Mr. Joyce, the mission in tendent in Honan, had during captivity been negotiating with brigands for the foreigners' rel and on June 16, at no small risk to himself, came through the brigands' camp in a hospital motor car from Fangeheng and got in touch with the captives. All except, Mr, Weller, who. was kept as a hostage, were taken away by Mr. Joyce in the ear, and the perilous return journey through the brigands? lines was commenced, Twice the [motor car was surrounded and stop. ed. Twice the position looked critic. al, but on each occasion the missionaries recognized in time some bandit who had been living in their house and knew them. These men others, stepped in between them and the
Another factor which made towards their safety was the baby. A foreign baby proved a great Attraction to the ruthless brigands and when they were stopped, the child became a centre of interest.
By the combination of the baby, their acquaintances, and some happy remarks to the brigands by Mr, Joyce, the party succeeded in getting through to Fangcheng safely.
Mr, Weller was kept for sornd time as a hostage against the delivery of about 2,000 uniforms from Fangeheng, which city the brigands' had attempted without success to take. As is known, he was subsequently safely released.
It ig estimated that the brigands s0 destroyed Shekichan that it will be eight years before the city will be again as prosperous as it was, And in addition, reports state that the crops in the district have been ruined, and the people are faced: with the prospect of a famine in the' autumn,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.