Chungking, Sept. 12.
One week ago to-day between sixty. and seventy orphans left this, city for Shunking and Tanishan, They were all packed tightly on a large Chinese junk and were under the charge of Mr. and Mrs, Pu and Miss Wane. The Kialing river has risen considerably and the ladies in charge of this orphanage are beginning to wonder how the orphans are faring and just exactly where they are. There are some forms of mission work in China Where evacuation entails the packing of a carpet bag and making for the opposite and safe bank of the river, leaving behind a conglomeration of earthly. belongings to amuse and interest' the Communists. An evacuation is always a dangerous, dificult and nervous experience but it has and has had its advantages. Like primitive man the missionary likes to own his own cave into which he piles, stacks, and possessions. arrange his present and accumulating
Naturally an evacuation is a trying experience in more ways than one, and when the evacuator has to pick, up and run for his life, he is more. or less forced to say good-bye to some things which, he holds very dear. The Commuhists walk into the cave and relieve the missionary of ten or twenty loads of stores, bedding, furniture, and personal belongings. They leave and when tha missionary returns he finds them all gone: little nick-nooks which friendly aunts and "uncles have passed on from time to time all go, leaving the cave with a very weary' and dreary appearance, Looking after a family of seventy orphans during evacuation days is no easy task, To clear off ard leave them would be simply impossible as these kindly ladies had made themselves responsible for their young charges. Exactly one year ago. they had to suddenly pick up and flee. Tanishan was threatened by Com: munists from the north of the province, Twice before this they had had t0 flee and leave their beautiful nom* among the Szechuan mountains and Seek refuge in Shunking, some five days distance overland.
Dysentery Among Orphans the two former occasions they had terrible and trying experiences. At Shunking dysentery broke out among the orphans when they had to take shelter in a large silk factory and six of their number died. Everything around them was chaos with thousands fleeing for their lives, but what was to be done with seventy orphans severely attacked by dysentery? After careful inquiry had been made the children were gathered together and the doleful procession started for Sinchenpa on the left bank of the Kialing River.
When the party arrived on the main road from Tung the sight was indescribable, Thousands of refugees were fleeing from the Reds to thi crossing at Sinchenpa. On arrival there tens of thousands were waiting to get across to the right bank. AS soon as a boat arrived the stampede was terrible and hundreds lost their lives in crowding onto over crowded boats. At Sinchenpa and along the main highway children got separated from their parents, husbands from their wives, and servants from their masters; the yelling was continuous day and night as they called for Lost relatives.
At Sinchenpa the ladies spent four days waiting for a boat to take them across the river. So terrible was the crush that hundreds rushed into the river whenever: the ferry boat appeared, many wading up to their necks. A message was sent to Dr, Gray at Nanpu seeking his help in securing boats to take them down river. Boats were not being leased, but Bishop Holden sent word that two boats would come down and pick them up. The ladies waited for four days and then crossed the river with their seventy orphans, but this had to be done a mile up the river so as not to attract the waiting thousands at Sinchenpa. One day they saw two boats coming down and a thrill of joy came to them when they discovered some Europeans on board. very wet and muddy road. Some of "the small children were now getting very tired and wet and weary.
Resting at a village, one market day they waited to see if the boats would Jcome along. When they did so one arty of the children went in one direction and another party in the opposite direction. Another lift on the boat, another time of wrangling to get past a pontoon, another deputa-Hon to wait on the official to solicit /his help and finally the party reached [Shunking safe and sound having lost no member of the party. This was [simply marvellous, two ladies with seventy children, and every member /safe in the mission compound. With grateful hearts they thanked God for fall His care and goodness.
'A few months later Shunking had to be evacuated and the orphans were removed by boat to Chungking. Jatter some months here the mites are now on their way back to ranishan, twenty days journey from Chungking, up the Kialing River. After three evacuations in two years the ladies in charge of this work are quite prepared to carry on. When they evacuated one year ago they had to leave behind them a rice and wheat harvest just gathered in and during the past two years they have enjoyed their beautiful orphan-fe among the Szechuan mountains for the space of three months. Such life in the province of four rivers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.