The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1883.
THE ANTI-FOREIGN RIOT AT CANTON.
The river steamer Hankow arrived from Canton yesterday afternoon, and by her we learn further particulars of the disastrous outbreak on Monday. About half-past four on that morning a Chinaman came up the Hankow's gangway and wanted to get on board. The Portuguese watchman told him it was too early and stepped forward, stretching out his arms to bar the way. The man gave a step backward, and accidentally fell overboard. No violence whatever was used. Such was the account we received on board the steamer as that given by the watchman, but there were no witnesses of the occurrence. Some time afterwards the body was brought on board the steamer by the man's friends, and the British Consul was informed of the affair. The Consul passed the information on to the Viceroy, and it was seen that there was a possibility of trouble, but no steps to avoid it were taken by the authorities. There was no actual outbreak, however, until about a quarter past eight. At this time Capt. Ogston was talking to the man who appeared to be in charge of the body, endeavouring to induce him to remove it off the steamer quietly. Meanwhile the crowd had been increasing, and at a quarter past eight they commenced to throw stones and bricks at the vessel, and a few minutes afterwards Captain Ogston saw two men with torches. On seeing this he considered there was no time to be lost and he got his vessel away from the wharf as speedily as possible, slipping one of his hawsers to save time. Hardly had the steamer got off before the wharf was fired, kerosine having been brought from a neighbouring shop. As the Hankow steamed away the crowd continued to pelt her, and the upper deck of the steamer was covered with stones and brickbats, but no material damage was done. Mr. Christy, the chief engineer, had a narrow escape of being hit on the head, as a brick came flying past him as he was at work in the engine room. Most of the Chinese passengers the Hankow had on board at the time transferred themselves afterwards to the Honam and came down in that steamer on Tuesday. The Hankow yesterday brought down about 150 Chinese passengers; she had also on board two European ladies and two gentlemen.
As to the occurrences on Shameen on Monday, our report of yesterday seems to have covered almost the whole ground, as we were able to learn but few additional details of importance. It should be mentioned, however, that the Chinese authorities sent fire-engines on to the concession in the afternoon, to play on the burning buildings, but this assistance was too late to be of any avail, as the houses were already gutted.
The Canton Dispensary, Rev Mr. Masters's house and other houses occupied by foreigners on the Canal-road were threatened by the mob, but on the Chinese occupants of the adjoining houses representing to them that if they set fire to these the flames would extend to the Chinese shops, the rioters showed themselves so far amenable to reason as to acknowledge the force of the argument and leave these places alone. As may be imagined, however, the foreigners did not feel inclined to trust their forbearance implicitly, and Mr. and Mrs. Masters and their children, and Mr. and Mrs. Brant, of the Dispensary, found refuge in a Chinese house at the back of their own premises, whence they were subsequently taken to the Ningpo by a steam launch, a small party of foreigners and a number of Chinese soldiers giving them a safe escort through the mob from the house to the water. The Rev. Dr. Happer, who lives in the same neighbourhood, thought it safe to remain in his own house, and some other missionaries, we believe, also adopted the same course.
On Tuesday everything was quiet, and the settlement was guarded by the Chinese troops. The Swift arrived about 8.30 p.m., and the Consuls were notified. Two of the Consuls wished to have the marines landed, but the English Consul considered this unnecessary, and declined to make the request to the Commodore. Previous to the arrival of the Swift the residents had held a meeting and it was decided to patrol the settlement during the night. The first watch, under command of Mr. von Pustau, did duty from seven to nine o'clock. The second watch went on at nine and was to be relieved at eleven, but at half-past ten it was decided that there was no further necessity for the patrol being kept up by foreigners. It was said at one time that a raid was to be made about eight o'clock, but nothing of the sort occurred, and all the approaches were guarded by a sufficient force to repel any attack that might have been attempted. Most of the ladies remained on the Ningpo on Tuesday night, but several slept at the German Consulate, and a few, we believe, at their own homes. During the day official inquiries were made by the Chinese authorities as to the welfare of the foreigners, and an intimation was given that they need not give themselves any further trouble in connection with the preservation of order. In the evening the Viceroy sent word that he had ordered 500 additional troops to be stationed in the streets and roads near the settlement. Yesterday morning everything seemed to be quiet.
