Massacre in China.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3608, 9 December 1905, Page 3

Massacre in China.

ATTACK ON MISSIONARIES.

AN AWFUL STORY OF BARBARITY. Sydney, Dec. 6. Particulars of the massacre of missionaries at Liedchou, in China, some weeks ago, have arrived by mail. They show that it was a terrible atrocious affair. Those butchered and mutilated were:— Rev and Mrs Peale, Mrs Machle, Miss Chestnut, Miss Amie Machle. Dr Machle, head of the mission, and Dr Eleanor Patterson escaped. When the party escaped from the mission-house they took refuge- in the Temple of Care. The crowd followed, and burst in the door. The women captured were stripped naked. The little girl, Amie Machle, was the first to meet her death. After she had been dragged with Miss Chestnut from the building to the river bank naked, they were compelled to stand in front of the villainous

natives, and then flung uninjured into the river.

Miss Chestnut, being able to swim, struck out to a small sarid 1 bank, whilst Miss MaChle cliiiig to some shrubs in the river for some ten minutes. They were left albhe by the crowd, who were engaged looking at Mrs Machle, who had meantime been discovered. Ultimately a savage waded out in* to the river and killed Miss Machle, whilst others murdered Miss Chestnut. The bodies Were then shockingly mutilated. Then the clothes were taken from Mrs Machle, who expostulated with the natives, telling them of the folly of their deeds. A man rushed at her, and brutally killed her.

An interval of half an hour elapsed before the crowd found anyone else. They then discovered the Rev and Mrs Peale. Dragging the unhappy couple out of their hiding-place, they stripped them of their clothing, and kept them upon the platform for about half an hour, when they met the same fate as their companions.