The Call of Mao

Peking's pantheon of "martyrs for the people" includes such mighty Maoists as Men Ho, who threw himself atop an exploding rocket; Ouyang Hai, dematerialized while shoving an ammunition cart out of the way of a train; and Liuying, trampled to death saving a group of children from stampeding horses. These stalwarts are celebrated in story and song throughout China as worthy examples for study and emulation. Recently, a new hero has joined the roster. His name is Chang Yu-liang, whose deed far beyond--and below--the call of duty began on the Dairen sports ground. Chang was chatting with some friends when he heard cries for help. The People's Daily describes what happened next:

"Chang dashed outside, where he saw a crowd by the cesspool beside the public toilet, and a peasant lying on the ground, his face blue, no longer breathing. These people were members of a production brigade of one of Dairen's suburban communes, who had heeded Chairman Mao's great call to grasp revolution and boost production, and had come into the city to collect manure.

"When one of the peasants went down into the cesspool to shovel up the manure, he was overcome by the noxious (hydrogen sulfide) gas. Poor Peasant Liu Kung-chen and another peasant went down to rescue him, but by the time he had been pulled out, both of them had been overcome by the poisonous gas and had collapsed.

"Time meant lives! Without a moment's hesitation, Comrade Chang Yu-liang jumped in. Chang Yu-liang took hold of Peasant Liu Kung-chen and used every ounce of strength to pass him up to the mouth of the pit. As he turned around and reached out to save the other peasant, he was overcome by the poisonous gas and fell into the pit with a splash." Thus did Chang meet his end, observed the People's Daily, sacrificing "his life in order to save his class brothers."

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