correspondence.
Wuhu, May 14, 1891.
To the Editor of the North China Daily News:
Sir: News will doubtless have reached you of the disturbance we have had here for the last few days.
It appears that two Chinese Sisters connected with the Jesuit Mission here were out on Sunday afternoon last, and as they proceeded along the street were greeted with the usual cry of the beggars and children. They are said to have spoken kindly to two of the children and patted them on the head, at which the people set upon them, saying they were using medicine to stupefy and take away the speech and hearing of the children that they might steal them and send them to Shanghai. A great crowd gathered and took both the women and children to the local official, who, becoming frightened, sent them to the hsien.
The crowd continued to increase and become more noisy, and call for the destruction of the Jesuit Mission property. The hsien, however, managed to quiet them down, though they did not disperse.
On Tuesday they got more vociferous and in the afternoon went in a body to the Jesuit Mission premises; but the priests had already fled, so that after but slight resistance on the part of the Chinese attendants the gates were smashed in and the walls pulled down, the crowd rushing in hooting and yelling.
Spades were called for, and some of the graves of those buried in the compound were opened and the contents held up as proof positive of foul play. The bodies were too much decomposed to be recognized, yet they were declared to be the remains of Chinamen cut up by the foreigners. At the sight of these the crowd broke into cries to destroy the premises, so oil was brought and thrown over everything and lighted; the whole place soon became enveloped in flame, and all that now remains of the fine buildings are bare and blackened walls and broken bricks.
About dusk the crowd broke into the English consulate, causing the consul and his wife to beat a hasty retreat in disguise.
About this time the taotai arrived with soldiers and surrounded the consulate, thus preventing its destruction, though a great deal of damage was done to the walls and grounds.
The attention of the mob was now turned to several large blocks of buildings belonging to the Jesuits, including the customs premises and the residences of nearly the whole of the staff, much of which was new property and had only been occupied a few days. Here, however, they met with resistance.
Our gallant commissioner and his brave staff were determined to defend their premises to the last. Each was armed with a musket and bayonet, the streets were barricaded, and patrols set.
Such was the determination of the mob to destroy the customs that the defenders had to rally time after time and led by the commissioner charge the mob, many of whom can now tell to a trifle the weight of a musket.
Wednesday morning all the foreign residents were called to the Tehhsing by the consul, who had detained the steamer.
On Wednesday evening three Chinese men-of-war which were passing up river (one of which had the futai of Nganhui on board) came to anchor in front of the concession and fired a broadside or two; this, with the aid of a good shower of rain, quickly scattered the people.
We can not speak too highly of the bravery of the commissioner and all the members of both the indoor and outdoor staff, as well as of some of the other foreign residents who kept constant guard for nearly forty-eight hours.
It is without doubt entirely owing to this prompt and vigorous action that the rest of the foreign residences were not destroyed and probably some lives lost. The generous kindness of Mr. T. Weatherstone, agent of Butterfield & Swire, and Capt. Cain and officers of the steamship Tehhsing demand the thanks of the whole community, most of whom are in someway indebted to them for services rendered.
Capt. Cain and his officers did all they could to make the ladies and children comfortable by giving up their rooms and supplying all their needs.
I have just come away from the scene of the riot, and can only say that the destruction is complete; what the fire left the people systematically tore down and carried away, several of them losing their lives by falling walls in their eagerness to get all they could.
The port is much quieter now, and we are expecting the English and French gunboats up at any time.
I am, etc.,