SAVED BY JAPANESE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 1

SAVED BY JAPANESE

COOLIES THREATEN MISS CRICHTON IMRIE ADVENTURE IN SHANGHAI Surrounded by a mob who threatened violence and robbery in broad daylight, Miss C. Crichton Imrie, the well-known New Zealand er, and authority on child welfare associations, underwent a terrifying experience recently in the native quarter of Shanghai.

Miss Crichton Imrie, who visited and was entertained by many friends during her stay in Auckland a few months ago, had been in Shanghai for several weeks after the Japanese conference on child welfare.

She was carrying out a strenuous programme of visits and inspections at the time of the unexpected incident. Invited for tiffin at the Margaret Williamson Hospital, Miss Imrie took advantage of the offer of a friend's motor-car. It was necessary to cross the boundary-line that divides the native quarter of Shanghai from the European concessions, and she was alone.

When the boundary was reached the chauffeur informed her that he had no Chinese licence. This is necessary before foreign vehicles may be driven through the teeming native streets. Deciding to continue as best she could, Miss Imrie abandoned the car, the driver of which called a rickshawcoolie, who took her through manynarrow, winding passages. Suddenly she heard shouts and a score of excited coolies appeared from narrow doorways and alleys. Surround ing the rickshaw, they ordered her coolie to stop. He did so, and the natives then ordered Miss Imrie to alight. Being afraid to disobey, she was at once the centre of a quarrelsome throng which eyed greedily a pendant of French brilliants she wore on her shoulder. In an endeavour to escape she gave 40 cents to the rickshaw coolie; but this sum was immediately taken away from him by the mob. The situation appeared desperate when a motor-car passed and Miss Imrie shouted for help. A Japanese who was a passenger in the ear alighted and hurried to the scene. Producing some paper money he told Miss Imrie to run for his car. She did so and was followed shortly after by her rescuer, who took her to the Naval docks and reported the incident. Miss Imrie was then escorted byguardsmen to her destination. In reporting the incident a Shanghai newspaper, published in English, says: ■‘This Monday morning experience should again be a warning to visitors not to go alone into Chinese territory.”