IN BANDITS’ HANDS

Evening Star, Issue 20029, 21 November 1928, Page 7

IN BANDITS’ HANDS

MISSIONARY’S ORDEAL GREAT COURAGE AND ENDURANCE EXHIBITED Bren Association—By T«!ograph—Copyright ■ SHANGHAI, November 20. (Received November,2l, at 1 p-m.) Tho story of a Now Zealand lady’s indomitable pluck whilst kept for forty-four days in captivity by a brigand gang has just been related. On September 18 Miss Watkins (an Australian) and Miss Blanch lobin (a New Zealander), both belonging to the Church Missionary Society, while travelling to Kweilin from Wucliow on a river junk, were surprised and captured by a Chinese brigand gang and compelled at the rifle point to go ' to the hills. Miss Watkins was unable to keep pace with the others, and was allotted to return. Miss Tobin and two Chinese girls were hurried forward. They repeatedly feigned fatigue, but. loaded rifles were employed to overcome further reluctance. A night-long march, lighted by electric torches, brought the party to tho brigand chief. _ bliss Tobin’s first food was a little rice. The chief instructed the captive to write to her society demanding £3,000, later agreeing to accept £I,OOO. It was then declared that bliss Tobin was a man-in fact, the gang insisted on this —but later they admitted their error. For many days and nights it was continual inarching, Miss Tobin occasionally sleeping on straw from sheer exhaustion. Sho onco overheard her captors expressing fear that soldiers were near, consequently she sang, hoping that they would hear her. The chief became angry and thrashed her with a stick, which twice broke. Then followed more marching through mountain fastnesses. the party were onco in hiding four days in a cave, and afterwards in a forest, in which they spent three weeks. Dining tho ivhole of her captivity Miss. Tobin was only throe nights under a 10 Bishop Holden meanwhile ottered himself in exchange for Miss Tobin, but tho gang, receiving' the message refused the exchange. Miss Tobin was gradually losing her strength owing to lack of food and-her long wanderings. Her shoes were worn out, and her feet were bare and bleeding. At this time a letter was written to a Cliiue.se magistrate insisting on the payment of ransom. During, the negotiations the chief took Miss Tobin to a cave down a creek under a strict and heavily-armed guard. A few days later she was instructed to proceed with the brigands towaxds the district where the ransom was to be paid. This necessitated four days’ marching, the captive still showing remarkable pluck, although she was completely unlit to march, whereupon the chief, realising'the impossibility of Miss Tobin walking further, ordered a chair, in which sho was carried. Ultimately the party reached the point whence the captive was told to proceed alone. After a short distance soldiers .approached her, informing her of her freedom and providing tho means Jor carrying her hack and-.restoring; her to her friends. ■ Vir'; '

Bliss Tobin is now receiving mnehneoded, treatment niter experiences Unit many men would Jiave been nimble to stand.—Sydney ‘Sun’ Cable.