CANTON."
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 22nd November. REVENGE AND INDEMNITY FOr Native
“CHRISTIANS.
On the morning of the 17th inst. the French gunboat Argus left Canton with the delegate of the French Consul on board and arrived at Kumehak in the afternoon. On Monday morning by arrangement the two principal culprits concerned in the late anti-Christian riots were brought to the spot where the riot took place and beheaded before the French delegate, the Commander of the gunboat, the prefect of the Shan Tak district, several mandarins and a number of soldiers, the elders and gentry of the village being also present to witness the execution. After this the elders and gentry were particularly told that should any more anti-Christian riots or other troubles occur in any of their districts they would be held personally responsible. They bowed ac- quiescence and went home with a salutary lesson for them. The native Christians were led back to their homes under guard of 100 soldiers; Their houses-are being rebuilt, and everything provided for their comfort. The indemnity has been arranged between the Acting Viceroy Tak Sow and the French Consul, M. Hardouin in a manner most satisfactory to all parties concerned.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
FROM THE *CHUNG NGOI BAN PO
OF THE EXPLOSION-PLOT. MORE DETAILS OF
A young man named Sz Kin-yu, about twenty-two years of age, an alleged member of Dr. Sun Yet-Sen's party, was decapitated on the 8th ult., on the charge of attempting to blow up the Governor's yamen in Han-Lau- fong Street on the 28th Oct. The explosion was planned in a house in Han Lau-fong Street in the vicinity of the Governor's yamen; and some powder and dynamite were buried under the ground about three feet deep, but the quantity was too small to have any effect on the Governor's yamen, which is at some distance off. About sixty houses in the neighbourhood were more or less damaged, and soveral lives were lost. The house from which the explosion took place was hired a short time previously by a man named Sung, belonging to the province of Nganwei. After the occurrence, the landlord of the house in question was arrested, and being unable to find Sung, pointed out a paper- shop which stood security for the house-rent. The shopkeeper without hesitation pointed out Sz Kin-yu, saying that it was he who asked the shop to stand security. Sz Kin-yu was con- sequently arrested, but he did not confess till unbearable torture was brought to bear, while an old woman gave direct evidence against him. Sz belonged to a rich and influential family. The Governor has given orders to seal up his house and all his property. It is said that it was planned to flow up the whole city of The interior and exterior of the Viceroy's Canton after the Governor's yamen. The Gov- yamen are being whitewashed, and the streets ornor, fearing another attempt to explode the in the vicinity thereof cleansed and every pre-yamen, has ordered the razing of all the houses in paration made for the advent of the Viceroy To Mau, who is expected here about the middle
PREPARING FOR H.E. TO MAU.
of next month.
THE LATS PLOT IN CANTON.
On account of the recent explosion at the the back of the Provincial Governor's yamen, strict searching and enquiries are still going on in all the low localities, and secret emissaries are sent to watch the opium divans, brothels, gambling dens, low class lodging-houses, monas- teries, as well as convents, ancestral temples and examination schools, and arrest any suspi- cious characters that may be found in hiding; also any person found harbouring them will be arrested and punished. The Viceroy has order. ed that all the powder magazines at the military quarters shall be removed to Wang Chi Kong, outside the suburb and far from human habita- tion, as a precaution.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
On the morning of the 16th ult. a big fire occurred at the Ng Sin Man (the Door of Five Genii) and lasted from 2 to 5 a.m. causing the destruction of over 150 houses and shops. About 20 girls from the houses of ill-fame were burnt, and some hundred prisoners who were kept in the house of detention await- ing trial had to be removed under guard to the Nam Hoi Magistrate's gaols. A few nights ago again three fires took place, one in a matshed in Tak Hing Street where some "joss pidgin was going on, caused by the falling down of a kerosene lamp, another in Chu In Street, and another in Yik Chin Lower Street which burnt over 20 houses. In- cendiarism is suspected.
""
THE CANTON PRESS REVIVES. The three Canton vernacular papers were re- vired yesterday. They were old papers, but assum- ed different names. One was the Yut Kew Kee man ("the record of news from Yut Kew," one of the lofty hills in Shantung where genii dwell); another was the Sai Süt Pin or "Exportation Gazette" issued from the Colleges. In their leading articles they promise that they will not publish anything but useful ancient literature, edicts, proclamations. government and commercial notifications, reprint from the Peking Garettes, examination papers, native and foreign news, landatory notices; nor will they reproduce any articles from the pen of Kang or Leung, comment upon their acts so as to mislead the people, or publish any article tending to corrupt the morals of the people; but what they publish shall be in terosting and instructive, so as to guido straight the hearts of the people, for a modest sum of 35 cents & month. The two papers that have assumed different names are the late Chung Sai Po and Pok Man Po, while the Ling Hoi Po remains the same,
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the vicinity of the place, the land belonging to the Crown and paying no taxes. A captain named So Wing-leang has also been arrested in Canton, accused of being an associate of Dr. Sun Yet san, and a Hunan man named Chu Heung-chor has also been captured, being charged as a mem ber of the Kolao Hui. The latter has declared that three military officers, named Ho-ysung
and Shiu-tso-chong, Kwan, Chau-hon-ko belong to the same society. The last three, how. ever, have presented themselves before the Governor, saying that they were falsely charg- ed, and are waiting for trial.
