Page 98 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 98
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
unceasing in his labours. His long experience
in the administration of famine relief in the
North West and his long residence in China,
coupled with his facility in the language,
render his service at this time invaluable.”
(Picture) GFA with Sir John and Lady Hope-Simpson,
Chairman of the Famine Relief Commission in Hankow
Soon GFA was carrying enormous responsibilities in the
reconstruction of the banks of the Yangtse and its tributaries.
“I had 9,700 miles to look after from Yichang to Jiujiang and
along the Xiang River from the Yangtse to Chiangsha.” In
May a different kind of fame came to him. A Roman Catholic
priest, Father Sands, had been captured a year before by the
Communists in Hubei. GFA was asked to try and negotiate
for his release and in this he was successful. The British
Consul in Hankou wrote to him to convey to him “the
admiration for his patience and skill expressed by Sir John
Simon, His Majesty’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs.” The Consul also took the opportunity of
thanking him “for the valuable assistance and information which have always so readily given to us.”
In his reply, GFA said that “this period of residence in Hubei will always be brightened by our very
happy association.”
At about the same time he was helping the Americans to secure the release of Captain Charles Baker
who had been kidnapped four months previously on the Yangtse River. On 31 May he was freed and
although GFA gave all the credit to his four Chinese agents, that was not entirely how others saw it.
The American Consulate in Hankou and the American Legation in Beijing both wrote to him in no
uncertain terms. So did the State Department in Washington: I want to express on behalf of the
American Government sincere appreciation for the valuable assistance rendered by you, and in
particular to commend the excellent judgment, patience, resourcefulness and untiring effort displayed
by you at all times during the prosecution of this difficult case, and to state that your services, which
have received unstinted and widespread praise, will form the subject of a communication to the British
Government. A cable from Sir John Hope Simpson simply said, Very hearty congratulations.
Two months later a distressing telegram reached GFA: ‘Tornvall missing twelve days ago between
Pingliang and Xi’an. No trace whatever. Foul play feared. Your services may be needed.’ They
certainly were.
Gustav Tornwall of the CIM had been acting as business manager of the Famine Relief Commission in
Gansu. With him vanished Henry Eckvall of the Ford Motor Company in Hankou who was returning
from Lanzhou after a profitable sales visit. He had linked up with Tornvall at Pinliang travelling by car
with him and two other men to Xi’an. I think I am right in saying that both Tornvall and Eckvall were
Chefoo boys as their parents had been missionaries in China and, of course, Gustav Tornvall and
GFA were old friends.
GFA moved up to Beijing and on to Xi’an where he and his representatives made extensive enquiries
in the district. He discovered that Eckvall was carrying a large amount of money in gold, silver and
dollars, proceeds of his business deals. Several Pingliang merchants had also entrusted Tornvall
with thousands of dollars for safe delivery in Xi’an. George had known both men well for many years,
98
Amy Moore
unceasing in his labours. His long experience
in the administration of famine relief in the
North West and his long residence in China,
coupled with his facility in the language,
render his service at this time invaluable.”
(Picture) GFA with Sir John and Lady Hope-Simpson,
Chairman of the Famine Relief Commission in Hankow
Soon GFA was carrying enormous responsibilities in the
reconstruction of the banks of the Yangtse and its tributaries.
“I had 9,700 miles to look after from Yichang to Jiujiang and
along the Xiang River from the Yangtse to Chiangsha.” In
May a different kind of fame came to him. A Roman Catholic
priest, Father Sands, had been captured a year before by the
Communists in Hubei. GFA was asked to try and negotiate
for his release and in this he was successful. The British
Consul in Hankou wrote to him to convey to him “the
admiration for his patience and skill expressed by Sir John
Simon, His Majesty’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs.” The Consul also took the opportunity of
thanking him “for the valuable assistance and information which have always so readily given to us.”
In his reply, GFA said that “this period of residence in Hubei will always be brightened by our very
happy association.”
At about the same time he was helping the Americans to secure the release of Captain Charles Baker
who had been kidnapped four months previously on the Yangtse River. On 31 May he was freed and
although GFA gave all the credit to his four Chinese agents, that was not entirely how others saw it.
The American Consulate in Hankou and the American Legation in Beijing both wrote to him in no
uncertain terms. So did the State Department in Washington: I want to express on behalf of the
American Government sincere appreciation for the valuable assistance rendered by you, and in
particular to commend the excellent judgment, patience, resourcefulness and untiring effort displayed
by you at all times during the prosecution of this difficult case, and to state that your services, which
have received unstinted and widespread praise, will form the subject of a communication to the British
Government. A cable from Sir John Hope Simpson simply said, Very hearty congratulations.
Two months later a distressing telegram reached GFA: ‘Tornvall missing twelve days ago between
Pingliang and Xi’an. No trace whatever. Foul play feared. Your services may be needed.’ They
certainly were.
Gustav Tornwall of the CIM had been acting as business manager of the Famine Relief Commission in
Gansu. With him vanished Henry Eckvall of the Ford Motor Company in Hankou who was returning
from Lanzhou after a profitable sales visit. He had linked up with Tornvall at Pinliang travelling by car
with him and two other men to Xi’an. I think I am right in saying that both Tornvall and Eckvall were
Chefoo boys as their parents had been missionaries in China and, of course, Gustav Tornvall and
GFA were old friends.
GFA moved up to Beijing and on to Xi’an where he and his representatives made extensive enquiries
in the district. He discovered that Eckvall was carrying a large amount of money in gold, silver and
dollars, proceeds of his business deals. Several Pingliang merchants had also entrusted Tornvall
with thousands of dollars for safe delivery in Xi’an. George had known both men well for many years,
98
