RIOTS AT CHINKIANG. BRITISH CONSULATE BURNT DOWN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 368, 15 May 1889, Page 4

RIOTS AT CHINKIANG. BRITISH CONSULATE BURNT DOWN.

The mail fiom Shanghai brings details of a terrible riot in Chinkiung, a port on the Yangtsze, inthecourse of which a large part of the foreign settlement was destroyed, the British Consulate burnt to the ground, and the United States Consulate looted by the mob. It appears that for come time bad blood had existed between the Sikh police employed by the municipal council ot the Foreign Concession and the inhabitants ol the native city. On the afternoon of the fourth of March a diepute arose within the settlement between a Sikh and a Chinaman who is omployed as interpreter at the American Consulate, and both went to the police station. A crowd collected around the station, and on leaving it the Chinaman pretunded to be exceedingly ill, and Jell down as if dead. The mob raised the cry that the policeman had killed him, and instantly attacked the station. The few police within fled for their lives through a back door, and the infuriated crowd poured in and pulled the building to pieces, scarcely leaving one stone on another. The lioters then turned to the residence of some niembeis of the municipal council, and contented themselves with smashing the windows, being told that the occupants had all escaped. Meanwhile the British Consul had sent in haste to the local authorities for a°sistance, and after some delay four unarmed soldiers appeared on the scene, who were unable or unwilling to do anything to prevent further destruction. After setting tiro to two houses the mob turned towaids the British Consulate, which is on a blufl overlooking the settlement. The Consul, his wife, and two young children had barely time to fly when the building was in flames, the rioters piling up inflammable stuff all round it. The American Consulate was next attacked, but as it was surrounded by Chinese houees it was not set on fire. The mob broke in and stripped it of everything moveable. The Consul, his wife and child barely escaped the fury of tho mob, and joined the members of the foreign com munity, who were then in full flight over the hills from the settlement, the ladies and children having rushed from their houses in their indoor clothing. Tho crowd then began to fire the settlement in several places at once, the native soldiers, who had considoiably increased in numbers, doing nothing to quell the disturbance, which had by this time reached enormous proportions. Private houses, chapels, and warehouses were looted and set on fire ; the inspector of police was seized ani car ried off into the native city. The members of thelifctle foreign community succeeded with much difficulty in getting o(t to a foreign hulk lying in the river, and were soon safe on board a steamer, which ai rived opportunely. The mob endeavoured to follow them to the hulk, and swarmed down to the ri\ er side, but were unable to get on board, although they tried to do so several times. Telegrams were sent to Shanghai for aid, and early on the morning of the second day Her Majesty's ship Mutiise sailed for Chinkiang. A steamer hastened down from Wuhu, and caivied off to Shanghai the ladies, children, and some of the men. There were in all 20 children tender years, and about a dozen ladies. By the time the Mutine arrived the local authorities had pouied a large body of troops into the settlement, where, by this time, there was nothing to be done but to keep watch over the ruin 3 ot a flourishing commercial station. By noon on the 7th all was quiet. The conduct of the Chinese soldiers during the riot will doubtless be investigated. It is believed that they were at the bottom of the disturbance.