THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN RIOTS IN CHINA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 48, 4 September 1891, Page 7

THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN RIOTS IN CHINA.

(Sydney Frcemarit Journal, August 21.)

The steamship China brings from Hong Kong particulars regarding the riot which occurred at Nankin, May 25, when the Methodist Girls School was attacked, pillaged, and burned by a Ohineße rabble. Beveral other mission buildings were similarly attacked, and would have been demolished but for the interference of the soldiers seni by the Viceroy, after urgent appeals by the missionaries. ■w On the previous Sunday they were semi-officially informed by the W "ithorities that their premises would be burned. Accordingly all took steamer for Shanghai the day before the trouble. At Tanyang, 25 miles from Chin Kiang, a Chinese mob on the Ist Juoe burned the old French church that has stood for 200 years, and pillaged and burned the mission buildingß. On May 15 a furious mob attacked the Catholic church at Hockow, threatening the priests with death. There, however, the rioters were dispersed by Chinese soldiers, seventeen being arrested. At Chingy, in Anhui, on May 18, the natives attacked the church in the service time. The building was demolished, bnt the missionary escaped unhurt. At Shanghai the magistrate had issued a proclamation threatening the natives with severe penalties for acts of hostility towards foreigners,;particularly towards missionaries. Over twenty rioters were captured at Wuhu. The Ticeroy gave the local magistrates permission to put the leaders to death on the spot, and the authorities bad accordingly issued notice that they had decapitated eleven of the criminals. The heads of two of those who were executed on May 25 were sent to Nankin and other cities. A Shanghai despatch says :— The United States consul cabled to Admiral Belknap that the band of Chinese who attacked Yangshow and destroyed the French mission at Woosich, are reported to be at Soochow, seventy miles from this place. There is every indication that the rioters intend to destroy the French mission, eighteen miles from Shanghai, and then attack the French mission at Siegwei, four miles from Shanghai. Russian and French gunboats have gone up the river, thus bringing the foreign naval force to a total of nine war vessels. Rioting was still going on in Central China when the steamer Outhrie left Hong Kong for Sydney, and the greatest excitement prevailed among the so-called foreign residents. Advices had been received from Nanchang Fu, the capital of Kiang9i, to the effect that a mob had broken into the premises of a native Catholic missionary who had established himself in Siahfuih. The doors and the windows were all smashed and the place was wrecked. The Rev Father Severe has also arrived with a report that the chapel and schools at Szo Kowhsien, as weli aB the residence of the priests, were attacked, looted and burned down. At Kuikiang several more churches were destroyed, whilst at the neighbouring town of Fucheu Fu the mob wiecked the outhouse and entered the church and priest's residence, packing everything. The priests in the meantime took refuge in the yamens, but the nob attacked these places, overcame the officials and beat the refugees. Futher outrages occurred on the missions on the Yanteze Valley, and the situation became so alarming that several British and French warships had been despatched up the river to assist in suppressing the riots and in restoring peace.