393.1111 Stam, John C./15: Telegram
The Consul General at Nanking (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:10 p.m.]
89. My December 14, 3 p.m.
1. I regarded it as most important that the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Stam be brought back in dignified way to Wuhu for identification and burial and on December 14, 4 p.m. I telegraphed Chairman of the Anhwei Provincial Government then understood to be at Tunki as follows:
“Your telegram December 13. China Inland Mission reports that the bodies of the American missionary Stam and his wife have been found. I request that their bodies be sent to Wuhu for identification and that investigations be made regarding the fate of their child aged 3 months and rescue be effected. Please reply.”
I also informed mission at Wuhu regarding this telegram. December 14, 11 p.m. I received telegram from the mission that the baby was safe at Wuhu.
2. December 15, 2 p.m. I sent a note to the Foreign Office as directed in a telegraphic instruction from the Department transmitted in the Legation’s December 14, 10 a, m. December 15, 11 a.m. I received [Page 482] a letter from the Foreign Office transmitting a telegraphic report from the Anhwei Provincial Government dated December 13 confirming information regarding finding of the bodies (see paragraph 2, my December 14, 3 p.m.).
3. Radio from the Monocacy [at] Wuhu dated December 16, 8 a.m. transmitted report that Hanna85 had obtained assurance from the Chinese authorities at Suancheng on December 14 that the bodies would be transported to Wuhu by military truck arriving on the 17th or 18th. Another message same source and date read as follows:
“Upon as complete investigation as practicable it was established that Mr. and Mrs. Stam were beheaded just outside Miaoshow and bodies left lying. Mr. Lo, a Chinese Christian evangelist following day placed bodies in coffins but was unable to move them. Mr. Lo then carried baby to Mr. Birch, a missionary at Suancheng. Both then brought baby to Wuhu. Mr. Hanna of China Inland Mission has made arrangements to have bodies brought to Wuhu, probable time of arrival 17 or 18 December.”
4. December 16, 4 p.m. I have received following telegram from Hanna at Wuhu dated December 16, (?) p.m.: “Message from Suancheng, ‘Trouble prevents removal bodies. Kohfield86.’”
5. Consul Atcheson87 left Nanking by motorcar December 17, 10 a.m. with clerk Hsi88 under my instructions to proceed to Wuhu and if necessary Suancheng and Tsingteh in order to collect additional information regarding all aspects of the capture and death of the Stains, take charge of belongings if any, bring bodies to Wuhu and represent the Consulate General at the burial. I have telegraphed the Anhwei provincial authorities concerned regarding his mission.
6. Shanghai papers of December 16 report that letters written by Stam following his capture have been sent to C. E. Scott,89 Tsinanfu, and I have requested Consul Stevens90 by telegraph to send me certified copies.
7. I have telephoned to the Foreign Office regarding mission of Atcheson and have been told that the Foreign Office has telegraphed instruction to Semoc [Kuangson Young?] to be constituted the Ministry’s special representative at Hankow to proceed to Wuhu to collaborate with the provincial authorities in this case. Repeated to the Legation.
- W. J. Hanna, Canadian superintendent at Wuhu of the China Inland Mission.↩
- E. A. Kohfield, American missionary at Tunki, Anhwei.↩
- George Atcheson, Jr., Consul at Nanking.↩
- Hsi Rwen, Chinese interpreter at the American Consulate General, Nanking.↩
- Charles E. Scott, American missionary, father of Mrs. Stam.↩
- Harry E. Stevens, Consul at Tsinan.↩