From Our Own Correspondent, Ichang, June 6.
About half-past eleven on the evening of the 4th instant the, sound of rifle fire announced to the} inhabitants of this city that once} more the soldiers were about to go on the warpath and their fears; were speedily realized im a manner not soon to be forgotten.
The regiment responsible for the trouble had been ordered to embark on the str. Kwei Lee on the Sth, and proceed to Hsinti to replace troops that were being sent to Shensi. Whether they resented this change is not known, but at any rate they apparently made up their minds to carry as much away with them as possible and so they proceeded to loot the city. Not content with looting, they completed their devilish work iby burning many large places of business and other buildings. Among the places thus destroyed were the Bank of China, the Chamber of Commerce, and the' offices of Devine & Ca. Although the bank building was completely gutted yet the safes and strong room resisted the flames.
Foreion Houses Enrerep AND chants and business people are now practically down, and out, For the most part those who suffered in November last have once more lore their all. Many of them had been advanced new stocks from other places to enable them to restart their various businesses, and now all is gone and they have no hope of ever being able to get on their feet again.
The following is an example of what has taken place. One well known merchant had his shop loot ed six months ago to the tune of $6,000. He expended $4,000 to replenish his stock and this time shop, stock and everything has gone. In course of conversation he said, "What is the use of me doing business any more'? Multiply this example many times and you get an idea of the destruction that has taken place in this nowadays important business centre.
Jardine Matheson's, Butterfield Swire and the Chinese Post Office have not only been looted and robbed but a considerable amount of damage has been done to fittings and furniture. Ewo's has not a whole piece of furniture left.
On this occasion foreigners including women and children were not left unmolested. Shortly after the looting started some soldiers entered a house where a lady with cher two children and governess were living alone—the husband being away on business up river. They smashed up a great deal of furniture and turned everything upside down, and finally overturned a lamp which set fire to the carpet. Only the timely appearance of a foreign gentleman, who was able to extinguish the flames, prevented the building being desjtroyed. The ladies and children were ultimately safely conveyed to the Customs compound.
Into another house they went where a British subject and his wife were living and practically cleared away everything they could lay their hands on. They removed the lady's rings from her fingers. and treated her generally in a shameful way.
The Japanese Consulate, and the offices of the Robert Dollar Company were looted, while rifle shots were fired into the house and office-of the Standard Oil Company of New York. Fortunately casualties among foreigners were few, only two Japanese having been reported wounded. An American gentleman was relieved of his watch and small cash. The Asiatic Petroleum foreign residences were visited and their native hong looted.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.