THE ATTACKS ON MISSIONS IN HUNAN.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10760, 13 September 1900, Page 5

THE ATTACKS ON MISSIONS IN HUNAN.

SEVEN DAYS' JOURNEY IN A COFFIN.

There are at present staying with the ProVicar Apostolic do Maria in Hong Kong (reports the "Hong Kong. Daily Press" of August Bth) two Roman -Catholic mission*, aries from the Hunan province, who in escaping from the infuriated mobs wladh attacked and destroyed their stations ha-ve had experiences which they are nab likely to forget as long as they live.

One of them —the Rev. Father Jeremiah —arrived in tho German Mail steamer yesterday. His station was at Pa Shan. His life was saved by an old Chinese wonaaa, who, though a heathen, was moved to paty by his distressed condition, and hid him for six ditys in a rice box. At the end of the six days the di-turkuiee had subadsd somewhat, and he managed to get away to Hankow.

Th_ other is the Rev. Father Stephanas Sette. who had charge of the station Hing Shui. His station was attacked on the 4th of July, and he owes his escape to the reverence of the Chinese for the remains of the dead. He was dumped in a box somewhat resembling a coffin, and in this way was carried by native Christians a distance of over 300 li to Lien Chau, the journey taking about seven days. Of course the party were frequently stopped on the way, but when informed that tha box contained hunuui remains which were being earned to their native country for burial all enquiries were satisfied.

On reaching Lien Chau one of the native Christians limited up a boatman, who agreed to take liim and two friends ix> Canton for 10 dollars. When he founx. out, however, that one of the party was a European he said he should want muchmore pay, and ultimately 50 dollars was agreed upon. Dunn***; the trip down the viver the boatman, thinking this it good! chance to make money, threatened to have Father Sette thrown overboard unless 300 ounces of. silver was forthcoming. . The party had nothing like this amount with them, but putting on a bold frc-ivt they informed tho man that he could have doable that amount if he took them safely to Canton, where, they said, the missionary had a rich brother residing. He accord-ngly landed them safely in Canton and accompanied them to the head of the I-toman Catholic Mission there, and subsequently to the French Consul, who gave him a fair recompense for his trouble.!