Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... "IN DEATHS OFT." CHAPTER I. THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE. SHORTLY after our return to Hwai-luh on March 31st, gradually increasing rumours of trouble with the society known as " The Boxers " in the district north of Pao-ting Fu reached us, and by the middle of May things seemed to be getting really serious, though one learns by experience to "liberally discount" all rumours in China. Authentic items, however, were sent us by Mr. Bagnall, our Missionary at Pao-ting Fu, in the fortnightly mail, and these reached their climax by the couriers, who arrived at Hwai-luh on June 2nd, bringing news of the destruction of the railway and the attack on the party of engineers in their endeavours to escape to Tien-tsin by the river. This meant that all communication with Tien-tsin and the outside world, for our part of China, was entirely cut off. Even this mail contained no foreign matter for us, and we have neither received from or been able to send away word to friends since about the middle of May. On Tuesday, June 12th, I received two wires, within an hour of each other, one from Tien-tsin and one from Pao-ting Fu, asking me to send a special messenger to Shuen-teh with word to stop Mr. W. Cooper coming north to Pao-ting Fu and advising his return to Shanghai via Ho-nan. I had already sent a letter two days previously by cart, strongly advising B that he should not attempt to get to Tien-tsin, at any rate, by the Pao-ting Fu route. To save time I sent off one of my own servants. He was away before the second wire arrived, with orders to travel day and night, if possibly he might catch dear Mr. Cooper before he left. He was back by Friday afternoon with word that Mr. Cooper left Shuen-teh by cart for Pao-ting Fu the same day that my courier left...
