THRILLING STORY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 288, 21 November 1928, Page 5

THRILLING STORY

MISS TOBIN’S CAPTIVITY

44 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS LONG TREK WITH BRIGANDS [■United hress Association—By Cable Copyright.] [Australian Press Assu.— United Service.) (Received 21, 10.50 a.m.) Hong Kong, Nov. 20. The story of a New Zealand lady's indomitable pluck whilst being held captive by a brigand band for 44 days, has just been related. On September 18th, Miss Watkins (Australia) and Miss Blanch Tobin (New Zealand) both of the Church Missionary Society, whilst travelling to Kweilin from Wuchow, on a river junk, were surprised and captured by a gang of Chinese brigands, and compelled, at rifle points, to go to the hills. Miss Watkins, being unable to keep pace with the brigands, was allowed to return, while Miss Tobin and two Chinese girls were hurried forward. They repeatedly feigned fatigue, but loaded rifles were employed to overcome any further reluctance on their part. A night-long march, lighted by electric torches, brought the party to the brigand chief. Miss Tobin’s first food was a little rice. The chief instructed his captive to write to the Society demanding £3OOO, but later agreeing to accept one thousand. It was then pointed out that Miss Tobin was believed to be a man, in fact the gang insisted on this, but later they admitted they were in error. For many days and nights it was continual marching. Miss Tobin occasionally sleeping on straw from sheer exhaustion. She once overheard her captors expressing a fear that soldiers were near, and consequently she sang, hoping 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 Once hiding for four days in a cave. They then came to a forest in which they spent three weeks. During the whole of her captivity Miss Tobin rvas only three nights under a roof.

Bishop Holden, hearing or her plight, offered himself in exchange for Miss Tobin, but the gang receiving the message refused to excharge. Miss Tobin was gradually losing 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 Chinese magistrate insisting on the payment of the ransom. During these negotiations, the chief took Miss Tobin to a cave down a creek and maintained a strict and heavily armed guard over her. A few days later she was instructed to proceed with the brigands towards the district where the ransom was to be paid. This necessitated four days’ marching. The captive was still showing remarkable pluck, although she was completely unfit fo the march, whereupon the chief, realising the impossibility of Miss Tobin walking any further, ordered a chair in which she was carried.

Ultimately they reached a point where the captives were told to proceed alone. After travelling a short distance, soldiers approached, informed her of her freedom, and provided the essentials for carrying Miss Tobin back and restoring her to her friends.

She is now receiving much-needed treatment after undergoing experiences that many men would have been unable to stand.