Page 46 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
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GFA – A Different Drumbeat 46
accommodation and attendance is very poor." From Ch’eng Chou to Kuan Yin Tang by
train, and there he hired carts for the trip to Sian - two carts at $83. His diary records:
6 May (Friday) "Kuan Yin Tang to Miao Keo - 35 li (3 li = 1 mile) - very bad roads -
Chang Mao (15 li)
7 May Chang Mao to Chiao Zi Go (38 li) to Ling Pao Sian (52 li). It was on
this day that he passed Mr. Gustafson travelling to the railway and also "passed the
dead body of a man half eaten by dogs - horrible!"
8 May Wen Shang Sian (60 li) less than they had hoped but "had
considerable trouble crossing the river owing to its being swollen by rain which fell in
the night. Roads bad."
9 May A late start owing to rain again in the night. "Got to Tung Kuan at 4
p.m., changed axles there and left again at 6 p.m. Soldiers were very rude and tried
to set the beggars on to us. The officials at Tong Kuan insisted on sending two
policemen with us as escort!" Wen Shang Sian to Huayingmao (95 long li) 9:30
p.m.
10 May Heavy rain prevented them from starting off, so George took the
opportunity to write letters. "In the afternoon Russell and Watson arrived from Sian
and told us of Mr. Stevens having been seized in Fenghsiang by a Captain Wu (one
of Kuo Ch’ian's men) and held as hostage.
11 May Huayingmiao to Wunan Hsian (120 li). Very bad roads.
12 May Wunanxian to Shilitian (120 li) "The last ten li simply awful, one long
string of mudholes."
13 May Arrived Sian about 10 a.m.
Meanwhile the earthquake was not the only crisis affecting the northwest provinces of
China. The people of Honan and Shensi provinces were experiencing severe famine
conditions. So, making his journey even longer, he detoured to those two provinces to
assess for himself the circumstances and severity of the situation.
They were now in Shensi Province and GFA gives an account of what followed,
"The contrast as soon as we entered Shensi 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 her of the trouble
which has overtaken Mr. Stevens in Feng Hsiang. 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 Kuo Ch’ian,
accommodation and attendance is very poor." From Ch’eng Chou to Kuan Yin Tang by
train, and there he hired carts for the trip to Sian - two carts at $83. His diary records:
6 May (Friday) "Kuan Yin Tang to Miao Keo - 35 li (3 li = 1 mile) - very bad roads -
Chang Mao (15 li)
7 May Chang Mao to Chiao Zi Go (38 li) to Ling Pao Sian (52 li). It was on
this day that he passed Mr. Gustafson travelling to the railway and also "passed the
dead body of a man half eaten by dogs - horrible!"
8 May Wen Shang Sian (60 li) less than they had hoped but "had
considerable trouble crossing the river owing to its being swollen by rain which fell in
the night. Roads bad."
9 May A late start owing to rain again in the night. "Got to Tung Kuan at 4
p.m., changed axles there and left again at 6 p.m. Soldiers were very rude and tried
to set the beggars on to us. The officials at Tong Kuan insisted on sending two
policemen with us as escort!" Wen Shang Sian to Huayingmao (95 long li) 9:30
p.m.
10 May Heavy rain prevented them from starting off, so George took the
opportunity to write letters. "In the afternoon Russell and Watson arrived from Sian
and told us of Mr. Stevens having been seized in Fenghsiang by a Captain Wu (one
of Kuo Ch’ian's men) and held as hostage.
11 May Huayingmiao to Wunan Hsian (120 li). Very bad roads.
12 May Wunanxian to Shilitian (120 li) "The last ten li simply awful, one long
string of mudholes."
13 May Arrived Sian about 10 a.m.
Meanwhile the earthquake was not the only crisis affecting the northwest provinces of
China. The people of Honan and Shensi provinces were experiencing severe famine
conditions. So, making his journey even longer, he detoured to those two provinces to
assess for himself the circumstances and severity of the situation.
They were now in Shensi Province and GFA gives an account of what followed,
"The contrast as soon as we entered Shensi 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 her of the trouble
which has overtaken Mr. Stevens in Feng Hsiang. 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 Kuo Ch’ian,
