VICTIMS OF RED VENGEANCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19985, 18 December 1934, Page 9

VICTIMS OF RED VENGEANCE

PLIGHT OF CAPTIVE MISSIONARIES BRAVERY OF NATIVE CHRISTIANS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, December 14. While news of the fate of the missionaries, Messrs Hayman and Bosshardt, who were captured by Communists at Kweichow on October 10, is lacking, news has been received by the China Inland Mission of the death of the missionary, Mr John Stam and his wife in the vicinity of Tungteh. Mr and Mrs Stem were captured by Communists fleeing before Government troopj on October 12, and their bodies were discovered on a battlefield where apparently the Reds encountered the Government troops.

NEWS OF MR HAYMAN STILL IN THE HANDS OF BANDITS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright i Received December 17, 10.10 p.m.) PEKIN, December 17. The New Zealander, the Rev. Hayman, fellow captive of the Rev. Bosshardt, was alive and well ten day§ ago. This is the text of a dispatch received by the British Legation from the Consul at Changsha Hunan. Writing from a bandit stronghold in the north-west of Hunan, Mr Hayman says he is being treated as well as can be expected. DETAILS OF BRUTAL CRIME MISSIONARIES’ BRAVE BEHAVIOUR United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 17. 7.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, December 17. Full details of the murder of the Rev. J. C. Stam and his wife at Miaoshao, near Wuhuanhwei, a few days ago, reveal that the victims were beheaded by a Communist swordsman. The victims were captured in a sudden Red raid on Tsingteh, together with their infant daughter, who, in some mysterious manner, Mrs Stam succeeded in hiding in an empty house in Miaoshao. The population was forced to witness the execution. Chinese Christians, and even non-Christians, pleaded for mercy, but the Rev and Mrs Stam went courageously to death, deeply impressing the villagers. Later a Chinese priest penetrated the district and found Mrs Stam’s baby with a ten-dollar bill pinned to Its clothes by its mother, for the finder. The baby has been placed in safe hands.