APPENDIX  D

423
He  learned  that  the  Governor  (Fu-tai)  had  ordered  the
military  to  disperse  the  Romanists  without  violence.  The
soldiers  were  therefore  without  arms.  At  4.15  in  the  afternoon
he  succeeded  with  considerable  risk  in  sending  off  a  telegram,
which  we  received  in  this  city  about  5  o’clock.  It  is  as  follows  :
“  This  morning  the  robbers  surrounded  the  Protestant  compound
twice.  Chen-tai  is  unable  to  restrain  them.”  At  5.30  a  telegram ­
  was  sent  to  British  Consul,  Ningpo,  as  follows  :—“  Haimen
telegram  says  premises  still  surrounded.  Mandarins  powerless.”
At  8  p.m.  received  a  telegram  from  British  Consul,  Ningpo—
‘  You  are  on  no  account  to  take  part  in  lawless  violence.  Do
your  best  to  restrain  your  converts.  Similar  message  is  being
sent  to  priest  by  bishop.”  Meantime  events  were  thickening
at  Haimen.
Immediately  after  the  telegram  was  dispatched  at  4.15  the
Romanists  started  a  desultory  fire,  and  the  General  commanding
the  Militia  (Tong-ling)  rode  along  to  stop  them.  A  robber
pointed  his  rifle  at  the  Tong-ling,  who  with  his  men  were  unarmed.
The  Tong-ling  ordered  one  of  his  officers  to  seize  the  rifles  and
swords  of  this  squad.  Twenty-seven  rifles  and  swords  were  seized.
The  robber  chief,  Li  Ti-song,  retaliated  by  bringing  up  more  men
and  seizing  five  of  the  Tong-ling’s  men.  The  Tong-ling  rode  off
in  the  direction  of  the  Roman  Catholic  compound  to  complain  to
Priest  Nyun,  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Roman  Catholic
forces.  Nyun  got  him  inside  the  Roman  Catholic  premises,
made  him  prisoner,  demanded  $3,000  for  the  rifles  and  swords  his
men  had  captured,  and  the  execution  of  the  military  officer  who
had  captured  them.  The  Romanists  accidentally  shot  one  of
their  own  men  dead.
About  5  p.m.  the  Chen-tai  went  to  the  Protestant  compound
and  said  he  could  not  guarantee  protection  any  longer,  but
would  furnish  an  escort  to  take  all  the  Protestants  to  Tai-chow
city.  He  then  went  to  the  R.C.  compound  and  secured  the
liberation  of  the  Tong-ling.
About  6.30  p.m.,  under  a  military  escort,  the  Protestants  were
taken  to  gunboats,  but  a  tempest  was  blowing  and  the  boats
could  not  start.  Some  of  the  refugees  remained  on  the  boats,
women  and  little  children  hid  in  neighbours’  houses,  and  most
°f  the  men  returned  to  the  Protestant  compound  for  the  night.
Sunday,  nth
At  10  a.m.  the  Protestant  refugees  were  escorted  by  the
Chen-tai  and  soldiers  to  the  three  gunboats,  which  sailed  for
Tai-chow  city,  40  miles  distant.  Other  two  gunboats  were
sent  as  an  additional  escort  for  10  miles,  as  it  was  feared  that  the