KIDNAPPING A CHINAMAN IN LONDON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 125, 24 December 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

KIDNAPPING A CHINAMAN IN LONDON.

In 1806 a Chinese doctor named Sun j Yat Sen, residing in China, was concerned in a plot which was discovered by the authorities. Dr. Sen escaped, but his accomplices were captured, tortured, and beheaded. An English friend had lowered him over the city w*JJI In a basket, and he was hidden until tne hue and cry had died down, when he was smuggled on a steamer to America. Dr. Sen remained there some time, and then went to London, where lodgings were found for him. He wart for some tme a daily visitor at Dr. Cantbes house in Devonshire Street, but one day he did not appear, andean Dr. Cantlie going to his lodgings the landlady informed him that her lodger had mysteriously vanished, leaving money, clothing, and everything behind. A reek passed by and Dr. Cantlie was afraid he should never see his friend Again, wnen news came in a most uujxpected manner. A servant girlwas passing through Portland Place when a piece of paper fluttered from somewhere to her feet. On it was written: "This will inform the public that L Sun Yat Sen, have been kidnapped or agente of the Chinese Government, and am now a prisoner at the Chinese Embassy. Portland Place. Whoever finds this, please take it to Dr. Cantlie, 40 Devonshire Street. A similar paper was picked up by a man, who took it to a London newspaper office, and the ftffair thus became public property. Scotland Yard was at once communicated with, and responded by surrounding the Embassy with a cordon of uniformed police; beyond this they dared not go. The foreign Offi-* then demanded the release of Dr. Sen, but air Hailiday Macartney declined (o give uua up, ana lodged a complaint against the anoyance caused by tne detectives. The Home Office was unsympathetic, it pointed out that' an easy way. of stopping the annoyance would be to release Dr. Sen. Meanwhile public .merest grew, and wild rumours were afloat oi possible tortures. Crowd'* b.ocked Portland Place, and through this angry crowd on i riday, October 23, Cuier Inspector Jarvis advanced at tiie liead oi a stjuad of armed police. He had authority from Lord Salisbury, Prime Minister of England, to demand the release of the captive, and if refused he was to take him by force. Ten minutes were given to those inside the Embassy to make up their minds, in a little over hve minutes Dr. Sen Was smuggled out the back way, in order to avo.d the crowds who wanted to carry him shoulder high through the streets of London. His story was an extraordinary one. lie had been enticed into Portland Place by one of his countrymen on pretence of showing him the sights, and when passing the Embassy some other Chinamen ran out and hustled him into the building, lie was taken to a room in the top storey, kept a close prisoner for thirteen days, and fed principally on bread and milk. His principal gaoler, a huge Chinamen, said: "We are going to gag you ana smuggle you aboard a ship we Lave chartered; if we cannot smuggle you away, we can kill you here, for this is China." Attempt* were made to pun-i ish his kidnappers, but this was found! to be impossible, as ambassadors' servants are immune from arrest. .