Page 20 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 20
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
About a week after they left Hankou they anchored at the mouth of a small stream near a village called
Lujikou. It was Saturday night and they planned to have a quiet Sunday there before proceeding
further, but a severe wind and rain storm blew up that night and all their plans had to be changed.
The river rose rapidly, and with that and the swiftness of the current, they found themselves in great
danger, either of being swept away altogether or of having the boat smashed to pieces by other boats
crashing against her. Fortunately they were anchored on the more sheltered side of the river or they
would not have stood a chance. As it was, they threw out on to the land as much of their baggage as
they could, and then clambered ashore themselves.
This storm caused the loss of about 50 lives and some 20 or 30 boats were destroyed, so the
missionary party were thankful to the Lord for bringing them safely through, even though it was
impossible to go on without repairs being made to the boat. During the worst of the storm
Mr.Broumpton had taken his wife and Miss Kerr into the nearby village where he found a room in
which they could spend the night.
The house was draughty with only straw mats for walls, a thatched roof and mud floors, so the next
day, when they knew they would have to stay there until repairs were complete, Mr.Broumpton
searched until he found something better, even if dirty. It was an old shop which had been closed
and they thankfully took possession. The two ladies were grateful for an upstairs loft where they
could get away from the crowds of people who had swarmed round them all day, because most of
them had never seen a foreign woman before.
The people were rough, and some of the men seemed as if they wanted to stir up trouble. For the
next few days, while repairs were being done to the boat, they all kept very quiet and as unobtrusive
as possible, but one of the troublemongers discovered them towards the end of the week, and it was a
relief when they could proceed on their journey.
Two days brought them near to Youzhao where they anchored in a sheltered cove. It was as well
they did for another storm blew up which continued all that night and through the next day. By the
third day they were able to move on to Youzhao itself and to anchor at the entrance to the Dongting
Lake.
That afternoon they received a surprise visit from another CIM missionary Adam Dorward, and an
evangelist travelling with him. They too had come from Hankou but had taken only four days to
reach this point while the Broumpton party had already been 19 days on the way.
From Youzhau their route took them through the centre of the lake. In two days they were through
and out into the Yuan River at the other side. But here once again they were beset by storms with
heavy rain and vivid lightning as well as a very swift current. Adam Dorward, who had travelled
alongside them so far, was planning to go on by land from this stage, but he decided to continue with
them by river, a decision for which Mr.Broumpton was later very thankful.
SMALLPOX
By Friday 29 April, George Andrew was suffering from a very bad headache and a high fever. It
proved to be the beginning of smallpox. They did what they could in the way of segregation by
removing him to the stern of the boat, and Adam Dorward made himself responsible for nursing and
caring for him while Miss Kerr gave as much medical advice as she could.
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Contents
Amy Moore
About a week after they left Hankou they anchored at the mouth of a small stream near a village called
Lujikou. It was Saturday night and they planned to have a quiet Sunday there before proceeding
further, but a severe wind and rain storm blew up that night and all their plans had to be changed.
The river rose rapidly, and with that and the swiftness of the current, they found themselves in great
danger, either of being swept away altogether or of having the boat smashed to pieces by other boats
crashing against her. Fortunately they were anchored on the more sheltered side of the river or they
would not have stood a chance. As it was, they threw out on to the land as much of their baggage as
they could, and then clambered ashore themselves.
This storm caused the loss of about 50 lives and some 20 or 30 boats were destroyed, so the
missionary party were thankful to the Lord for bringing them safely through, even though it was
impossible to go on without repairs being made to the boat. During the worst of the storm
Mr.Broumpton had taken his wife and Miss Kerr into the nearby village where he found a room in
which they could spend the night.
The house was draughty with only straw mats for walls, a thatched roof and mud floors, so the next
day, when they knew they would have to stay there until repairs were complete, Mr.Broumpton
searched until he found something better, even if dirty. It was an old shop which had been closed
and they thankfully took possession. The two ladies were grateful for an upstairs loft where they
could get away from the crowds of people who had swarmed round them all day, because most of
them had never seen a foreign woman before.
The people were rough, and some of the men seemed as if they wanted to stir up trouble. For the
next few days, while repairs were being done to the boat, they all kept very quiet and as unobtrusive
as possible, but one of the troublemongers discovered them towards the end of the week, and it was a
relief when they could proceed on their journey.
Two days brought them near to Youzhao where they anchored in a sheltered cove. It was as well
they did for another storm blew up which continued all that night and through the next day. By the
third day they were able to move on to Youzhao itself and to anchor at the entrance to the Dongting
Lake.
That afternoon they received a surprise visit from another CIM missionary Adam Dorward, and an
evangelist travelling with him. They too had come from Hankou but had taken only four days to
reach this point while the Broumpton party had already been 19 days on the way.
From Youzhau their route took them through the centre of the lake. In two days they were through
and out into the Yuan River at the other side. But here once again they were beset by storms with
heavy rain and vivid lightning as well as a very swift current. Adam Dorward, who had travelled
alongside them so far, was planning to go on by land from this stage, but he decided to continue with
them by river, a decision for which Mr.Broumpton was later very thankful.
SMALLPOX
By Friday 29 April, George Andrew was suffering from a very bad headache and a high fever. It
proved to be the beginning of smallpox. They did what they could in the way of segregation by
removing him to the stern of the boat, and Adam Dorward made himself responsible for nursing and
caring for him while Miss Kerr gave as much medical advice as she could.
Return to Table of 20
Contents
