Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1870

No. 224.

Mr. Frederick F. Low to Mr. Fish.

No. 12.]

Legation of the United States, Pekin, June 27, 1870. (Received August 20.)

Sir: It becomes my painful duty to inform you that on the 21st instant a terrible riot occurred at Tien-tsin, which resulted in the death of sixteen French subjects, three Russians, and the destruction of the French consulate, Roman Catholic cathedral, and the establishment of the Sisters of Charity. In addition to the foreigners killed, several native Christians, as well as the servants employed in and about the mission establishment and consulate, were put to death. The exact number of these unfortunate Chinese it is, as yet, impossible to ascertain. This tragedy was enacted on the afternoon of the 21st instant, news of which reached Pekin on the evening of the 22d. The scene of the riot was in the Chinese city, some two miles distant from the “Concession,” where most of the foreigners reside. Notwithstanding this, the excitement and alarm among all foreigners living on the “Concession” at Tien-tsin have been great, fearing an attack upon the foreign settlement, without regard to nationality. As no foreigner has, as yet, dared to venture into the Chinese city, where the outrages were committed, our information in regard to the origin of this sad affair is meager, and much of it contradictory. Most of the information comes through Chinese channels, and it is necessary to hear all sides in order to come to any reasonable conclusion as to the truth of the matter. Even now I am only able to give you my opinion as to the facts, which may be modified or changed entirely by future evidence.

In order that you may be able to see and understand the whole case clearly, it is important that you should have before you the history of these Catholic establishments and their management in China, which appear to have been the sole cause of the riot.

At many of the principal places in China open to foreign residence the Sisters of Charity have established institutions, each of which appears to combine in itself a foundling hospital and orphan asylum. Finding that the Chinese were averse to placing children in their charge, the managers of these institutions offered a certain sum per head for all the children placed under their control given to them, it being understood that a child once in their asylum no parent, relative, or guardian could claim or exercise any control over it. It has been for some time asserted by the Chinese, and believed by most of the non-Catholie foreign population residing here, that the system of paying bounties induced the kidnapping of children for these institutions for the sake of the reward. It is also asserted, and I believe it to be true, that the priests or Sisters, or both, have been in the habit of holding out inducements to have children brought to them in the last stages of illness, for the purpose of being baptized in articulo mortis. In this way many children have been taken to these establishments in the last stages of disease, baptized there, and soon after taken away dead. All these acts, together with the secrecy and seclusion which appear to be a part and parcel of the regulations which govern institutions of this character everywhere, have created suspicions in the minds of the Chinese, and these suspicions have engendered an intense hatred against the Sisters on the part of all the common people who live any where near a mission; and any rumor concerning the Sisters or their acts, however improbable and absurd, found thousands of willing and honest believers among the ignorant and superstitious people. Some time about the end of May or beginning of June an epidemic prevailed at the Sisters’ institution at Tien-tsin, and a considerable number of the children died. In some way the report got abroad that the Sisters were killing the children to get their eyes and hearts for the purpose of manufacturing some sort of a medical specific, much sought after in Europe, and commanding a fabulous price. This report spread from one to another, and soon the belief became general among the common people, not only in Tien-tsin, but for many miles around. I heard of the excitement as early as the 5th of June. Crowds of people assembled from time to time near the mission buildings, indulged in excited and angry conversation, and on more than one occasion demanded of the Sisters that the children should be liberated. It is said that one day the crowd became so noisy and violent that the Sisters, fearing violence from the mob, consented that an examination should be made by a committee of five. The consul, hearing of the disturbance, made his appearance about this time, and, although the committee had been selected and were then in the building, he stopped the whole proceeding and drove the committee from the building with angry words; and some say he used his cane in expelling them. Subsequently the district magistrate took a man who had been industriously spreading the reports, who said he could point out the persons that were guilty of acts of sorcery and other crimes, to question him in the presence of the Sisters, and when confronted by them admitted that all his stories were without foundation and false. This appeared to quiet matters for a few days, but the excitement soon revived again, apparently more intense than before, the populace now demanding the release of the children as a sine qua non. The day prior to the outbreak the district magistrate, who is about on a par, in point of rank and authority, with the mayor of one of our cities, called upon the French consul and stated that unless permission be given for a thorough examination of the Sisters’ establishment, it was difficult to foretell the result. The consul, construing this language into a threat, replied that, the magistrate being inferior in rank to the consul, no negotiation could take place between them for the purpose indicated, or any other. On the afternoon of the 21st the mob assembled in front of the consulate, making a great noise and throwing stones and other missiles at the building. Seeing the impracticability of dispersing the mob unaided, the consul started for the yam un (office) of Chang-how, the highest officer living in Tien-tsin, for the purpose of asking assistance to quell the riotous proceedings. Notwithstanding Chang how’s statement, that the consul fired a pistol at him in his yamun, I don’t believe it. The consul undoubtedly reached the yamun of Chang how in a state of excitement bordering upon insanity, told his business, and started out again, accompanied by some mandarins. When he reached the street he met the mob, noisy and turbulent, and in the excitement he, I doubt not, shot two or three shots from his revolver at the crowd. This appears to have been the signal for the bloody work of the mob. The consul and his clerk were immediately killed; and as all accounts agree substantially with the report of Air. Meadows,-as to. the subsequent action of the mob, I beg to refer you to Mr. Meadows’s letters, which accompany this dispatch. As an evidence of the widespread knowledge of what was going on at Tien-tsin, and the evident determination of the people generally that no information should reach Pekin until their fancied wrongs had been avenged, I would refer to the fact that the courier that was intrusted with Mr. Meadows’s letter was intercepted some distance this side of Tien-tsin, seized, beaten terribly, and carried back to Tien-tsin vi et armis. Several couriers dispatched to the other legations received similar treatment; so that for two or three days the foreign residents of Pekin were considerably excited, fearing that the contagion might spread to this city. The news, being known among the natives here quite as soon as it was by legations, caused considerable commotion for a while. The native workmen engaged in the erection of a building for the Sisters in this city quit their work, and the servants at the Catholic establishments and some at the French legation took “French leave.”

