A SCOTCHMAN

Evening Star, Issue 15293, 19 September 1913, Page 2

A SCOTCHMAN

WHO BRAVELY FACED DEATH IN MONGOLIA. A story of gallant devotion to duty and the adherence to the highest traditions of the British race is contained in details obtained by tho Peking correspondent of Reuter’s Agency as to the manner in' which Air Grant, a telegraphist, met with his death at tho hands of Mongols. They show that Mr Grant might probably have saved his life but for his refusal to’dosert his fpur Chinese attendants, who looked to him for protection. The Chinese Government had found it necessary to send telegraph officers into Mongohlia to inspect tho telegraph lines and stations, owing to damage done by Mongol raiders. Consequently Mr Henningsen, Peking Superintendent of Telegraphs, Mr Grant, a Scotsman, formerly in the service of the. Eastern Extension Company, and Mr Langeback, left Peking on a tour of inspection. Mr Grant was left at Pangkiang station, nearly halfway to Urga, and Mr Langeback was posted at Tucrin. Mr Henning&en went to Urga, and on his return to Peking Grant reported to him that a caravan of supplies sent from Kalgan had not arrived, and. be- was given permission to return to Kalgan to get his own stores. Ho left Pangkiang on June 17. Five days later came the rumor from Kalgan that a foreigner, accompanied lay throe Chinese merchants and a servant, had been captured on June 20 by tho Mongols near Tabol. some 80 miles from Pangkiang. Air Henningsen, Dr Wolf, and Mr Giles, an English journalist at Peldng, then determined to ascertain the real fate of Grant. They reached the place of tho reported capture, and fell in with a party of Mongols, by whom Henningsen was conducted to the presence of the chief, Giles and Wolf continuing their journey for another stage. On arrival at tho camp tho chief subjected Henningsen to a searching cross-examina-tion, frequently endeavoring to trap him in the cleverest Oriental manner. Henningsen then saw that tho Mongols were afraid that ho was acting as a spv for the Chinese Government, and he became still more cautious.

—Chief's Plausible Story.— After a long interview the chief ordered Henningscn to send for his friends at once. Henningeen then wrote a Wolf and Giles to return, but advising tho greatest circumspection. On the arrival of tho other two men tho chief separately questioned them, but was apparently satisfied with their' answers. From each ho received a description of Grant, which was, broadly—a short man of sturdy build, full reddish beard, about 56 years of age, bald on the top of his head.” The chief said; “ Such a man is at the camp of tho Great Chief, some 40 miles further among tho hills. You can go there and see him. He has joined us, and he will not leave.” The parly were delighted. Butfcext morning the chief said that ho ha<P changed his mind. It would be no use for them to go to the Great Chief’s camp. The patty remained in the tents for 24 hours, closely guarded. Henningsen then requested to see the Mongol chief, to whom he pointed out that they had been promised permission to go to the Great Chief’s camp. “ I always thought that a Mongol's word was binding,” added Henningsen. The chief sprang to his feet, saying; "It is- You can go at once. But your friend will not leave us.” "I shall be quite satisfied,” replied Henningsen, if I see him and know that he is alive.” ‘"lhen go,” said tho chief, as he motioned tuem to leave the tent.

The party, accompanied by an escort of eight men, rode all day, arriving at a camp among the hills at 6 p.m. Before the second camp was reached on© of tho Mongol escort rode on ahead, and the party were at once taken to tho Great Chief, whoso manner was friendlier than that of the lesser chief. He admitted having received a telegram from the Hutukhtu (Siam’s Buddha) instructing him to secure the release of Grant. “ There is a foreigner here,” Jie added, “ who answers to your description of your friend. But he has joineef us. Ho is-now a captain, commanding 50 men. You can see him if you promise not to try to persuade him to leave ns. If ho wishes to go he can do so, but you must not urge him.”

—Hob the Right Man.—

Henningsen promised to make no effort at persuasion, and th© party were led to a tent at the rear of the camp. The Mongol attendant shouted, ami out came a man exactly answering the description of Grant. Rut he was a Russian whom Henningsen had previously seen tramping across Mongolia. The party were bitterly disappointed, but they thought they might get some information from the Russian. The latter, however, said he knew nothing of Grant. Ho had visited Grant at I'angkiang and Grant had been extremely kind to him, had put him up for a few days, and had given him food and tobacco. The Russian’s feet were bare, and Henningsen said to him; “ Have you no boots?” “Oh, yes,” replied the man ; and walking back into iiis tent ho showed several pairs of hoots. “ I have everything I need. Here are my clothes, hero is my saddle.” “Where did you got tho saddle?” asked Henningsen, who recognised it as one he had owned tor several years and had given to Grant when they wore leaving Rolling. “ The Mongols captured it from the Chinese,” replied the Russian. ‘‘They gave the Chinese troops a good drubbing and captured a lot of supplies.” Honningsen’s hopes fell to zero, and while ho stood there thinking what was to bo done he saw a cart winch ho- recognised as the one he had purchased for Grant at Kalgan, Inside tho cart were Grant’s pipe, tobacco pcuch, and several other of his personal belongings. Henningsen then became angry, and bitterly reproached the Russian. 'The latter replied that he had no idea the things had belonged .to Grant. The .Mongols had captured them all from the Chinese, and it was evident that the Chinese had killed and robbed Grant. Henningsen then turned to th© Mongols and upbraided them. “You must have known that this was not the man 1 was looking for,” he said, “ and as you have all my friend’s belongings you must know what has become, of him. I shall go and talk to the Great Chief.” One of tho Mongols who had shown the party several small courtesies then drew Henningsen aside and urged him not to indulge in any further questions. “Your lito and those of all the party depend upon your discretion in this respect,” he said. “You will not find out any more here, but I can tell yon that Grant has been killed. Go away in peace. If Grant had done that he would not have been killed.”

—Refusal to Abandon Chinese.—

Having discussed the matter the party decided that they could do no more, hut they learned from other Mongols that Grant and the three Chinese had bean captured, and that the Mongols had decided to kill the Chinese. Grant was told that he could go on to Kalgan after his camera had been destroyed, hut he refused to abandon the Chinese. The Mongols gave him the choice of going away at once or being shot with the Chinese. Grant chose the latter, and as h© stood in front of the firing party he taunted the Mongols with their cowardice, and laughed in their faces until the Mongols wondered at his bravery. Their statements appeared conclusive as regarded the death of Grant and the manner of his death. The Chinese all knew him and respectedhim. Ho was in their service. The latter fact alone was sufficient to’ arouse the suspicions of the Mongols. H© was an inveterate photographer, and some of the photograph's he took on the way to Pangkiang show camps of Mongols. He was an exceedingly fearless man, well known and highly respected in Poking and various other centres of China. His death is another honor to Scotland’s proud roll.