Page 47 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 47
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 47
who has been outlaw, brigand, government official and then rebel again, is now
besieged in Feng Hsiang by the Tu Tu of this province on the east, and the Kansu
troops on the west. Kuo'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 Kuo Ch’ian and Wei, and at one time
(about the middle of April) it was rumoured that Wei had promised to sell Kou Ch’ian
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 T’ang
(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 the Tu Tu and other high officials here. Poor Mrs. Stevens is
undergoing a tremendous strain and only the Lord Himself can sustain her physically
and mentally.
On Friday evening late, a telegram came to Mr. Shorrock from Peking which reads:
"Your telegram 5 May. Matter being vigorously pressed here. Would it be
possible to get in direct touch with the captor through British missionary
Andrew shortly passing Sian on way to Kansu. If so please arrange with him
and inform Legation. Alston."
who has been outlaw, brigand, government official and then rebel again, is now
besieged in Feng Hsiang by the Tu Tu of this province on the east, and the Kansu
troops on the west. Kuo'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 Kuo Ch’ian and Wei, and at one time
(about the middle of April) it was rumoured that Wei had promised to sell Kou Ch’ian
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 T’ang
(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 the Tu Tu and other high officials here. Poor Mrs. Stevens is
undergoing a tremendous strain and only the Lord Himself can sustain her physically
and mentally.
On Friday evening late, a telegram came to Mr. Shorrock from Peking which reads:
"Your telegram 5 May. Matter being vigorously pressed here. Would it be
possible to get in direct touch with the captor through British missionary
Andrew shortly passing Sian on way to Kansu. If so please arrange with him
and inform Legation. Alston."