The reported atrocities connected with the assassination of the Sisters seem too horrible and fiendish for belief. If true, it goes to show to what a pitch of frenzy the ignorant and superstitious Lan be wrought by rumors too absurd for belief by any educated and Christian people. The report now is that these poor creatures were taken out of the building; put to death by means of spears, knives, and swords; their eyes and hearts taken out; and their bodies thrown into the flames of the burning buildings. The fury of the mob seems to have been directed toward the teachers of the Catholic religion, in which the Chinese appear to have included all Frenchmen. This opinion must have originated in the fact that all the Roman Catholic missions in China are under the care and special protection of the French minister at Pekin, and the French consuls at the several open ports. In addition, all or nearly all French subjects residing in China are Catholics in faith, and worship at the various Catholic churches scattered through the empire. It is supposed that the killing of the three Russians was done by mistake, the mob supposing them to be Frenchmen. The truth of this theory appears to be established by the fact that there were a few English, Germans, and Swiss living in the city, not far from the scene of the riot, who were not harmed or molested, and by the additional fact that the Protestant chapels in the city were not injured beyond the carrying off of the movable furniture, books, &c. I hope, and am inclined to believe, that the fury of the mob is spent, and that all real danger to the foreign residents on the “Concession” is over, although the history of mobs, the world over, goes to prove this fact: that the motive which incites riots is, during their progress, often lost sight of, and their subsequent acts are controlled by persons who join them for purposes of robbery and plunder alone. It is only in this view of the case that there is danger in the future; and I shall not feel sure of quiet and order until a gunboat arrives at Tien-tsin. The British gunboat Opossum is said to be at Chefoo. If so, she will be likely to make her appearance at Tien-tsin in two or three days at furthest. I have no idea where any of the United States fleet are; but it is fair to presume they are all on the coast of Japan, where the climate is more agreeable than on the Chinese coast in summer.

* * * * * * * *

When the news of the massacre—for it can be called by no other name—reached Pekin, a meeting was called of all the representatives of the treaty powers residing here, to consult upon the measures necessary to adopt for the mutual protection of our countrymen. Although the information we had received was meager, disjointed, and much of it evidently unreliable, it was thought best, without waiting for details, to address a joint note to the government here, as being the best step to awaken the chief officials to a due sense of their responsibility, and induce them to adopt measures promptly to restore order and quiet; for prompt action on their part seemed necessary, not only for the safety of foreign residents in Tien-tsin, but in Pekin also. A copy of this note accompanies this. It is but just to say that the government here shows every disposition to do all in its power, but it is weak and effeminate, and requires the constant advice and aid of the foreign representatives to point out the proper steps to take. I inclose a copy of the note from Prince Kung, received on the 25th instant, stating what had been done toward quieting things at Tien-tsin. In addition to this, all the available troops in this vicinity have been brought into the ci% and posted in the neighborhood of the Catholic establishments for their protion. I also send herewith translations of all the decrees that have appeared up to. this date. In the foregoing I have endeavored to give you the substance of the best information that has reached me up to this day. Until further intelligence is received I forbear criticising the causes which led to this terrible affair, or speculating upon the probable or possible effects of it, upon the future intercourse of China with the western nations. Enough, however, is known to establish clearly three facts:

1st. That the action of the Sisters of Charity, or of those who controlled their institution, in the purchase of children, was the cause of the rumors which incited the mob.

