The sudden passing of Mr. James Ross, Postal Commissioner of Sze—chuan for the past six months, has been a severe shock to the entire community, the more so because hardly anyone knew of his illness, Intermittently for years he has had-attacks of appendicitis. During the summer sharp attacks warned him of the need of an Operation at an carly date. He decided to wait until the weather was cooler. Accordingly on Tuesday, September '12, he entered the French Military Hospital, and the same afternoon two of the French surgeons operated. The case looked normal and indications were for a speedy recovery. However, om the third day bowel complications set in. Medical consultations were hurriedly called and all that was humanly possible was done, but in spite of avery effort he ' passed away on Saturday night at 9.30 (Sept. 26) in the presence of hia: devoted wife, doctors and_ nurses. The funeral was held on Monday, the 18th. At the C.M.S. Chapel,. the Rector, the Rev. E. A. Cook, conducted a most impressive service, following which a large concourse of friends; Chinese and foreign, followed the lamented Commissioner to the Union Cemetery at the Union University. He had been a popular member of the Allied Military Service Association, due to his fine record of active service in the Boer War 1900, and in the European War, serving both at Salonika and in France. In the presence of H.B.M. Consul-General, and the Consuls for France and Japan, Captain Ross, as he has been popularly known here, was lowered into the grave by eight of his comrades in uniform, and with military honours. The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful, testifying to the large number of friends Mr. Ross had made in the short time he had been in_Chéngtu.
Mr. Ross had only been _mayrried a little over three years. The sympathy of the whole community goes out to Mrs. Ross and hor little son Ronald in their untimely _bereavement. The Captain and Mrs. Ross have made a great circle of friends in Chengtu, being widely and populaly known. Mrs. Ross expects soon to leave for Peking.
Mr. Ross succeeded Mr. V. Smith here in April last when the latter went on furlough. He has been exceedingly popular here with the entire staff, business and missionary communities, Telegraphic information, has just arrived from Peking that Mr. Ross's successor will be Mr. Ortolini, Deputy Commissioner in Changsha. We understand Mr. Ortolini is an Italian gentleman with a very fine record with the Chinese Post Office since 1906. He has a_ wife and family, and is expected to leave for his new post at Chengtu in the very near future.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.