Mr. von Pustau came down by the Hankow yesterday and was the bearer of dispatches from the German Consul to the German Naval authorities. Mr. Pustau was not in a position to give any information as to the contents of the dispatches, but he said Dr. Mollendorff had expressed the opinion that the presence of a gunboat of another nationality would have a good moral effect. Mr. Pustau, to whom we are indebted for many of the details above given, further informs us that the statement that the Chinese merchants had decided to suspend business with foreigners for a fortnight was inaccurate. The merchants called on their foreign friends, expressed their concern at what had occurred, and evinced friendly feelings, but the silkmen appeared to be somewhat alarmed. Mr. Pustau agrees with our other informants as to the pusillanimous bearing of the Chinese soldiers, and says that when the foreigners charged the mob the soldiers simply opened out and allowed the roughs to pass through. It is said that thirteen of the Chinese soldiers were killed, it is supposed by the bullets which the foreigners fired over the heads of the mob.
The Portuguese watchman, who had been detained in custody on the Hankow, was taken off to the settlement on Tuesday evening by a boat from the Swift, and lodged in the Gaol of the British Consulate pending the arrival of the Portuguese gunboat. It is said the captain of the Swift refused to have him taken on board that vessel. The Hankow on her way down passed the Portuguese gunboat Tamega going up, and no doubt the man would be placed on board her on her arrival. The Espoir was not seen, but the Latin was passed about twelve o'clock. Kiungchow was passed about ten miles below Whampoa.
485
F
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1883.
THE ANTI-FOREIGN ́RÏOT AT CANTON.
The river steamer Hankow arrived from Canton yesterday afternoon, and by her we learn further particulars of the disastrous outbreak on Monday. About half-past four on that morning a Chiua- man came up the Hankow's gangway and wanted to get on board. The Portuguese watchman told him it was too early and stepped forward, stretching out his arms to bar the way. The man gave a step backward, and accidentally fell overboard. No violence whatever was used. Such was the account we received on board the steamer as that given by the watchman, but there were no witnesses of the occurrence. Some time afterwards the body was brought on board the steamer by the man's friends, and the British Consul was informed of the affair. The Consul passed the information on to the Viceroy, and it was seen that there was a possibility of trouble, but no stops to avoid it were taken by the autho- rities. There was no actual outbreak, however, until about a quarter past eight. At this time Capt. Ogston was talking to the man who appeared to be in charge of the body, endeavouring to induce him to remove it off the steamer quietly. Mean- while the crowd had been increasing, and at a quarter past eight they commenced to throw stones and bricks at the vessel, and a few minutes afterwards Captain Ogston saw two men with torches. n seeing this he considered there was no time to be lost and he got his vessel away from the wharf as speedily as possible slipping one of his hawsers to save time. Hardly had the steamer got off before the wharf was fired, kerosine having been brought from a neighbouring shop. As the Hankow steamed away the crowd continued to pelt her, and the upper deck of the steamer was covered with stones and brickbats, but no material damage was done. Mr. Christy, the chief engineer, had a narrow escape of being hit on the head, as a brick came flying past bim as he was at work in the engine room. Most of the Chinese passengers the Hankow had on board at the time transferred themselves after- wards to the Honam and came down in that steamer on Tuesday. The Hankou yesterday brought down about 150 Chinese passengers, she had also on board two European ladies and two gentlemen..
