. Mr. Lay, H.B.M.'s Vice-Consul, was collecting all the foreigners together.
In addition to the above official in- formation, there is a rumor that Count Rochechouart, the French Minister, and some Russians had been killed at Pekin, Immediately on the receipt of this news H.M.S. Dwarf got up steam, and Mr. Medhurst, H.B.M. Consul, considerately issued a circular giving those who have connections in the North an opportunity of writing by her. She left at 4 p.m. Meanwhile some degree of protection would have been afforded to the foreigners at Tientsin by H.M, gunboat Opossum, which started for Tientsin immediately that the Dragon arrived there (?) on the night of the 23rd inst. The French Gunboat Flamme leaves to-morrow morning, and Messrs Russell & Co. have placed the S. S. N. S. Shantung at the disposal of the French authorities as a transport. In view of the departure of the Dwarf, leaving the Foreign Commu nity here without British protection, Sir Ed. Hornby, as the last commandant of the Shanghai Volunteers, has issued a circular calling on all resident members of the corps to hold themselves in readiness should their services be required. Mean- while we have the protection of the French Gunboats Aspie and Scorpion, and the Zebra has been sent for from! Nagasaki. No explanation is given of the cause or origin of these dreadful oc-
currences.
Agon
70
123
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.