Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 526

13

But as speed was

that it was a matter of the utmost difficulty to proceed at all. of the utmost consequence, our information being that Mr. May was in extreme difficulty, Commander KELLY with my entire concurrence made all the speed possible. At about 6 a.m. he had the misfortune to strike a rock, twisting the bow plates, but not otherwise doing any serious damage. I can only say that in this accident no blame whatever in my opinion was attributable to Commander KELLY who had either the alternative of anchoring owing to the darkness (in which case Mr. MAY and his party might have been murdered) or else pro- ceeding to their rescue at a certain amount of risk. Of the two evils the latter was the least, and I venture to emphasize to Your Excellency that, in my opinion, Commander KELLY was not to blame in the least, but on the contrary en- deavoured to carry out the exigencies of the situation in the best possible way. Owing to the dense fog the troops did not arrive till 9 a.m., and there being but two small boats the lauding of the whole party was not completed till 9.45 a.m. There was a distance of nearly 4 miles to be traversed in a very hot sun. An advance guard was formed, and at 10.45 a m. the column arrived at Tái pó Hü City. Mr. STEWART LOCKHART on arrival asked me to halt the column at the Temple and with the aid of the troops but without the least violence some 9 or 10 of the leading inhabitants, shopkeepers, and others were brought to the temple and there questioned separately as to what had become of Mr. MAY and his party. At first they denied all knowledge of him but gradually on being questioned separately they began to give detailed information with the result that we were satisfied that no positive injury had been inflicted on Mr. MAY's party; that he and all with him had made good their escape; but that the matshed in which he had been was burnt to the ground. Satisfied of this, I assembled these men and, having taken their names, I informed them through the interpreter that their own Viceroy would deal with any damage already done with the utmost severity, and that on and after the 17th, when it would become my duty under Your Excellency's orders to take over the District, any disturbance would be promptly quelled. I am satisfied that the prompt arrival of the troops has impressed the inhabitants, and I am convinced that no further trouble will arise in this particular place though I am averse for the present to small isolated unarmed parties proceeding about at their will.

I have to record my high sense of the tact and judgment displayed by Mr. STEWART LOCKHART in eliciting information most unwillingly given; and the interpreter whom he brought with him was simply invaluable owing to his profi- ciency in both English and Chinese and his knowledge of the system of dealing with the natives. Finding that it was unnecessary to remain longer, I ordered the re- embarkation of the troops and returned to Hongkong at about 5.30 p.m.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

W. J. GASCOIGNE, Major-General,

Commanding in China and Honghung,

ENCLOSURE No. 1 IN REPORT OF GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING To Governor DATED 5TH APRIL, 1899.

(Governor to General Officer Commanding.)

MY DEAR GENERAL,

MIDNIGHT, 3rd April, 1899.

I think a Force of 200 men ought to go. The Colonial Secretary will ac- So far as I can learn the villagers did not attack. They, to the company them number of 40 or 50, assembled with stones. This is only an ordinary riot so far and I am anxious to avoid any bloodshed or interference involving responsibility until I take over the place. I shall therefore instruct the Colonial Secretary to bring back Mr. MAY and his force leaving the Chinese soldiers to guard the matshed, and telegraph to the Viceroy to have two hundred men sent at once for that purpose. It will be time enough for us to act when we have assumed responsi-