NEWS BY CABLE.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 115, 9 August 1895, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

MASSACRE AT KUCHENG. Shanghai, August 5. Fearful atrocities were committed on the unfortunate missionaries at Kucheng. The mob set fire to the residence of Dr Stewart, who with his wife and one child perished in the burning building. Seven lady missionaries were butchered with spears and swords. Miss Codrington was seriously wounded, and several children badly hurt. The rising was incited bv Mandarins.

At Kncheng there was a scene of great carnage. The Misses Saunders of Melbourne, in attempting to escape were hacked to pieces, and a thousand Chinese soldiers, who were near at hand witnessed the outrage, took no steps to prevent it. The burning of the mission houses occupied two hours. Some of the women were horribly tortured before death ensued. The United States mission, near Hakow, was destroyed, but fortunately the occupants escaped without injury. A meeting of foreign residents was held here, and it was decided to request the various consuls to appeal to the European powers demanding reparation for the Kucheng outrages. The authors of the outrages in Kucheng are members of a newly-formed vegetarian society composed- of the rabble of the city. Women were subjected to meet revolting cruelty. The American missionaries escaped the massacre.

Ten English were killed, including Misses Marshall, Gordon and Stewart of the Zenana Society. Some of the children had their eyes gouged out. The Chinese have appointed a Commission of Enquiry, but as the Commissioner is the Prefect who is himself implicated, the thing is a mockery. August 6.

The ladies begged for their lives, offering to surrender their property and jewels, but the leader of the band ordered them to be killed. Nellie Saunders was hacked about by the ruffians’ weapons and thrown still alive into Stewart’s blazing house. Topsy Saunders and Miss Gordon were speared. Miss Brain and Newcombe were speared and thrown over a precipice. Miss Marshall’s throat was cut, and four of the Stewart’s children were impaled and severely wounded, but apparently not killed. Although there were a thousand soldiers in Kucheng none were sent to the rescue until the massacre was completed and the murderers had decamped with the plunder. The Chinese Government have ordered the miscreants to be punished. There were 30 native teachers and 2000 members at Kucheng station. London, August 7. The Imperial Government has telegraphed to China demanding that measures shall be taken to ensure the safety of British subjects in that country. They insist, also, on a full enquiry, and the punishment of the murderer# The massacre was carefully planned and executed in a most diabolical manner while the victims were asleep. The ladies only returned from Foochow at the conclusion of the war, when the Vegetarians appeared to be quiet. The American mission at Funguh was burned, and other stations between Kucheng and Foochow threatened. Shanghai, August 7. It is reported that a rebellion has broken out in the province of Tukien, and the position in Foochow is critical. The natives are openly hostile. Gunboats have been despatched to that city. London, August G. The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent reports that the insurgents in Macedonia defeated the Turks at Strumtsza with the loss of 500 to 100. London, August 7. Reports from Vienna state that the reply of the Turkish Government to the latest demand for reform is so hostile to many of the leading points as to amount to a refusal. The Daily News believes that Lord Salisbury’s speech on May 24th strengthens the Turks in resisting the proposals of the Powers. Brisbane, August 6. Professsor Shelton, Instructor in agriculture, states that the present year will see the most complete failure cf the wheat crop that Queensland has seen for many years. He attributes the cause to drought. Sydney, August 6. An aboriginial, arrested at Wee Waa for a serious offence cut his throat in the lock-up. Two native women came and saw the body, and departed wailing. Shortly after they, too, were found in the camp with their throats cut. All three are dead.