Mr. Denby to Mr. Olney .
Peking , August 5, 1895 . (Received Sept. 23.)
Sir: I have the honor to confirm your cipher telegram of the 3d instant, as follows:
Jernigan reports riots Kutien. American lady wounded. Ask instant protection.
And of my cipher telegram to you of this date, as follows:
I have received your cipher telegram of 3d. Ten English killed, three wounded in riots at Kutien. No Americans injured. Have demanded protection Americans.
Before receiving the Department’s instruction above confirmed, I had received telegraphic information of this riot and its fatal result. At first it was reported that one American lady was wounded, but subsequent advices indicate that the killed and wounded are all English and that the American residents of the locality of the riot, without exception, escaped uninjured to Foochow.
[Page 101]Kutien is a Hsien city 90 miles northwest of Foochow in the Province of Fuhkien. In this city and vicinity there were several English and American mission stations. No details are yet at hand of the disastrous affair of which it has now been the scene, and we have no explanation of the origin thereof. It is known, however, that the murderers were a band of 100 Chinese of the vegetarian sect. The killed comprise eight women, one man, and one child; the wounded, one woman and two children.
I have expressed to the Yamên my horror at this outrage, and have demanded of them the protection of Americans.
I have, etc.,