Kaifeng, Feb. 97.
During the last few days people have been seeking asylum in church and hospital, fear and apprehension being widely felt.
The cause of the trouble is connected with the proposed change of Governor, General U Kua sin, brother-in-law to Tuan Chi-jui, was proposed in place of Chao Ti our present Governor. This has stirred up Wu Pei-fu, an official under Ts'no Kun, and I believe some other highly placed officials who are determined to espouse the cause of Chao Ti, and fighting in the near future is expected.
Meanwhile a nearer trouble is the fear that the Governor's soldiers would loot the city. They are old hunghutze robbers and are adepts at looting. Earnest repre sentations were made to the Governor that prompt action should be taken to deal with the situation, and I am glad to say that these men have been sent away from the city and a more dependable set of soldiers brought in from the east.
However, a reign of terror exists and all trains are crowded? women and children crushing into luggage vans as well as the carriages until there is no standing room. Yesterday the manager of one of the banks sent a message to the hospital of the O. I. M. to inquire whether he might bring his mother, wife and family, 12 in all, to stay in the hospital, should trouble arise. Opposite the Y. M. C. A. a gentleman sent to inquire whether or no he might bring over his cash safe and hide it in the foreigner's house.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.