Page 92 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 92
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
trees to feed themselves. Even the dead were being eaten and, outside Lanzhou huge communal
graves were dug to try and dispose of some of the dead.
"When typhus struck it was impossible to go outside without seeing
dead bodies. People were just dying in swarms. Four CIM
missionaries and nine Roman Catholics died at that time; money
ceased to be of any value and at the CIM hospital in Lanzhou (where
Dr. Rand died) a thousand people were fed daily, while hordes of
destitute refugees wandered through the province. It was impossible
to relieve every one and yet we knew that every one we turned away
was doomed."
No wonder the horror of those days haunted his mind for years afterwards.
The only source of food was Xining district. Peas and barley were floated down the Yellow River in
yak and bullock skins and these, roasted and ground, mixed in equal quantities with water added,
made a really nutritious meal.
War augmented the problem which probably took two million lives. Near Xining GFA went to Danga
where, on 15 February Muslim bandits held the town for two hours and, during the time, massacred
2171 Chinese between the ages of 17 and 70. In retaliation the Muslim mecca of Hejou had been
devastated and its wonderful mosques as well as the CIM Hospital there, were completely destroyed.
GFA made his survey and then had to find a way out through these murderous armies. Rather than
return by the way he had come, he decided to go down the Yellow River to the railhead at Baotou, a
trip of 1200 miles. As he had to take with him 63oz of gold, the balance of the relief funds, he
secreted part of it in his belt and part was in gold bangles which he wore high up on his arm.
He hired a raft with a crew of five. It was made of 180 goat skins inflated and lashed to a framework of
poles. On this were erected two parallel shelters, low enough to offer little resistance to the wind.
There were two heavey oars at each end.
At that moment came word that Mr. Rist of the CIM was gravely ill with typhus 330 miles downstream
at Zhongwei. Realizing that there was not too much chance of anyone over forty recovering from
typhus, GFA asked Mr. Mann, the then Superintendent in Gansu, to give him a sealed envelope with
advice in it for Mrs. Rist in case her husband died. Miss Gomersal of the CIM hospital in Lanzhou
volunteered to go with him to help with the nursing. On Friday 5 July 1929 they were given a great
send-off at the riverside, tying up for the night ten miles downstream.
Next day GFA thoroughly enjoyed himself as they shot the rapids for forty miles through magnificent
gorges, where sheer cliffs on both sides offered little hope for anyone wrecked at spots like the
human cauldron or the wolfs jaws, or trapped in the numerous whirlpools. The crew, to ensure
safety, scattered bread on the raging waters to placate the dragon spirits.
In flatter country beyond, a strong wind forced them to tie up to the bank for the whole of 7 July, but it
died down after midnight, so at 2 am on Monday 8 July, they set off once more and actually covered
the 150 miles to Zhongwei by sunset. The city was three miles from the river, so it was dark when
they reached the CIM house outside the East Gate. It had formerly been an inn.
They found Mr. Rist in a very serious condition, though he managed to recognize GFA and to say with
a smile, Its good to see old friends again. Mrs. Rist was exhausted, so they persuaded her to go
to bed while Miss Gomersal and GFA stayed up all night with the patient. At 10:23 next morning he
92
Amy Moore
trees to feed themselves. Even the dead were being eaten and, outside Lanzhou huge communal
graves were dug to try and dispose of some of the dead.
"When typhus struck it was impossible to go outside without seeing
dead bodies. People were just dying in swarms. Four CIM
missionaries and nine Roman Catholics died at that time; money
ceased to be of any value and at the CIM hospital in Lanzhou (where
Dr. Rand died) a thousand people were fed daily, while hordes of
destitute refugees wandered through the province. It was impossible
to relieve every one and yet we knew that every one we turned away
was doomed."
No wonder the horror of those days haunted his mind for years afterwards.
The only source of food was Xining district. Peas and barley were floated down the Yellow River in
yak and bullock skins and these, roasted and ground, mixed in equal quantities with water added,
made a really nutritious meal.
War augmented the problem which probably took two million lives. Near Xining GFA went to Danga
where, on 15 February Muslim bandits held the town for two hours and, during the time, massacred
2171 Chinese between the ages of 17 and 70. In retaliation the Muslim mecca of Hejou had been
devastated and its wonderful mosques as well as the CIM Hospital there, were completely destroyed.
GFA made his survey and then had to find a way out through these murderous armies. Rather than
return by the way he had come, he decided to go down the Yellow River to the railhead at Baotou, a
trip of 1200 miles. As he had to take with him 63oz of gold, the balance of the relief funds, he
secreted part of it in his belt and part was in gold bangles which he wore high up on his arm.
He hired a raft with a crew of five. It was made of 180 goat skins inflated and lashed to a framework of
poles. On this were erected two parallel shelters, low enough to offer little resistance to the wind.
There were two heavey oars at each end.
At that moment came word that Mr. Rist of the CIM was gravely ill with typhus 330 miles downstream
at Zhongwei. Realizing that there was not too much chance of anyone over forty recovering from
typhus, GFA asked Mr. Mann, the then Superintendent in Gansu, to give him a sealed envelope with
advice in it for Mrs. Rist in case her husband died. Miss Gomersal of the CIM hospital in Lanzhou
volunteered to go with him to help with the nursing. On Friday 5 July 1929 they were given a great
send-off at the riverside, tying up for the night ten miles downstream.
Next day GFA thoroughly enjoyed himself as they shot the rapids for forty miles through magnificent
gorges, where sheer cliffs on both sides offered little hope for anyone wrecked at spots like the
human cauldron or the wolfs jaws, or trapped in the numerous whirlpools. The crew, to ensure
safety, scattered bread on the raging waters to placate the dragon spirits.
In flatter country beyond, a strong wind forced them to tie up to the bank for the whole of 7 July, but it
died down after midnight, so at 2 am on Monday 8 July, they set off once more and actually covered
the 150 miles to Zhongwei by sunset. The city was three miles from the river, so it was dark when
they reached the CIM house outside the East Gate. It had formerly been an inn.
They found Mr. Rist in a very serious condition, though he managed to recognize GFA and to say with
a smile, Its good to see old friends again. Mrs. Rist was exhausted, so they persuaded her to go
to bed while Miss Gomersal and GFA stayed up all night with the patient. At 10:23 next morning he
92
