Page 84 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 84
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
12 May Wunanxian to Shilitian (120 li) "The last ten li simply awful, one long string of
mudholes."
13 May Arrived X'ian about 10 a.m.
HOSTAGE
They were now in Shaanxi Province and GFA gives an account of what followed,
"The contrast as soon as we entered Shaansi was most marked. The province seems
to be in a more lawless state than ever and the general feeling seems to be that ere
long there will be another big outbreak throughout the province.
When I arrived here I found Mrs. Stevens here and learnt from herself of the trouble
which has overtaken Mr. Stevens in Fengxiang. Owing to Mrs. Stevens being in such
a distressed state and feeling unable to write to you a clear statement of the facts, she
has asked me to write. It appears that a leader of the name of Guoqian, who has
been outlaw, brigand, government official and then rebel again, is now besieged in
Fengxiang by the Tu Tu of this province on the east, and the Gansu troops on the
west. Guo's right hand man appears to be one Captain Wei who is also besieged
with him in the city. For some time past it has been apparent that there has been
some disagreement between Guoqian and Wei, and at one time (about the middle of
April) it was rumoured that Wei had promised to sell Gouqian into the hands of the Tu
Tu.
However this did not come to pass. Toward the end of last month the Tu Tu seized
the father and other members of the family of Wei and it seemed as though the old
man was going to be killed. At this juncture (I think it was about the 28th ult.)Wei sent
for Mr. Stevens and told him that he was going to hold him hostage against the safety
of his father and, in the event of the old man having been put to death, Mr. Stevens
life would not be worth much.
Mr. Stevens had to write a letter to Mr. Shorrock of the Baptist Mission here, and Mrs.
Stevens was sent out of the city with it. She was not allowed to go to the mission
home for shoes or hat or money, but was escorted outside the gate and told to go.
She was fired upon by the besiegers and had a very hard journey here.
When the officials here were first interviewed about the matter, they stated that Wei's
father had already been shot, but last Sunday the Tu Tu acknowledged to Mr.
Shorrock that the old man and the other members of the family are being kept in
safety. Mr. Stevens has been able to send in several letters. He is being kept in
confinement in the headquarters of Wei and is not allowed to go to the Tang (mission
home) though the old evangelist is allowed to sleep in the room with him at night and
Mr. Steven's servant is allowed to prepare and bring him food.
I share the view of many others here that there is no immediate danger of his life.
Evidently there is great indignation throughout the district among the people by whom
the Stevens are held in such high respect. From all accounts Mr. and Mrs. Stevens
have been most careful to abstain from anything which might seem to be interference
in the affairs of either one side or the other. This has been freely acknowledged by
84
Amy Moore
12 May Wunanxian to Shilitian (120 li) "The last ten li simply awful, one long string of
mudholes."
13 May Arrived X'ian about 10 a.m.
HOSTAGE
They were now in Shaanxi Province and GFA gives an account of what followed,
"The contrast as soon as we entered Shaansi was most marked. The province seems
to be in a more lawless state than ever and the general feeling seems to be that ere
long there will be another big outbreak throughout the province.
When I arrived here I found Mrs. Stevens here and learnt from herself of the trouble
which has overtaken Mr. Stevens in Fengxiang. Owing to Mrs. Stevens being in such
a distressed state and feeling unable to write to you a clear statement of the facts, she
has asked me to write. It appears that a leader of the name of Guoqian, who has
been outlaw, brigand, government official and then rebel again, is now besieged in
Fengxiang by the Tu Tu of this province on the east, and the Gansu troops on the
west. Guo's right hand man appears to be one Captain Wei who is also besieged
with him in the city. For some time past it has been apparent that there has been
some disagreement between Guoqian and Wei, and at one time (about the middle of
April) it was rumoured that Wei had promised to sell Gouqian into the hands of the Tu
Tu.
However this did not come to pass. Toward the end of last month the Tu Tu seized
the father and other members of the family of Wei and it seemed as though the old
man was going to be killed. At this juncture (I think it was about the 28th ult.)Wei sent
for Mr. Stevens and told him that he was going to hold him hostage against the safety
of his father and, in the event of the old man having been put to death, Mr. Stevens
life would not be worth much.
Mr. Stevens had to write a letter to Mr. Shorrock of the Baptist Mission here, and Mrs.
Stevens was sent out of the city with it. She was not allowed to go to the mission
home for shoes or hat or money, but was escorted outside the gate and told to go.
She was fired upon by the besiegers and had a very hard journey here.
When the officials here were first interviewed about the matter, they stated that Wei's
father had already been shot, but last Sunday the Tu Tu acknowledged to Mr.
Shorrock that the old man and the other members of the family are being kept in
safety. Mr. Stevens has been able to send in several letters. He is being kept in
confinement in the headquarters of Wei and is not allowed to go to the Tang (mission
home) though the old evangelist is allowed to sleep in the room with him at night and
Mr. Steven's servant is allowed to prepare and bring him food.
I share the view of many others here that there is no immediate danger of his life.
Evidently there is great indignation throughout the district among the people by whom
the Stevens are held in such high respect. From all accounts Mr. and Mrs. Stevens
have been most careful to abstain from anything which might seem to be interference
in the affairs of either one side or the other. This has been freely acknowledged by
84
