Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1917 — DIVIRE THE SPOIL [ARTICLE]

DIVIRE THE SPOIL

Chinese Coolie*’ Greed Wipes Out Half of Village. Find Unexploded Shell Which They Believe Is "Little Sun" and Try to Split It in Four Pieces. Greediness wiped out half the population of a small in China, according to Capt. Frits Uttmark, who formerly principal of the Seamen's Church Institute In New York city. There were only 30 people In the vllage, a retired spot on the Hwang river, and or the 30, 15 were Instantly killed. * The Chinese government had been making experiments witlr some new shells. A mile from the village a company of soldiers had been doing target practice with the shells, and had then been sent to garrison a fort some distance away. During the target practice the soldiers would not let the villagers get nearer than half a mile of the guns, and the people, all Ignorant coolies, had no Idea what the shooting meant. Some months after the target practice had ceased and the villagers had forgotten about It, two coolies, digging In a field, came upon a bright, round object. It was very heavy, and pointed at one end. Neither knew what the object was. As a matter of fact It was an eight-inch shell that had not exploded. “It Is mine,” said the man who had dug the shell up. “No, it Is mine! I saw it first!” cried the second coolie. “You would not have known It was there If I had not seen It.” “And you would not have seen it if I had not dug it up.” * For half an hour the two men argued, each advancing his claim In highpitched, squealing tones. At last they agreed to let an aged ‘Chinaman, who was said to be very wise, settle the question for them. “You must divide it equally,” was the verdict of the old man. Then came the question as to how they should divide it. They tried to break it with a rock, but the shell could not be crushed that way. “Let the blacksmith divide it,” suggested the old man, - To the blacksmith they Went. “I ! do not work for nothing,” declared the smith. “I will divide It into three parts; one for the man who found it, one for the man who saw it first and one for me.” 1 That arrangement had almost been .decided upon when the old man who ■had given the decision in the case objected. If the blacksmith was to have a third, then he himself ought to have a piece for settling the dispute. "Divide it into four parts,” urged the old man. “One for the finder, one for the man who saw it first, one. for the blacksmith and one part for me.” To that they all agreed. By this time the entire village had become greatly excited, the relatives of all four men crowding into the little blacksmith shop to see that Justice was done. The blacksmith laid the shell on his anvil, and round him gathered all the people of the village. He swung his- heavy hammer in the air and brought it down on the shell. feang! The explosion killed all but two of the coolies who were in.the blacksmith shop and injured half a dozen who were standing at the door and the two windows, -« For a long time the Chinese government could not find out cause of the accident. The natives Were convinced that a miniature sun had fallen from the clouds and, offended, by the rough handling It had received, Had become angry, and annihilated the guilty ones with'their relatives and friends. The mystery was not explained until a small part of the shell casting was found. —Youth’i Companion.