CAPTURED BY BRIGANDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 November 1928, Page 5

CAPTURED BY BRIGANDS.

A LADY’S PLUCK. A GRAPHIC STORY. (Received Wednesday, 10.30 a.in.) 1 LONGKONG, Tuesday. The story of a New Zealand lady’s indomitable pluck whilst fortyfour days in a brigand gang's captivity has just been related. On September. 18 Aliss Watkins (an Australian) and ALiss Blanch Tobin (a New Zealand), both of the Church Aiissionary Society, who were travelling to Kweilin from Wuchow on a river .junk, were surprised and captured by a Chinese brigand gang and compelled at rille points to go to the hills. Aliss Watkins was unable to keep pace and was allowed to return.

Aliss Tobin and two Chinese girls were hurried forward. They repeatedly feigned fatigue but loaded rhlcs were employed to overcome further reluctance.

A nightlong march lighted by oloctrei torches brought tho party to the brigand chief. Airs Tobin’s first food was a Tittle

The chief instructed the captive to write -to the Society demanding £3OOO, later agreeing to accept £IOOO. It was then pointed out that Aliss Tobin was believed to be a man; in fact the gang insisted on this, but later admitted their 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 the soldiers were. near. Consequently she sang, hoping that they would hear. The chief became angry and thrashed her with a stick which twice broke. Then followed more marching through the mountain fastnesses, the party once hiding for four days in a cave. Thence they went through a forest in which they spent three weeks. During the whole of the- captivity she was only three nights under a

roof. Bishop Holden meanwhile offered himself in exchange for Aliss robin, but the gang on receiving the message refused the exchange.

Aliss Tobin was gradually losing her strength owing to lack of food 'and long wanderings. Her shoes were worn out, and her feet bare and bleeding. At. this time a letter was written to a Chinese Magistrate insisting «ou the payment of the ransom. During the negotiations the chief took Aliss Tobin to a cave down a creek, maintaining a strict and heavily armed guard. A few days later she was instructed to proceed with the brigands towards a district where the ransom was to be paid. This necessitated four days’ marching. Tho eaptive still showed remarkable pluck, although completely unfit to march.

The chief, realising the impossibility of Miss Tobin further walking, ordered a chair in which she was carried. Ultimately they reached a point whence the captive was told to proceed alone. After a short distance soldiers approached informing hor of her freedom and providing essentials for the., carrying of Aliss Tobin back and restoring her to her friends. She is now receiving much-needed treatment after experiences many men would have been unable to stand. A. and N.Z. P.A.