Mr. McConnell’s party--The Governor of Che-Kiang--A friendly
magistrate--The cruelty of a Taotai--Tragic end of two ladies--The
staff of the American Board Mission at Tai-ku and Fen-chow-fu
assassinated.
Very few particulars of the massacre of Mr. McConnell’s party have been
allowed to reach the public, but it is proved that, in this case too,
the men and children were killed first; married women came after, and
lastly, young ladies, who were kept back in carts, and executed some
time later.
Two men, six women, and three children, belonging to the China Inland
Mission at H’u Cheo, in the province of Che Kiang, were killed. Two of
the ladies, Miss Drummond and Miss Manchester, were American citizens.
The Governor of Che Kiang was bitterly anti-foreign. When he received
the Empress-Dowager’s edict of June 20, ordering the extermination of
all foreigners in China, he lost no time in promulgating it over his
province. H’u Cheo is in the extreme south of the province, near the
Fuk-kien border.
When the foreign Consuls in Shanghai entered, on behalf of their
respective Governments, into an agreement with the southern Viceroys
and Governors to maintain law and order in the central and southern
provinces and to confine war to the northern part of China, the
Governor of Che Kiang at first refused to join in it. He stated that
the Empress’s edict had already been published, and that he would only
obey orders from the Court. Eventually, however, hearing that the
Boxers were faring unsatisfactorily in the north, he was advised by
the southern Viceroys to come over to their side and disobey Imperial
orders, which might lead him to disaster.
[Illustration: CHINESE REFUGEES EATING A HEARTY MEAL ON BOARD A BRITISH
VESSEL]
The edict was recalled, but it was too late. In H’u Cheo, the Chinese
magistrate, who was friendly towards foreigners, especially to Mr.
Thompson, paid dearly for the little protection he attempted to give
them. He, his wife, and children were put to death, and even his yamên
was destroyed.
The Taotai, the highest official in the town, was bitterly
anti-foreign, so that when orders came from his superior to
exterminate all “white devils,” he asked for nothing better. A mob
of ruffians was assembled without much difficulty, and the helpless
missionaries were dragged to the presence of the Taotai, who informed
the crowd that they could do with them what they chose.
[Sidenote: A LONG LIST]
Mr. Thompson died from a spear wound, and his wife and children were
beheaded. Mr. Ward, his wife, child, and two ladies were also killed.
Tragic beyond words is the end of two ladies belonging to Mr.
Thompson’s station. They were conveyed to a temple, where they were
kept for two days and two nights, no details being known of what
occurred during that time. They were then killed by having bamboos
forced through their bodies, the stick in one case coming out at the
mouth.
My informer states that this was related to him as an evidence of the
reluctance of the mob to murder them!
A native Christian, escaped from H’u Cheo, reported that he had seen
the body of a lady missionary lying under a heap of dirt in the street.
He recognised it by a protruding foot with a European shoe on.
Were one to mention all--each case separately--it would make a long
list; but it is perhaps well to quote a few more examples of martyrs,
and show definitely that the massacres of Europeans were by no means
trifling nor unimportant, nor due to some personal spite against
particular individuals. The attacks were directed against everybody
foreign, regardless of age, sex, and condition.
At Hsia Yi two single ladies were murdered, and at Taiku, in Shansi,
three men and three ladies--the entire mission staff of the American
Board--were assassinated on the last day of July. The Rev. J. H. Clapp,
Mrs. Clapp, Rev. G. L. Williams, Rev. J. W. Davis, Miss R. Bird, and
Miss M. L. Partridge were among the killed.
All the members of the American Board Mission at Fen-Chow-fu, in
Shansi, together with three members of the China Inland Mission who
were visiting at that station, were killed. They had barricaded
themselves in the house of Mr. Price, where the first riot occurred,
but were apparently unable to hold out. They attempted to escape. In a
party of three men, four women, and three children, they left the city
under an escort offered them of Chinese soldiers whom they trusted.
Once out in the open the soldiers of the guard fired on them, and they
were all killed.
Other missionaries, including several ladies and children visiting
friends in that same town, shared a similar fate. They also belonged to
the American Board Mission.
There can be no doubt that the soldiers of the guard acted under direct
orders from their officers.