1923

The following is from a letter from Paul McKown, who sailed into Beijing on a Royal Viking at the time of the insurrection—on a trip sponsored by the Dartmouth Travel Agency.

The group met in Hong Kong and it turned out to be about a dozen, including Nancy Mitchell, whose husband runs the agency. Their guides were Samuel Chu '51 and his wife, both of whom had endless knowledge of history and present conditions of Europe and China. The population of China is over a billion one fourth of the population of the world. Paul was accompanied by his daughter Jane.

At sea Sam lectured on Chinese history and was fascinating, as were stops in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Then, down to Shanghai and up the river to Beijing.

Paul continues: "Our three days were highlighted unexpectedly by the uprising of the students, most of whom were on bicycles. We found ourselves in the midst of the uprising. As we rode along the road to the hotel the youths were demonstrating, waving red and yellow banners, and motioning the 'V' sign as we passed them. The street was jammed with students. Excitement was tense. Everyone was for the students. Two open trucks passed by with students waving flags with Chinese writing which was interpreted to read, 'Students we are behind you.' The crowd opened from time to time for ambulances.

"And when we went out for dinner in the evening the crowd of students was as thick as ever. And so it was for the three days we were there. Martial law was declared on the third day when we flew out but there was no evidence of violence at that time. We did some sightseeing in the area."

I am certain that Paul and his daughter had a grand time and I believe they were fortunate to get out unharmed.

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