MISS TOBIN

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1928, Page 5

MISS TOBIN

ACCOUNT OE EXPERIENCES

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

HONG KONG. Nov. 21

'1 lie story ol a New Zealand lady’s indomitable pluck whilst forty-four days in a brigand gang’s captivity is just related. -On September 18th, Miss Watkins (an Australian) and Miss Blanche Tobin (a New Zealander) both of the Church Missionary Society, travelling to Kwulin, from Wuchuw. on a river junk, were surprised and captured by a Chinese brigand gang and compelled at riile points to go to the hills. Miss Watkins was unable to keep pace and was allowed to return. Miss Tobin and two Chinese girls were hurried forward. They repeatedly feigned fatigue, but loaded rides were employed to overcome further relue lance. A night-long march, lighted by elecLrie torches, brought the party to t In* brigand chief.

Mi ss Tobin’s first food was a littl rice. The chief instructed the captive to write to the Society demanding £3,oo9.later agreeing to accept £1.009. It was then pointed out that Tobin was believed to be a mull. Tn fact tbe gang insisted oil this, but later admitted their error. For many days and nights there was continual marching, Tobin occasionally sleeping on straw from sheer exhaustion.

She once overhead her captor expressing a fear that soldiers were near, Consequently she sang, hoping they would hear her. The chief became angry and thrashed her with a stick, which lie twice broke. Then followed more marching through mountain fastnesses, the party once hiding for four days in a cave, and tlieuee in a forest in which they spent three weeks.

During the whole captivity she was only three nights under a root.

Bishop Holden meanwhile offered himself in exchange lor Miss robin, hut the gang receiving the message refused to exchange. Tobin was gradually losing her strength owing to lack of food and long wanderings. Her shoes were worn out and feet bare and bleeding. At this time a letter was written to a Chinese magistrate insisting on payment of the ransom. During the negotiations the chiel took lobin to a cave down a creek, maintaining a strict, heavily-armed guard. A lew days later she was instructed to proceed with the brigands towards the district where the ransom would he paid. This necessitated lour days marching. The captive still showing remarkable pluck although completely unfit to inarch, whereupon the chief, realising the impossibility ol Hiss lobin lurtliei walking, ordered a chair in which she was carried, and ultimately they readied the point whence the captive was told to proceed alone. After a short distance soldiers approached informing her of her freedom and pro\ iding essentials for carrying Miss 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.