46 SIAN-FU, THE MAGNIFICENT 



Our hosts were most courteous, and though we 

 could not speak directly to them, we thoroughly- 

 enjoyed ourselves. 



Four days' march to the south of Sian lies the 

 small mountain village of Ling-tai-miao, which we 

 intended to make our headquarters. We left the 

 city by the western gate, which was opened at 

 dawn. Even in the provincial capital antiquated 

 stands of arms, spears, billhooks, and other strange 

 instruments are still placed by the guard-house for 

 the defence of the gates. Little did we think as 

 we rode out that morning past the Governor's 

 yamen, what terrible scenes were to be enacted 

 there so shortly. 



On Sunday, October 22nd, the revolution burst 

 on the inhabitants. The city gates were closed 

 at noon, and fighting commenced at once with 

 the capture of the arsenal. The slaughter of the 

 Manchus followed immediately. Foreigners in 

 the suburbs could get no certain news of what 

 was happening. They did not even know whether 

 the outbreak was anti- dynastic, anti-foreign, or 

 anti- Christian. Their danger was much accentu- 

 ated by their ignorance, for had the policy of the 

 revolutionists been known unnecessary troubles 

 might have been averted. 



Firing continued all that day and night. A 

 Mrs. Beckman, Mr. Watney, and six Swedish 

 children were murdered by the mob in the south 

 suburb ; but these, so far as I know, were the 

 only foreigners who were killed in Shensi. Mr. 

 Henne, as I have already mentioned, had a very 

 narrow escape, but happily recovered. 



For three weeks previous to the outbreak the 



