In another column our Kaifeng correspondent reports the capture of yet another missionary, Mr. Ledgard, by Honan brigands." The following the copy of a letter received from Mrs. Ledgard this week by the China Inland Mission in Shanghai giving details of what happened. Mrs. Soderstrom and her daughter, to whom reference is made, are both members of the China Inland Mission. Shenkiu, where they have been located in Honan, was recently burat and these ladies were carried "off. presumably by the same Jawless men. The ©, I. M. have since learned that Miss Séderstrom was subsequently sent to Chowkiakow with a letter from the brigand leaders. demanding $1,000,000 ransom.
Yencheng, Nov. 2, 1922.
Dear Mr. Hoste,—I arrived here with my little boy yesterday evening. Mr. Lack hag already written telling you about my husband being taken by the Tifei, The whole thing came upon us so suddenly. We did not hear a single word of their coming until they were there—that was early on Saturday morning—just before daylight. Even then, we thought they were just some small local band of robbers and did not know until! after they came to our premises and told us themselves, that they were 'a large band come from a distance—they - said Shansi—and that they were thirty to forty thousand in number (san, si wan).
I am thankful to say that not one of our Evangelists, schoolboys or servants came to any harm. They (the Tufei) ransacked our premises, "however, and took our money. (I think my husband said it was about $180, but I am not quite sure exactly. I know that my husband had only just two days returned from Chowkiakow with $100.) They aliso took our watches, my rings, and anything of any value that they could wear or use, such as towels, hats, my husband's overcoat and boots. But our clothes. (foreign) were fortunately left.
They quite plainly told us that their reason for taking away foreigners is m order that we us? all our influence with the Government to get them reinstated in the present army. They are the disbanded soldiers from Chao T'i's band, who fought for Chang Tso-lin. Nearly all those who were told off to look after us were nies young house, and came quite goodnaturedly to us with our watches for us to show how to wind them up ete. But they listened to us preach the Gospel to them and got me to play the organ and sing hymns to them.
They tock absolute possession of our premises and the head of that in such a litter with all our boxes of clothes and chests of drawers ete, turned out on the floors and things scattered about everywhere. The whole thing seemed to me like horrible dream.
The evangelists and Christians who were with me and who came band which came to us and took my un after my husband had' been husband off, made his headquarters taken, all were very anxious that in our inn-yard and slept himself, I should remain on at Shangtsai a room there, My husband asked and car on the work just as when several times to see him, but he did my husband was there, But, 1 not come. We. were not allowed really felt that I should go out of outside our tiny: courtyard and my mind if I were to stay there wers never left without at least alone. I have felt better ever since four or five armed fellows with us.
I have left the place, and hope I On Sunday morning they brought shall soon feel ready to go back along the two Lutheran missionaries again, should it be your wish for (gentlemen) from Ruchow, to see me to do so. But just at present us, but only allowed them to stay 1 shudder at the thought of it. about five minutes. They said that November 3.—We have just this they had written a letter to the morning had word that poor Mrs. Peking officials, but it seemed fo Séderstrém and her daughter have be of no use. been taken off by them as well.
We heard the tufei talking about.
Oh! it is such a comfort to me to some Frenchman that they had, know that my husband will be able' and they several times asked us li to comfort and help them. I felt. we could speak French. Hence we sure God had a special purpose in think they must be the band which my husband going—and now I see captured that French businessman. this is the first little "light'' upon But we did not see him, so I can-it. How much more anxious not say for certain that he is with should have felt for Mrs. and Miss them.
Séderstrém had they been only When those who were guarding taken and no gentleman to look jmy husband came to take him to after them. go away with them, they were This letter that I have written veally very sorry for me and tried will give you some idea of what to comfort me all they could by Mrs, and Miss Séderstrém have telling me that they would take gone through, only I think it would every care of him and not let him be much worse for them, as being come to any harm, and they pro-inside the city they would have the mised me that they would keep by burning houses all round them as him. There were some other very well. horrid, cruel-looking fellows _who May God just sustain them in came into our yard several times, this deep trial. looting etc. and I greatly feared With woom regards to Mrs. Hoste my husband getting into their and yourself. hands.
Yours very sincerely, The tufei used our inn-yard also (Signed) Mary Lepcarp. to station a number of their prisoners and it was very dreadful to hear some being beaten and then we heard shots also and wondered Missionaries Still Held by whether they were shooting some Bandits as well. We know that many were shot and many also burnt in the Peking, Nov. 6. city.. The people told us that there The efforts to obtain the was not one good house left in the release of the missionaries, Messrs, city. They were all burnt to the Fosserg and Lundeen who were ground. seized by brigands at Juchow on Needless to say, we were in a Gctober 13 have not yet succeeded. state of dread ad to what they Both are, however, in daily com-would do to us, all the time—but munication with their families and the Lord helped us and we were state that they are well treated able to be kept busy a good deal and are availing themselves of the of the time attending to them opportunity to preach the Gospel medically. My husband opened a to their captors, As funds and large abscess for one, and another valuables on the premises when the had a badly burnt foot, and others had bad eyes etc.
As my husband did not know that they were going to take him until the very last moment, he had ne time to make any plans. (They iliad previously told my husband that they were not going to take missionaries were kidnapped were left behind the brigands' motive is presumed to be purely political. It is supposed that the prisoners are being held to enforce demands to be made to the authorities. Local officials are confident of their release.—Reuter. fellows and we felt very sorry for! him.) them as they told us that they After my husband was taken was would give anything to get out of ithe worst time for me, as we did GENERAL Hea. Shu-tseng (Little 7 their present predicament. But{ not know what the soldiers would Hsu) has issued a circular telegram they said that they had been left} be like who were coming to take announcing that he hag retired without a penny and they had n0; possession of the city, and we heard from the Foochow field in order that other alternative but to turn to} all sorts of tales. Some said they ithe people may govern themselves. their present way of life.
Tu say-would be worse than the tufei.!Hsu declares that he doos not wish if opposed ing they were "nice" fellows, 1 Henes we were just in a state of to remain in Fukien mean, in comparison with the}apprebension and dread, until we, even by a single section of the ordinary soldier. Of cours, they really found that they were—all people and states that all of his thought nothing of looting the hight. Then the whole place was' acts are for their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.