The nest disaster in the order of time was upon the 29th of June at Shouyangasian seventy miles east of Taiyuanfu, This is the Mission Station of " Independent Workers" under Mr. T. W. Pigott. There were here at the time Mr. and Mrs, Pigott, their son, Mr. Robinson (a tutor of this lad, recently arrived), Miss Duval {also a teacher), and two daughters of the Rev. E. R. Atwater of Fenchoufu, These seven persons were driven from their homes to the mountains not far away, They soon returned to their houses however, and were then arrested by the District Magistrate and compelled to go to the capital Taiyuanfu. En route they were chained with handcuffs and iron collars, and were not permitted to buy food. The distance is about. seventy English miles. The soldiers would not sell them eggs even ata dollar a piece. On the 10th of the Sixth Moon (ith July) they were taken; and on arrival at tle provincial capital, they were placed in separate rooms, Mre Pigott not being allowed to communicate with her husband. This news was brought to Taikw by a photographer who ted, and was forwarded to Fenchoufu by letter. On the 3rd of the Sixth Moon (Tune 29th), most of the foreign houses at Taiyuanfu had been burned as already reported Gy Mr. Saunders' party. The escaped to the house of Mr. Farthing of the English Baptist Mission, with the oxception of Mise Coombs, who was unable to do so owing the hindrance of her native school girls. Hundreds of Boxers and rough people had crowded into the houses, hut several of the missionaries managed to fight their way through and escape, the one lady being left behind unnoticed. During the rioting many fell and were trampled upon, two girls thus meeting their leath. ix yi TStEN's owN vaines.
Miss Coombs pleaded with the soldiers, who were sharing in the loot and help: ing in the burning, to save her life: their reply was to seize her and throw her into the flames of the burning houses: later on, nothing but a pile of ashes was fond in the place where she fell. The refugees must have remained several days atthe house of Mr. Farthing. On the h of July, the Governor sent for a complete list of the names of the foreigners. On the 9th of July, a Monday, ho ordered them all to come to his yamen on the pretence that he intended to escort them in safety to the coast: on entering the first gate of the yamen they were surrounded by a guard of soldiers: This being completed, about thirty Boxers with drawn swords were allowed to enter the circle and each foreigner was cut to pieces by these invited guests. They were all beheaded, and the heads were placed in baskets which were bung upon the four gates of the City.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.