At the time the Yamên telegraphed the viceroy of the Hu Kuang
provinces and the viceroy at Canton to issue instructions to the
military and civil district officers to take action in good earnest
to repress the rioters and protect the missionaries and their
converts.
The viceroy of the Hu Kuang provinces has now reported that at the
time he issued instructions to the civil and military district
officers to act in accordance with his injunctions.
The acting magistrate of Lin Wu, Chu Shih-hsien, and the acting
lieutenant-colonel of the Lin Wu battalion have presented a joint
petition, as under:
In April, 1894, the magistrate of Lin Wu at that time, Pao
Hsi-pang, had word from Lien Chou, in Kwangtung, that the
Rev. W. H. Lingle, an American missionary, was under escort.
He passed through Lin Wu on a journey to the district of
Chia Ho. He went to and fro several times. Each time he
arrived at Lin Wu he put up at the residence of a native
Christian named Li Po-tai, a little over a li from the city,
where he preached the gospel. There was no chapel or
schoolhouse established there.
In November, 1895, the said missionary, accompanied by a
member of his family, arrived at Lin Wu from Lien Chou and
stayed only two days, when they went to Chia Ho. They
afterwards, on returning from Chia Ho, did not stay at Lin
Wu, but went straight on to Lien Chou.
On the 24th of April of this year he (Mr. Lingle) came to Lin
Wu from Lien Chou with two members of his family, and on the
30th idem the magistrate sent an escort to take them to Chia
Ho. During these days the spectators stood around like a
wall. The petitioners, being afraid that a disturbance might
occur, instructed soldiers and yamên runners to act in good
earnest to repress the people and prevent a riot.
Fortunately peace and quiet were secure.
Unexpectedly some ignorant fellows of no knowledge of the
world, at the third watch on the 30th April, destroyed the
residence and shop of Li Po-tai. On learning what had
happened, the petitioners went in person to the place, and
the crowd dispersed on all sides. Doors, small boards, etc.,
were also taken from the houses of all the other Christians.
Efforts were made to arrest the guilty, but without
success.
On the 4th of May the said missionary came alone from Chia Ho
to Lin Wu and stated that he had rented Li Po-tai’s house
for $100 for a term of ten years, and that he had only
occupied the place for three years. It was now destroyed. He
presented his lease, but it was difficult to distinguish
whether it was a true or false document. On examining the
archives of the magistrate’s yamên, it was found that there
was no register of the lease. Inquiry was made of the
gentry, but they knew nothing about the lease. As the inns
of the city would not give Mr. Lingle quarters, the
magistrate allowed him to stay in his yamên and provided him
with food. The magistrate explained to him that, as the
people objected, it would be no easy matter, it was feared,
to establish a chapel at Lin Wu, and it would be best to
recover the lease money and he go to another place. He
insisted on having the house leased. The magistrate told him
he should wait until after the examinations were over next
year, when he could consult with the local officials and
gentry and arrange for a place. To this proposition he
gladly assented, but stated that as the people did not like
him, the Christians had suffered by having the doors, etc.,
of their houses destroyed. He asked that due reparation be
made to them. It was in the dead of night when the
conversation ended. Mr. Lingle stayed at the yamên, and the
next morning he again returned to Chia Ho. It may be stated
that it was a lawless set of roughs and vagabonds who
destroyed the buildings, and how can they be pursued and
captured? Materials were therefore purchased and workmen
engaged to make repairs to the houses of the Christians,
which have been completed.
On the 14th May the said missionary with two members of his
family arrived at Lin Wu under escort from Chia Ho, and they
saw for themselves that the houses of the Christians had
been repaired. The said missionary expressed to the
magistrate his profound thanks for what had been done. The
same day he returned to Lien Chou. The people seeing that
the said missionary did not remain in Lin Wu, everything is
now quiet and there is no noise or clamor. It is now more
than a month, and as the missionary has not returned the
people and Christians are living peacefully together.
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The said missionary has been visiting Lin Wu for three years,
and there are about fifty to sixty native Christians. They
have never been robbed or expelled from the place. When Mr.
Lingle again visits Lin Wu soldiers will be deputed to
repress the people and action taken in good warrant to
afford him proper protection.
Proclamations will be issued so that it may be clearly known
to all law-abiding persons that they must attend to their
own duties, keep the laws, and thus trouble may be avoided,
etc.
The viceroy having received the above petition has instructed the
Hankow taotai to communicate with the United States consul at Hankow
on the subject.
The Yamên would observe that a representation from the viceroy at
Canton is about the same as the above. That officer has instructed
the Lien Chou officials to communicate with the magistrate of Lin Wu
that energetic action must always be taken to repress the people and
afford due protection to Christians.