As to the occurrences on Shameen on Mon- day, our report of yesterday seems to have covered almost the whole ground, as we were able to learn but few additional details of importance. It should be mentioned, however, that the Chi- nese authorities sent fire-engines on to the con. oession in the afternoon, to play on the burning buildings, but this assistance was too late to be of any avail, as the houses were already gutted.
The Canton Dispensary, Rev Mr. Masters's house and other houses occupied by foreigners on the Canal-road were threatened by the mob, but on the Chinese occupants of the adjoining houses representing to them that if they set fire to these the fames would extend to the Chinese shops, the rioters showed themselves so far amenable to reason as to acknowledge the force of the argument and leave these places alone. As may be imagined, however, the foreigners did not feel inclined to trust thoir for- bearance implicitly, and Mr. and Mrs. Masters and their children, and Mr. and Mrs. Brant, of the Dispensary, found refuge in
485
a Chine-e house at the back of their own pre-
aises, whence they were subsequently taken to: the Ningpo by a steam launch, a small party of foreigners and a number of Chinese soldiers giv- ing them a safe escort through the mob from the house to the water. The Rev. Dr. Happer, who lives in the same neighbourhood, thought it safe to remain in his own house, and some other missionaries, we believe, also adopted the
same course.
On Tuesday everything was quiet, and the settlement was guarded by the Chinese troops. The Swift arrived about 8.30 p.m., and the Consuls were notified. Two of the Consuls wished to have the marines landed, but the English Con- sul considered this aunecessary, and declined to make the request to the Commodore. Previous
to the arrival of the Swift the residents had held a meeting and it was decided to patrol the settle- ment during the night. The first watch, under command of Mr. von Pustau, did daty from seven to nine o'clock. The second watch went on at nine and was to be relieved at eleven, but at half- past ten it was decided that there was no further necessity for the patrol being kept up by foreig- uers, It was said at one time that a raid was to be made about eight o'clock, but nothing of the sort occurred, and all the approaches were guarded by a sufficient force to repel any attack that might have boon attempted. Most of the ladies re- mained on the Ningpo on Tuesday night, bat several slept at the German Consulate, and a few, we believe, at their own homes. Daring the day official inquiries were made by the Chinese authorities as to the welfare of the foreigners, and an intimation was given that they need not give themselves any further trouble in connection with the preservation of order. In the evening the Viceroy sent word that he had ordered 500 additional troops to be stationed in the streets and roads near the settlement. Yesterday morn |ing everything seemed to be quiet.
Mr. von Pustau came down by the Hankow yes- terday and was the bearer of dispatches from the German Consul to the German Naval authorities. Mr. Pustau was not in a position to give any in- formation as to the contents of the dispatches, but he said Dr. Mollendorff had expressed the opinion that the presence of a gunboat of another nationality would have a good moral effect. Mr. Pustaa, to whom we are indebted for many of the delails above given, further informs us that the statement that the Chinese merchants had decid- ed to suspend business with foreigners for a fort- night was inaconrate. The merchants called on their foreign friends, expressed their concern at what had occurred, and evinced friendly feelings, but the silkmen appeared to be somewhat alarmed. Mr. Pustau agress with our other in- formants as to the pusillanimous bearing of the Chinese soldiers, and says that when the fo. reigners charged the mob the soldiers simply opened out and allowed the roughs to pass through. It is said that thirteen of the Chi- nese soldiers were killed, it is supposed by the bullets which the foreigners fired over the heads of the mob.
The Portuguess watchman, who had been de- tained in custody on the Hankow, was taken off to the settlement on Tuesday evening by a boat from the Swift, and lodged in the Gaol of the British Consulate pending the arrival of the Portuguese gunboat. It is said the captain of the Swift refused to have him taken on board that vessel. The Hankow on her way down passed the Por- tuguese gunboat Tamega going up, and no doubt the man would be placed on board her on her arrival. The Espoir was not seen, but the The Latin was passed about twelve o'clock. Kiungchow was passed about ten miles below Whampoa.
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