The Chang-Sha (China) Riot by P. J. Laird

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 13, 1910

The Chang-Sha (China) Riot

By P. J. Laird

P. J. LAIRD

For two years before the recent riot it had been felt that we were living on the edge of a political volcano; but April 13-17, events took an unexpected and alarming turn. On the evening of April 13, we had been to see the Wolfe family off on board a Japanese steamer. We returned home with heavy hearts at the thought of resuming again our labors at this difficult center without the counsel, companionship, and practical sympathy of coworkers. As we reached the first cross-street, we met a large crowd composed of all classes of people, with a sprinkling of well-dressed men. A police shelter-box was lying on the street, apparently smashed. A sullen silence seemed to possess this large concourse of people, suggesting that trouble was brewing. Questioning our evangelist, Brother Huang, as to its probable nature, he urged us to quicken our steps, and get through the crowd. This we did, reaching home after dark.

About two o'clock we were suddenly awakened by a tremendous pounding and yelling in the street outside our house. Our evangelist came up-stairs half-dressed, and evidently much distressed, to tell us that an enormous crowd was blocking the street, and angrily demanding rice of the store opposite. He said they were shouting something about thousands of men coming from the south gate, but with what object was not clear. Remembering what we had seen the previous evening, we surmised that the long-pent-up feelings of the populace had been aroused, and knowing not how far the movement might be antiforeign, we saw how imminently dangerous our situation was, and how helpless we were should they decide to attack us. Escape by the front door was to run the gauntlet, as the mob had congregated there, and our house possessed no rear exit. Praise God for the comfort of his presence in the hour of trial! We rested our helpless souls on Jesus, telling him we were ready to die if that must be; yet the very situation before us appealed to us as proof that our work was hardly begun in warning Hunan's millions of the judgment going forward in the heavenly sanctuary. Our prayers brought us such sweet peace! Hastily dressing, we went down-stairs to encourage the brethren and sisters, and to see how God would work for our deliverance. In a few hours the mob melted away considerably, and we all breathed more freely. My wife and I again retired, and slept until breakfast time. Meanwhile some had ventured out to investigate, and returned telling us that the mob had begun to burn the missions, and that reports were alarming in the extreme. Running up-stairs and out onto our roof platform, we could look across the city, and see the smoke arising from the burning buildings of the China Inland Mission and of the Norwegian Mission.

We at once decided that escape was necessary; but while we thought we had the confidence of the people on our street, as well as of large numbers in various parts of the city, to meet a mob while crossing the city was a hazardous undertaking. Looking toward the city wall, we saw that a large company of people with sticks had assembled. Their object may have been to watch the incendiarism going on, yet we could form no opinion whether they might be friendly disposed or hostile toward us, should we attempt to pass them in order to get onto the city wall, or to pass through the gate to go into the country. Yet at any moment the maddened crowd might come to fire our house, for all we knew to the contrary. It was easy to see that God must work in our behalf, and we believed he would.

After dinner a petty military official, who had attended our meetings, came to the house, accompanied by four unarmed soldiers, to escort us to a place of safety. It was deemed advisable to allay suspicion by leaving the house without taking anything but our umbrellas, just as if we were going on the wall for our daily walk. So we had a short farewell meeting with the Chinese brethren, urging one another to be faithful to the message at all costs. Then, having given them instruction in case they had to flee, and handing them all the spare money we had except a dollar and a few small coins, we left the house. The brethren accompanied us to the inner gate, leading to the city wall, where we said “good-by.” Tears filled their eyes and ours as we parted, not knowing whether we should meet again on earth.

As we were walking on the wall, we saw the governor's residence fired in several places. After we had gone about three miles, our guide took us into his own room in the barracks, while he went down on the street to hire sedan-chairs. After we had entered these, the blinds were drawn as closely as possible, and we were conveyed through the north gate, and out to the British consulate at the river front. Finding no one, we went on board the British steamer. There we ascertained that the rest of the refugees had gone aboard the other British steamer, which was lying up-stream. We were the last family but one to leave the city.

Later, the other steamer anchored alongside ours, and at the suggestion of the British consul, the majority of those on board, including my wife, who was slightly indisposed, left that evening for Hankow. Our steamer remained close to the city that night, keeping a double watch in case of an emergency. When the rabble fired the Romanist mission, which was about a quarter of a mile away, the excitement became intense. It was certainly no pleasant sight to see the flames in various parts of the city leaping into the sky, and illuminating surrounding objects. Rumors reached us that the people were preparing fire-boats to float down-stream with the object of setting fire to our steamer. This, however, was not done. Nevertheless, the steamer dropped down-stream, out of sight of the city, to await the arrival of British and Chinese gunboats, which arrived April 16. We followed in their wake back to the city.

The next morning absolute protection was granted all who wished to go ashore

to visit their homes, and I availed myself of the privilege. While it was distressing to find one's home so badly wrecked, and the débris lying all around, I remembered that God's commandings are his enablings, and that we are exhorted to take joyfully the spoiling of our goods. Our books were injured but little. But what shall we say of the faithful Chinese, who lived in the house, and lost practically all they had in trying to save our things. May the Lord reward them!

Learning where the brethren were sheltered, I gave them a pleasant surprise by calling on them. Brother Huang, the evangelist, had gone down to Hankow, thinking that our steamer had done likewise when we dropped down-stream out of the danger zone.

The Christians would have me take my meals with them, which was a great treat for me. Having cleared away some of the unsightly débris, I was glad to retire, and slept soundly despite the fact that I was one of only two foreigners who slept in the city through that night. Having gotten together the few things saved from the wreckage, I went out to call at the other missions, and learn the extent of their losses as well as to offer sympathy. I was surprised to find them all gone, and going down to the river front, noticed they were all on the steamer I had left the previous day. Out of curiosity I called a boat, and went on board, where I learned that they were very anxious to know what had become of me. It appears that numerous placards were posted through the city after we had landed, calling upon the citizens to massacre all foreigners. A messenger had been sent to warn me of the danger, but did not come to our house. As no foreigners were allowed ashore to stay, and being without means to stay on a house-boat with others for an indefinite period, I thought it best to go to Hankow to rest, and to counsel with the brethren.