1027

(CHINEESE REBELLION)

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(CHINEESE REBELLION)
An interesting letter with period photographs from a Methodist missionary stationed in northern China in the early days of the short-lived Chinese Republic. The T.L. (unsigned), 8pp. 8vo., Tangshan, China, March 23, 1912 reports back to a friend in the United States, in part: "...The trouble first broke out at Peking on the evening of Feb. 29, when some of the transport and artillery troops of Yuan Shih-kai's [the provisional president of the Chinese Republic]... famous 34d. Division mutinied and started to levy on the shopkeepers of the native city. They were stirred up because they had not been paid and by rumors of a cut in the pay and that they would be compelled to discard their cues, that yuan was soon to disband them and go to Nanking to assume his position as the newly elected Provisional Pres. of the new Republic of China. They were followed by a log of rowdies and soon pandemonium reigned...It was a hard blow to poor Yuan coming as it did, from the troops which were the most trusted, he did not feel very safe...". The correspondent, while not close to the disturbances did have "...a little scare here on Sunday night, Mar. 3rd., the night after the looting in Tientsin. Mr. Young, the President of the College, had scouts out among the people of the town to gather what news they could of any impending disturbances. In the afternoon they brought in information that about a hundred dissatisfied workmen were going to start trouble in the native town that night. He found out who the ringleader was and tried to dissuade him but did not feel at all sure as to his success....Their plan appeared to be to start by throwing bombs in the evening and getting up all the excitement they could and then the Chinese soldiers would be called out and would join in with them in looting all the stores...To add to the tension of the situation, it was the day of the Feast of lanterns, a holiday celebrated by much firing of firecrackers and rockets and kept up all night...I did not have any gun in the house at the time but now I have a Mauser rifle and 150 rounds of ammunition...We are very glad to be on the ground to witness, at close range, these wonderful movements. I doubt if many of you folks at home fully realize the stupendousness of it all...". Together with six 4" x 3" b/w photographs of various scenes in China ca. 1910, including images of Chinese carpenters, junks on the water, and oxen plowing a field. Fold wear, light soiling, and marginal tears and pin holes. Photographs are mostly in very good condition with a few bearing tears and creases.