JOHNSON, Consul to the Taotai, May 4, 1875
Mr. Johnson to the Taotai.
His Excellency the Taotai, Kin-kiang:
Sir: I have just received a communication from Mr. H. M. Cunningham, acting consular agent at Kiu-kiang, under date of May 3, to the following effect, viz:
“I beg to hand you herewith copy of a letter addressed to me by the Rev. Mr. A. Strittmatter, secretary of the Methodist Episcopal Mission, giving particulars’ regarding an attack made by a Chinese mob on the mission chapel, situated within the city limits, on the night of Saturday, the 1st instant, and requesting that certain measures be taken to obtain indemnification from the authorities for the damages sustained in this instance, and for the avoidance of similar disturbances in the future. I beg to refer this matter to you for settlement.”
The statement made by the Rev. Mr. Strittmatter of the riot above referred to by the consular agent, a copy of which he sent forward to me, is as follows, viz: “The chapel was attacked by a mob about 5½ p.m. on the day mentioned, (May 1,) the doors and windows demolished, the furniture carried off, or totally destroyed, the rooms of the two native assistants torn to pieces and pillaged, and the walls of the two school-rooms connected with the chapel thrown down, and the furniture entirely destroyed.
“Up to the present time the greater part of the flooring has been taken up and carried off, no effective measures having been taken by the authorities to put a stop to the plundering of the premises.
“The conclusion come to by the mission in a formal meeting this morning was that the native officials be requested through the proper authorities to have their chapel and buildings connected with it repaired and put in the same condition as before the riot, and to make good all the other losses sustained by the mission, and that they be further requested to administer proper punishment to the ringleaders of the riot, and to issue a proclamation, disabusing the mind of the people of the false impressions that have been made in regard to the nature of our work.”
I take advantage of this early opportunity to bring to your notice the particulars of this high-handed outrage, and have to respectfully ask that you will at once comply with the very moderate request contained in Mr. Strittmatter’s letter to Mr. Cunningham, to the effect that you have the chapel and buildings connected with it repaired and put in the same condition as before the riot, and to make good all other losses sustained by the mission, and further that you administer proper punishment to the ringleaders of the riot, as well as issue a proclamation disabusing the minds of the people of the false impressions that have been made in regard to the nature of the mission work.”
The settlement of the case upon the above terms will be subject to the approval of the United States minister at Peking, to whom I will submit the particulars of the affair at once.
I cannot too strongly urge upon your excellency the necessity of dealing promptly and severely with persons guilty of such lawless violence, if for no other reason than to prevent complications of a serious nature from arising.
The immediate arrest and severe punishment of the ringleaders of this riot will have a salutary effect upon the mob element of Kiu-kiang, and I sincerely trust you will act on my request and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.
I have, &c.,