Mr. Holmes to Dr. Hill.
My Dear Sir: I, T. D. Holmes, was with my family about seven years in the interior of China. Last July we were hopelessly surrounded by a Chinese mob and were about to be murdered. But Major Siao, the military official of the city Kinhwa, in [Page 219] Chekiang Province, where we were, rescued us at the risk of his own life and gave us a private bodyguard and escort of twenty soldiers to Shanghai, and lent us $100 besides. For this act of kindness I learn that he has been recalled to Hangchao and degraded. Can not our Government look into the matter, and through our ministers protest to the viceroy at Hangchao against such treatment? The man had been in that position for eighteen years and was a good official.
I beg that this matter may be looked into, for if he had not helped us two families (eight persons) would have been murdered.
I am, etc.,
(Class 1890, U. of M.)