2d. That the action of the mob was not directed against foreigners because they were foreigners. It appears, rather, to have been a religious crusade against Catholics; not particularly for the reason that Catholics were teaching the Christian religion, but because of their action in filling the asylums with children against the washes of the Chinese, and in a manner calculated to arouse prejudices and engender hatred. All French subjects were included in the category of those who committed these crimes, because the French government appeared to be the guardian and protector of the Catholic missions.

3d. That the action of the French consul was unwise, in not giving his consent for the use of any reasonable means to disabuse the minds of the people and allay the excitement; and also in firing his pistol into the crowd of people, which precipitated a bloody collision between natives and foreigners, thereby sacrificing his own life and the lives of others who had placed themselves under his protection.

I think I hazard nothing in saying that the representations of Great Britain, Russia, and North Germany agree with me in these opinions.

In thus expressing my opinions as to the causes of the riot, I do not desire to be understood as excusing or palliating this terrible crime, or the action of the officials; who, by their inertness, if not by direct complicity in the plot, failed to take any resolute action to quell the disturbance and protect the lives and property of those who were residing upon Chinese soil, in pursuance of treaty rights, and engaged in lawful undertakings, in accordance with the strict letter of treaty stipulations.

FREDERICK F. LOW.

[Inclosures.]

A.—Dispatch signed by all the representatives of treaty powers residing in Pekin, June 24, 1870, to Prince Kung.

B.—Prince Kung to Frederick F. Low, giving details af action taken.

C.—Translation of imperial decree.

D.—Letter from Jno. A. T. Meadows to Frederick F. Low, June 22, 1870.

E.—Letter from Jno. A. T. Meadows to Frederick F. Low, June 24, 1870.

A.

Representatives of Treaty Towers to Prince Kung.

Pekin, June 24, 1870.

Sir: It is with the deepest grief and indignation that the undersigned, who represent the foreign governments accredited to China, have learned the news of the atrocious crime which has been committed at Tien-tsin. as it were at one of the gates of the capital of the empire. The consul of France, the missionaries, and Sisters of Charity and other Frenchmen residing at Tien-tsin, have been massacred and their establishments burned. From the particulars which have yet reached Pekin, not very exact, it is true, there is reason to fear that the fanatical populace will not refrain from further excesses toward the foreign residents at Tien-tsin.

The undersigned do not doubt that the government of his Majesty the Emperor of China in its wisdom sympathizes in the general indignation felt in consequence of these atrocities, and is fully sensible of the grave responsibility which rests upon it, as well as its duty to take the necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such acts; which, wherever they may occur, cannot fail to seriously compromise the position of the imperial government in the eyes of all the world.

The occurrences at Tien-tsin prove, in fact, that foreigners are not everywhere sufficiently protected by these Chinese, local authorities. It is therefore for the interest of the imperial government itself to demonstrate, by the clearest acts, its firm intention to assure the safety of all foreigners who have trusted themselves to its fidelity, wherever they may be within the confines of the empire. If such a catastrophe as this could happen only eighty miles from the capital, the undersigned cannot but fear that, unless the guilty persons are promptly punished, new attempts will be made at places further from the capital, where the authority of the central power has less efficiency. It is indispensable that, as other countries hear the tidings of this crime, they should at the same time be informed that justice is being done: and thus each of them will be reassured as to the condition of its citizens who have trusted themselves to the protection of China.

The undersigned gladly avail themselves of this occasion to renew to his imperial highness the assurance of their respectful consideration.

REHFUES, North German Confederation.

FREDERICK F. LOW, United States of America.

AUG. T’KINT VON ROODENBECK, Belgium.

ADOLFO PATXOT, Spain.

ROCHECHOUART, France.

EUG. BUETZOW, Russia.

T. F. WADE, Great Britain.

His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, &c., &c.

B.

June 25, 1870. (Fungchi, 9th year, 5th moon, 27th day.)

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith has the honor to state, in respect to the riot which has occurred at Tien-tsin, that he has already been honored with a decree from the throne, ordering Tsang Kwohfan, governor general of this province, to go there and attend to its suppression.

