The next day, Thursday Septem~ ter 7, we heard that the soldiers were taking the cargo out from the B. & S, steamers and dismantling the 'Wantung's' machinery, and also that they had taken the bodies of three Britons, two sailors and one officer, and buried them. Late that afternoon the other people came over from the Standard Oil Installation with the exception of Mr. Lorentsen, 'They were on the top deck of the Japanese gunboat, 'That evening the 'Yunyang Maru' arrived from Tchang. The come pany's agent then requested the other people to go and stay aboard her, which they did.
On Wednesday, Sey ember 8, we were informed that General Yang Sen had received a telegram from Marshal Wu Pei-fu to the effect that he must hand over the boats the British, and therefore he had requested the assistance of the eng-inoers of the Japanese steamer to replace the machinery of the "Wantung,' this was granted, and that evening at about 4.30 p.m. we saw the 'Wantung' steaming down river with the 'Wanhsien' tied alongside her on the starboard side. We expected the 'Iyang Maru' to arrive from Chungkiang that day; but, as the gunboat Captain informed owing to the trouble, she would leave that day, and that the steams er at the present time there would await her at Wanhsien, The Escape Thursday, September 9, the str. 'Yung Fung' (Under French Flag) arrived during the evening. We arranged with the Commissioner to go aboard the next morning early end to travel under assumed names, should we be searched we might get away with it and reach Ichang.
On Friday, at 5 o'clock we went by a sampan lent us by the company's agent to the 'Yung Fung' 'As we struck her bows' we were seen by the soldiers who were in 'Tax-junks' alongside; they called to us to come to them and be inspected. When they shouted, I sprang up the side and fell into'the crew's quarters, then I climbed up to the bridge and went to the Captain's quarters. There were about 200 to 500 soldiers who saw me go to the Captain, and as this was not a passenger ship I feared that they taight inspect, He hid me in his cabin until the danger was over.
On my arrival at Ichang I at once reported full particulars to the Commander of HIS. Wid-eon' This was at 5.30 pin. The ship having taken one day to come down, We inquired of the 'Yung Tung's' Captain og the whereabouts, of, the 'Wantung" and 'Wanhsien,' and was told that they were anchored about a mile below the Standard Oil Installation, 'On Saturday September 11. The yang Maru' arrived with the other foreigners on board, includ~ ing Mr. Dalton, he, as he informed me, had been smuggled on board disguised og a Japanese sailor.
Previous to my leaving I heard that Messrs, Jackson, Bevan, and Woodhams were imprisoned in the China Inland Mission compound, They were well, but were not allowed to leave,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.