Shanghai's first riot - 1874
"The first riot in Shanghai occurred in 1874 in the French Concession, and originated
in the following way. A portion of the Chinese population who had their homes in Ningpo had erected a Guild House toward the back of the French Concession, with a mortuary hall for the deposit of coffins, to be sent later to their ancestral homes, and with a cemetery for the burial of those whose families were too poor to send the coffins back. In 1863 this area had been included in the extension of the French Concession. The French Municipal Council drew up plans for the making of new roads, one of which was to run through the cemetery, and in 1874 it was decided to begin the construction. The Ningpo Guild on January 27th, 1874, made representations, objecting to the opening of the road through the cemetery, pointing out that the ground should be regarded as sacred, and that it would offend the Chinese people to have the bodies removed and the spirits of the departed disturbed. The Council, perhaps not realising how much Chinese susceptibilities would be injured was determined to carry out its purpose. A discussion was held between the Taotal and the Consul, but both parties remained obdurate. Subsequently the populace became more and more excited and on May 3rd, a riot broke out.
In the settlement of claims for damages, it was arranged that the Chinese authorities
for the cost of damage to foreign property, a sum of Tls. 37,000, while the French should pay Tls. 7,000 to, the families of the Chinese who were killed. One unscrupulous foreigner attempted to get rich by claiming that Tls. 10,000 was due him on account of a bruise received on the head and the loss of two teeth!
It was agreed that the Ningpo Joss House and cemetery should remain the property of the Guild forever and that no roads or drains should be made through the burial ground. As we shall see, the agreement was broken in 1898, at a time when the Chinese were less able to resist than in 1874, and the road was then constructed.
We have dwelt at length upon this first riot, as it is a good example of difficulty arising between two peoples on account of their different points of view. To the Westerner, with his desire for that which is useful, it seemed absurd that the construction of a road should be held up by the unwillingness of the Chinese to remove some graves. To the Chinese it seemed that the Westerner was wanting in respect for the dead, the strongest cult in China." - F.L. Hawks Potts