The Foreign Office has also sent a letter to Tsunghow, at Tien-tsin, ordering him to take measures to arrest the lawless men who had stirred up this émeute and execute upon them the severest penalties of the laws, in order to vindicate the justice of government, and restrain all further outbreak. He was also directed to take the utmost precaution in protecting the foreign consulate and residences, so that no further molestation need be apprehended.

A dispatch has also been received from him, in which he states that at an early hour on the 22d instant he went to the office of the commissioner of customs, where he met all the foreign consuls, and assured them that there was no cause for further alarm. He had also sent officers to the foreign hongs at the city, who had ascertained that no damage had been done to them, and had taken letters from them down to the foreign settlement at Tszchuhtm, in order to relieve the anxiety of the friends of those living there, He had further detailed officers to go to various points to repress any disturbance and afford all possible protection, which had still further quieted the apprehensions of all classes, as he was assured by the replies already received from the consuls.

Haying received these particulars, I have the honor to make them known for your excellency’s information.

His Excellency F. F. Low, United States Minister.

C.

[From the Pekin Gazette of June 26th.]

an imperial decree.

Tsunghow has memorialized us respecting a riot among the people at Tien-tsin, and lighting with the religionists, requesting that his guilt [in the affair] may be investigated, and the local officers be severally examined with severity in reference to their degradation. It seems that some children were kidnapped, and some reckless villains implicated the Roman Catholic establishments in the practice, which led the people of Tien-tsin to suspect evil and excite strife; and further, Mr. Fontanier, the French consul, fired his pistol when at the office of Tsunghow, and at the district magistrate of Tien-tsin, which had irritated the crowd to such a degree that they killed Mr. Fontanier and burned the Roman Catholic establishments. Tsunghow is in charge of comercial affairs, and he therefore is not the one to keep the place quiet; but Chow, the intendant, is responsible for taking the lead, and yet adopted no precautionary measures in the matter; nor did the prefect, Chang, or the district magistrate, Lin, at Tien-tsin, either of them act right at all in reference to it, whereby this very serious matter has attained such a pass. Their delinquencies admit of no palliation.

Let Tsunghow and all the other officers be handed over to the board that their proper punishment may be decided. Let Tsang Kwoh-fan, as soon as he reaches Tien-tsin, investigate the whole thing most thoroughly, and report in a memorial. Let those lawless people who have kidnapped children, and the leaders in this riot, be all seized and dealt with severely, according to law. And lastly, let him and Tsunghow jointly search into the causes of this whole affair to the very bottom, and manage it equitably, without the least partiality. Respect this.

D.

Mr. John A. T. Meadows to Mr. Fred. F. Low.

United States Consulate, Tien-tsin, June 22—1 a. m.

Sir: I have the honor to make the following report to your excellency on events which have taken place at this place for your information:

For some days past great excitement has existed in Tien-tsin among all classes of the Chinese inhabitants against the foreign (French) and Chinese Roman Catholics, in consequence, it is said, of the priests and Sisters of Charity, through their employés, having kidnapped numbers of Chinese children for some months back, and when any of them died, caused their eyes and hearts to be extracted for medicinal purposes. An intense hatred has been laterly created through these reports on the part of the people against the French Roman Catholics, and I felt certain there would be an outbreak on the part of the people if the French residents did not take measures to do away with the impression existing among the people. To-day Mr. Fontanier and the assistant of the consulate proceeded armed to the Yamên of his excellency Chunghow, and on their way back to the consulate, accompanied by Chunghow, and when they met the district magistrate, who stopped Chunghow to speak to him, Mr. Fontanier fired on Chunghow and the magistrate three shots from his revolver, beside striking Chunghow slightly with the butt of his pistol on the head. The Chinese people who surrounded them rushed oh Mr. Fontanier and the assistant and killed them. The excitement now became intense among the people, who in a large body proceeded to the Tien-ehu-tang, killed the three priests there, two French people en route for Pekin, and all the Roman Catholic Chinese, after which they burned down the building. The crowd now became greater, and the authorities could not control it. The people now proceeded to the Jin-tsz-tang, where the Sisters of Charity resided, killed five sisters and all the Chinese Roman Catholics in the building. Three more Roman Catholics, met in the street, were also killed about this time. This building was also burned down. The whole of the mandarins of the city had now reached the spot, and persuaded the people to disperse. These latter found the bones of children in the Jin-tsz-tang, which roused their fury exceedingly. No injury has been done to the persons or property of the people of other nationalities. The ladies of the American and British Protestant missions went to the British consulate to stay this night with Mrs. Lay, the wife of the British consul.

