Mr. Denby to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, China, April 2,
1898.
No. 2901½.]
Sir: In my dispatch No. 2893, of March 24 last,
I reported to you an account of my interview with the Yamên on the
subject of the recent riot at Chiang Pei Ting. Having received a
telegram from the consul-general that the Chinese authorities were not
acting with promptness, I addressed a note to the Yamên, of which a copy
is inclosed. In reply to that note I have received a dispatch from the
Yamên, of which a translation is inclosed. Having received another
telegram from the consul-general that prompt action had not been taken,
on the 2d instant I addressed to the Yamên another note, of which a copy
is inclosed. I have also had a personal interview with a secretary of
Chang Yin Huan, who is a member of the Yamên, in which I insisted that
immediate action must be taken to carry out the terms that had been
agreed on by the Yamên and myself. The sentiments expressed in the
Yamên’s notes are well enough, but it is important that prompt action
should be taken. The public all along the Yangtze are excited over the
rumors which reach them that China is to be partitioned, and unless the
local authorities act with vigor and promptness there is danger of
disorder. There are hot-heads among our own people as well as among the
Chinese.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
2901.]
Mr. Denby to the
Tsung-li Yamên.
Your Highnesses and Your Excellencies:
I have the honor to inform you that I have received information that
a mob yesterday morning at Chiang Pei killed a native hospital
assist ant and demolished an American missionary station.
You will please issue orders for the arrest and punishment of the
guilty and to prevent further outrages.
Prompt action should be taken immediately.
I have, etc.,
[Page 195]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
2901½.]
The Tsung-li Yamên to
Mr. Denby.
Your Excellency: We have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note, stating that you
had received a telegram from the United States consul at Chung king
informing you that a mob yesterday morning at Chiang Pei Ting killed
a native hospital assistant and demolished an American missionary
station. Your excellency requested the Yamên to issue orders for the
arrest and punishment of the guilty and to prevent further outrages,
etc.
We at once telegraphed the viceroy of Sxechuan to issue instructions
to the local authorities to cause the arrest of and to punish the
guilty parties.
As we were just writing a reply to your excellency’s note we received
a telegram from the Taotai of Chung-king in regard to the case of
the American missionaries leasing house property at Chiang Pei Ting.
The Taotai’s telegram is as follows:
After the case of Chang Yu San was settled, quiet prevailed
at Chiang Pei Ting. The American consul stated, however,
that he would have to wait the instructions of the United
States minister at Pekin. On the 14th of March the Taotai
heard that Dr. McCartney had rented another place in the
city of Chiang Pei Ting. Orders were issued to the assistant
magistrate to exercise every care in the matter. He reported
that Dr. McCartney had rented from one Chen Jung-sheng some
house property situated on the main street, which belonged
to Jen Tsai Tang, and originally leased to Mr. Chen. An
agreement was drawn up with Mr. Chen on the 14th of March,
but Mr. Jen knows nothing about it. Dr. McCartney dispatched
two assistants named Wang Chih Tang and Tang Hsi I, who,
with a servant named Lu, took their baggage into the house
in the nighttime. Mr. Wang then took a note to the
subprefect’s Yamên. The subprefect examined the deed and
found it to be defective. He kept Mr. Wang in his Yamên and
sent for Mr. Tang to bring the baggage there. The men were
ordered to stay at the Yamên that night and in the morning
the matter of the lease could then be looked into, and if
all right, they could occupy the house. Wang and Tang
persistently refused to listen to the order of the prefect.
At the third watch in the night some Yamên police escorted
the men to the house. The men had’nt left the Yamên but a
short time when the prefect heard a row and went in person
to ascertain what it was all about. He found that the house
leased by the missionaries had been torn down. The mob
dispersed, but three arrests were made. At daylight the body
of Wang Hsi I was found outside of the Wen Ching Gate. Mr.
Wang and Mr. Lu had returned to Chung-king, taking with them
a note for Dr. McCartney. Dr. McCartney with two other
missionaries went to the subprefect’s Yamên and behaved in a
disorderly manner. They went with the subprefect to examine
the dead body. It was that of Tang Hsi I, a native of Sui
Ning district. He had no family. It was found that he had
wounds on his head and had been beaten on the body with
wooden sticks or clubs. There were no other marks or wounds
on his body that could have caused death. Dr. McCartney and
the other missionaries wanted to take the corpse to the
missionary chapel in Chung king City, but they were
remonstrated with against doing this and the body was
finally interred outside of the city. The American consul
has not up to the present notified the Taotai by letter of
the affair. He is evidently awaiting instructions from the
United States minister. Dr. McCartney has acted differently
and does not await instructions. The lease to the house
property was defective, but in spite of that he sends his
assistants in the nighttime to take possession of the house.
The subprefect wanted to examine into the circumstances
attending the lease, and wanted the men to stay at his Yamên
and thus protect them, but this they declined to agree to,
hence the riot and murder. The house was also demolished
before the lease had been properly made. It can not be
compared to the case of a hospital having already been
established. Dr. McCartney has himself to blame for this
affair, and has shown himself decidedly ungrateful in not
waiting to know the wishes of the United States minister and
consul. Cheng Jung Sheng had sublet the house without
letting the owner of it know anything about the transaction.
The matter had not been properly arranged and Chen is
certainly guilty of a serious offense. The subprefect is
ordered to take steps to arrest Mr. Chen and bring him
before the court for trial. The three men arrested will also
be tried. The Taotai has notified the American consul twice
by note of this affair, but he has not received any reply;
neither has he heard whether he entertains any views on the
subject in opposition to the Taotai’s.
[Page 196]
The present subprefect of Chiang Pei Ting has just been
appointed, having taken charge of the office about ten days
ago. He is an officer who regards the feelings of the
people. With the exception of the present case there is
nothing that has transpired to disturb the peace of the
place. Quiet prevails in and about the city of Chung-king.
The foreign consuls all consider that Dr. McCartney has not
acted properly in this matter. The Taotai is still without
any letter from the United States consul. It would seem that
Dr. McCartney must realize himself that he has acted wrongly
in the matter. If the Yamen can request H. E. Denby, United
States minister, to telegraph the United States consul at
Chung-king not to be hasty or impetuous in dealing with this
case, but to wait and let the Chinese officials manage it,
the questions at stake can be easily settled.
The above telegram we communicate to your excellency, and beg that
you will telegraph the United States consul at Chung-king to confer
with the Taotai in an even-tempered spirit to the end that the case
may be speedily brought to a termination.
Cards of ministers with compliments.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
2901½.]
Mr. Denby to the
Tsung-li Yamên.
Your Highnesses and Your Excellencies:
I have the honor to inform you that I have received from the United
States consul at Chung-king a telegram stating that the Taotai has
refused to comply with his demand, and the Taotai says that he has
received no instructions from the Tartar general.
This greatly surprises me, and I again insist that immediate orders
be issued to the Taotai, through the Tartar general, to comply with
my demands which the Yamên agreed to.
If immediate action is not taken I will be compelled to report the
matter to my Government for instructions.
I have received your note of yesterday, and from the reading of it I
must conclude that the Taotai has not been as strongly instructed as
he ought to be.
