MURDER OF TWO WOMEN MISSIONARIES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 26.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 31

MURDER OF TWO WOMEN MISSIONARIES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 26.

A cable was received here yesterday from Mr Whitridge, of Melbourne, secretary of the Chinese Inland Mission, stating that Searell and WMtechurch had both been murdered. This refers to Miss Edith E. Searell, previously of this city, and sister of Mr R. T. Searell, the well-known musician. Miss Whitechuroh was a fellow worker, but did not come from Australasia. Both were stationed at Haio-i, in the province of Shansi. Miss Searell, who was engaged in opium refuge work, was between 36 and 37 years of age, and had spent almost all her life in Christchurch, where she was an ardent Christian worker. Though no date is mentioned in the cable, it is considered authentic, 'as the secretary in Melbourne states that the information came from Shanghai, where the consul of the mission is stationed.

The local secretary (Dunedin) of the China Inland Mission has received word that Masses Edith E. Searell and Whitechurch have been murdered at Hiao-i, in the province of Shansi. The secretary has no particulars to hand regarding Miss Whitechurch, other than that she has been in the service of the China Inland Mission since 1884, and probably hails from England. Miss Searell left New Zealand for service at the China Inland Mission School at Chefoo in 1G95, and left the teaching staff of the school for direct missionary work about two years later. Great sympathy is felt for the relatives of the deceased ladiep. Miss Sear ell's mother lives at Papanui, near Christchurch.