JOHN A. T. MEADOWS, United States Vice-Consul.

E.

Mr. John A. T. Meadows to Mr. Fred. F. Low.

United States Consulate, Tien-tsin, June 24, 1870.

Sir: At 2 a. m., on the 22d instant, I had the honor to address your excellency regarding serious matters which had occurred here during the 21st instant. My dispatch I handed to Mr. Arendt, vice-consul of the North German Confederation, who was sending a dispatch by special courier to Pekin at that time. This morning I was astonished to receive back my dispatch from Mr. Arendt. It appears, from Mr. Arendt’s note, that the messenger had been unable to proceed on to Pekin. As I am desirous of at once sending you all information up to this moment, I once again address you. My first dispatch, which I inclose, will convey to you the first accounts we received of the terrible events of the day previous. I am now able to correct some of my report, having since received more correct information. After the Jin-tse-tang people were killed, it appears there were nine Sisters of Charity and a number of Chinese. There were over thirty female children found in the place, who were sent to the mandarins. At the Tien-chu-tang there was one foreigner (French) killed and one native priest; also Mr. Tomassen and wife of the French legation, who arrived per Manchu from Shanghai, and a number of Chinese servants. At the French consulate, situated within the Tien-chu-tang premises, there were killed Mr. Fontanier, the consul: Mr. Simon, the vice-consul, and a number of Chinese. Mr. Chalmaison and his wife, store-keepers, were killed in their store near the south gate. They were Roman Catholics. Two Russian-Siberians, and the wife of one of them, were killed as they were coming down in sedans from town, at the time the people were burning the Jin-tsz-tang, being evidently mistaken for French Roman Catholics, as none of the Swiss, German, and English people, all Protestants, were molested, although living separately in town. There appear to have been altogether nineteen foreigners, French and Russians, killed on the 21st instant. The people in the settlement have naturally been in considerable alarm, but the moment I learned, at 5 p. m. on the 21st, that the Chinese people had dispersed after destroying the Tien-chu-tang and Jin-tsz-tang, Roman Catholics, without molesting the Protestant residents in town, I felt sure we would not be disturbed in the “settlement,” and such has been the case up to this moment. At 10 a. m., on the 22d instant, Chunghow met all the consuls at the residence of the commissioner of customs. He detailed how Count Fontanier had acted like a madman, and that he attributed the destruction of all the people to his firing his revolver at himself (Chunghow) and the magistrate. He expressed great regret at what had occurred, and owned that owing to the unexpectedness of the outbreak, the people were masters of the position for that day. Mrs. Stanley and family are living on board the Manchu, where other missionary ladies are living, as well as Mrs. Forbes and Mrs. Stamman, merchants’ wives. There are now no foreigners living in town. Chunghow saved the life of one Frenchman named Contris, who was able to reach his yamun, where he was cared for till he could be sent down to the British settlement. I write this dispatch in great haste, as I am anxious to dispatch it without delay. I am very much grieved that my first letter has been returned.

Beside the Manchu, we have the British steamer Appin in port. The Dragon had left, but some letters would reach her at Takoo, and we will early see a gunboat here. There are no vessels of war here at present.

The bodies of the consul, vice-consul, Tomassen and wife, the priest Chevrier, and those of the Russians have all been got possession of, and the latter buried.

JOHN A. T. MEADOWS, United States Vice-Consul.

Note to accompany Mr. Meadows’s letters.

Mr. Meadows, the United States vice-consul at Tien-tsin, is in the employ of Chunghow as superintendent of the arsenal at Tien-tsin, and, as a consequence, their acquaintance and intercourse are intimate. Without imputing to Mr. Meadows any desire to misrepresent facts, it is undoubtedly true that his personal friendship toward Chunghow would cause him to believe the statements made by the latter in preference to basing his opinion on the information which comes through other sources. Mr. Meadows’s statements about what took place at the yamun of Chunghow is substantially disproved by all the testimony we get from other sources.

It is but natural that the Chinese officials should try to relieve themselves of the grave responsibility, and they will be likely to do so by every possible means. Hence their statements in regard to the occurrences of the 21st should be accepted with caution unless supported by other evidence.

It would appear to be an improbable story that the French consul should attempt to take the lives of Chunghow and the district magistrate, the men on whom he was obliged to rely for protection, and whose aid it was the object of his visit to obtain.

FREDERICK F. LOW.