Photo: Nanjing Normal University
Born in Illinois in 1886, Minnie Vautrin became an unlikely hero in 1937 during one of history’s darkest episodes. As a missionary and educator, she turned Ginling College into a sanctuary for over 10,000 Chinese women and children as the Imperial Japanese Army unleashed a wave of brutality upon the former capital city of China, raping and murdering thousands of its terrified citizens. The ‘Rape of Nanjing,’ as it is now sometimes known, lasted six weeks, during which time Vautrin kept a horror-filled diary that would become an invaluable historical document. She wrote the following entry just two days into this harrowing stretch, unaware that the situation was soon to deteriorate even further. Shortly after suffering a nervous breakdown in 1940, Vautrin returned to the United States. Tragically, a year later she took her own life.
The Diary Entry
Wednesday, December 15
This must be Wednesday, December 15. It is so difficult to keep track of the days – there is no rhythm in the weeks anymore.
From 8:30 this morning until 6 this evening, excepting for the noon meal, I have stood at the front gate while the refugees poured in. There is terror in the face of many of the women – last night was a terrible night in the city and many young women were taken from their homes by the Japanese soldiers. Mr. Sane came over this morning and told us about the condition in the Hunan section, and from that time on we have allowed women and children to come in freely but always imploring the older women to stay home, if possible, in order to leave a place for younger ones. Many begged for just a place to sit out on the lawn. I think there must be more than 5000 in tonight. Several groups of soldiers have come but they have not caused trouble, nor insisted on coming in. Tonight Searle and Mr. Riggs are sleeping up in South Hill House and Lewis is down at the gatehouse with Francis Chen. I am down at Practice School. We have a patrol of our two policemen – now in plain clothes, and the night watchman who will be up all night making the rounds.
At 7 o’clock I took a group of men and women refugees over to the University. We do not take men, although we have filled the faculty dining room in Central Building with old men. One woman in the group said she was the only survivor of four in her family.
The Japanese have looted widely yesterday and today, have destroyed schools, have killed citizens, and raped women. One thousand disarmed Chinese soldiers, whom the International Committee hoped to save, were taken from them and by this time are probably shot or bayoneted. In our South Hill House Japanese broke the panel of the storeroom and took out some old fruit juice and a few other things. (Open door policy).
Mr. Rabe and Lewis are in touch with the commander, who has arrived and who is not too bad. They think they may get conditions improved by tomorrow. Our four reporters went to Shanghai today on a Japanese destroyer. We got no word of outside world and can send none out. One still hears occasional shooting.
Further Reading
Minnie Vautrin’s diary can be read online courtesy of Yale (PDF here). And there’s a book, which I’m yet to read, titled, Terror in Minnie Vautrin’s Nanjing: Diaries and Correspondence, 1937-38, published in 2008 by University of Illinois Press.
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