FAMINE IN SAM-TO-CHUK.
The magistrate of Kwai-sui district has sen a despatch to the Governor, saying that famine has broken out in Sam-to-chuk, which was affected by the rebellion, and asking him to send money there for the relief of the sufferers,
'SWATOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Swatow, 24th November. MISCHIEVous frenCH ACTION.
[December 1, 1900.
things for their own use on board the Comets. Undoubtedly a cheap way of provisioning : man-of-war!
ANOTHER INSTANCE,
In a village. called Long Tchiu Te, olose to Ungkong, three Roman Catholic convert families were robbed by the rowdies, and in consequence the villagers had to pay 8800 com- pensation to the French. Not satisfied with this the French ordered the villagers to burn three houses, to which the Chinese, yielding to force majeure, agreed, but so far they have not put their promise into actual execution. You can see, nevertheless, in what way the French are meting out justice (P).
SCARING AN OFFICIAL.
From the above-mentioned village the Comete proceeded to Ungkong, where they were re- ceived by the Niew Ping Sheng, specially sent down by the Taotsi for that purpose. The French again demanded $8,000 for the damages caused by rowdies in the late disturbances, and threatened to burn down a certain number of houses which were pointed out to them by the native converts and subsequently marked by the French, if the villagers refused to satisfy their demands. The ultimate result was that the Chinese promised to pay the $8,000. During the interview with the Niew Ping Sheng the Commander of the Comete drew his sword out of the scabbard and struck the table heavily with it to accompany, I suppose, his words with a certain amount of severity. By his action the Commander gave the Niew Ping Sheng such a dreadful soare that he cleared out during the night and fled into the country, thereby breaking off all fur- ther transactions.
•
At Ungkong the French also arrested four Chinese and had them taken on board the Comete. At the time of writing I could not ascertain if the said Chinese had been liberated yet.
Owing to the above described high-handed action of the French, innumerable people left Ungkong and the surrounding villages, and cleared off into the interior. What this affair will lead to cannot at present be known,
THE SITUATION
here and in the outlying districts is perfectly quiet, but if the French continue their mode of procedure as they have done around here on two occasions I shouldn't wonder if the expect- ed rebellion in the south actually breaks out.
8. M. S. BUSSARD
"
has been in our port for the past 40 days and is expected to leave for the North in two days' time. S. M. B. See Adler arrived here on the 22nd to replace the Bussard.
H. I. M. S. Idzumi called on the 13th in- stant and remained here for two days. She brought the Japanese Vice-Consul down from Amoy, and he proceeded to Chouchowfu to pay his call on the Taotai. It was rumoured that the Japanese tried to get a concession here, but did not succeed, as the Taotai gently reminded them that it is at present inopportune to give any concessions away..
OTHER ITEMS.
The British Consul, Mr. Scott, with his family, has arrived here and has taken over charge of the British Consulate.
Trade is generally reviving and assuming its former propensities.
The weather is at present cool and bracing.
The French gunboat Comete arrived here from Canton on the 13th instant and after two days' stay left for Tchia Na, a great trading place to the north of Swatow. The Comète returned from there on the 23rd inst. and the particulars of her doings up along the coast which have reached me may interest the readers of your paper, who will see for themselves how the French are taking things in their own hands, without awaiting the approaching con- clusion of peace. Since the last disturbances here one of the local French priests was ap- pointed to represent France as Consul at Chow.
A Gulf correspondent writes to the Advocate chowfu, the seat of the Taotai's Yamên. The new Consul accompanied the Comete ou her of India saying that the troubles in China have ornise along the coast, and on arrival at Tohia | not had the slightest effect on Russian activity in the Gulf. The contrast between the British Na a force of marines was landed, who in com. pany with the Commander and the Consul went and them is very striking. Whilst the former to interview the local Chingtai and enquired let things slide anyhow, the Russians are as from him why he did not prevent the demolish-active as ever, tolerating no nonsense and be. ing of three houses which had taken place a long | lieving but little in negotiations with so slip- time ago. The Chingtai, being in his present office only a short while, pleaded ignorance as to the demolition of the honses. The Com- mander would on no account listen to the explanations, but intimated to him that he would have to pay $8,0.0 to make good the loss sustained. I may mention that the houses, the property of converts, were destroyed by rowdies, while the payment of $8,000 is to come from the villagers.
pery a customer as the Persian. In short, the Persians have to accept them as either friend or foe; there is no middle course. A party of Russians are at present at Bundar Abbas, busily engaged in surveying and laying out a course for a railway, and it is reported that Govern- ment intend establishing a fleet of subsidized mercantile steamers for carrying on the trade of the gulf between Bundar Abbas and Mo- hommerah and Ahwas. This will havO In the meantime the French appropriated ruinous effect on British trade, as by means cattle, fowls and vegetables from the inhabitants, of their railway Bundar Abbas will be made or, as the Boers kay, commandeered all these 'a distributing centre for Russian goods.
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