INTRODUCTION:

This is a transcript of a letter written by Worker Willie Jamieson, dated April 1st, 1927. In it he appears to be describing the harrowing details of their experiences in Nanking, China when The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) of the Kuomintang entered the city during their Northern Expedition, known as the Nanking Incident of 1927. Uniformed soldiers and local residents rioted, targeting foreign-owned property, homes, and the British, American, and Japanese consulates. Several foreign nationals were killed, including an American university vice president. This event prompted Chiang Kai-shek to launch a violent purge of communists in Shanghai on April 12, 1927. This ended the First United Front between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party and kicked off the Chinese Civil War === REWRITE THIS, it was AI

TTT says he was a missionary worker in China from 1926 to 1939 == can’t access TTT anymore?

LETTER:

My Dear Jack,

This is my first attempt at writing for over a week. Things have been lively enough with us, as you will have learned through the papers and the fact of our wiring for help. We were cleaned out to the last penny and lost all our clothes but those we wore. Max even had his coat and vest taken off his back. The experience none of us will ever forget.

The majority of women and children had been gotten out of Nanking on the 22nd, something over a hundred men and women (foreigners) were left. No one had thought that the foreigners would be molested; in fact, we all were in a sense looking forward to the entry of the Southern soldiers as those from the North had been ill-behaved, especially among the Chinese women. On the outside of the city, the fighting between the armies for the possession of the city began three days before the day of the looting, continuing all the time until the entry of the Southerners very early on the morning of the 24th. About five in the morning we were awakened by heavy gunfire very near the home. This was the beginning of the raid on the Catholic Church just about two blocks from us. About eight, Mr. Drummond and I were sitting in the dining room just after breakfast when we saw about a dozen soldiers enter the compound and distribute themselves in the three houses therein. (Max had been asked to stay in the Y.W.C.A. the night before to give the girls needed protection.

Without any courtesy, they randallcraine@gmail.com into the room and demanded our money, acting like fiends and unwilling to use reason of any kind, discharging their rifles in all directions as well as leveling them at us, threatening to kill us. I had my eye on what was going on in the next home as well, as there were two foreign women there for whom we had taken some responsibility. Before our gang got any money, I saw one of the women fall, having been shot twice. This opened my eyes to see what would be done to us if we offered any resistance, and we were glad to give up anything. They slapped me over the face several times and hit me with the butt of the gun more than once and made me gall all through the house while they were taking what they wanted. Mr. Drummond had made his escape before they had been in the. home, when the next girl was shot In trying to reach her, they shot at him also, but missed. He then took refuge in a neighbor Chinese home.

I was detained in the. home for the entertainment of the lot for over an hour, when they decided they had gotten as much loot as they could carry away. at once. All this time the yard was filled with a Chines [sic] mob who were enjoying everything thoroughly. The street without was filled with soldiers and people. Finally the soldiers left the house with their plunder and gave me a few threatening looks, as if to inform me that I had better not try to escape while they were gone. On leaving the yard the mob followed them, left the servants of our own home who warned me to flee for my life. All the other foreigners in the compound had by this time found hiding places, the wounded women having been carried by faithful Chinese friends. The servants hoisted me over a wall into the backyard of the neighboring Chinese home, and the safest place of concealment I would fine [sic] was behind some tar barrells [sic] where I lay for 9 hours. All th etime, more or less, they were searching for me right around. That was one time when being small was a decided advantage. Several time I thought it was all up and was decided for the worst. About an hour after in hiding, the rabble entered the home and literally tore it to pieces.

My fear for the worst was made all the more keen when about 3:30 in the afternoon I heard the guns from the destroyer on the river open fire. I was sure then there must be a very strong reason for such actions and could think of nothing but that all were being massacred. But the fire proved to be what was needed because very soon I could hear bugles blowing in various directions, and very soon all the shooting that had been going on continuously since the morning ceased. About this time the neighbor boy found my hiding place, but he was true blue and said he would not give me away but if possible get in touch with some of the others and let me know. He also told me that there were over 30 soldiers making their headquarters in his home, so this did not make things look anymore helpful. About 7:30 he came back and said that the officers had now offered protection and that the foreigners were being gathered for the night into a certain home to which he had come to escort me. I following him, still with much doubt as to whether he was betraying me or not. To my great relief on getting to the home the first man I met was Roy Pryor; soon others were brought and seven of us spent the night there.

In the early morning, others were brought in and from there an escort of soldiers was given us to the University Building where the majority of the foreigners also had been accounted for. Only one American had been killed, but another five foreigners also had lost their lives and several wounded. About 6 o’clock on the second day we secured an escort to condust [sic] us safely to the gunboat and by 8 all were safely on board.

Then there was trouble, for over 40 of us got ptomaine poisoning from sausage which was bad. I was very sick and just now able to be on my feet again. Others were worse than I and are still in the hospital. Max was not so very bad.

In Shanghai, things are warlike and it would seem the wisest to get out for a season. So far it seems impossible to continue our studies. Perhaps we could do some Mission Work in the Philippines. Hope we may be guided by the Lord in all we do anyway. We are still hoping it may be possible to get some tuition here, but this is very improbable at present. All the foreigners are anxious to get out of here, fearing a repetition of Nanking, or something worse.

Now, I’ve said about as much as I can today. Max will need to tell his own story. He has been put out with a private family in the city and I’m at the Y.W.C.A.

We even lost our bibles and hymnbooks.

Love to all in Christ, (Willie Jamieson)