PIRACY IN THE CHINA SEA.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7772, 28 January 1891, Page 6

PIRACY IN THE CHINA SEA.

A STEAMER ATTACKED.

WHOLESALE PLUNDER AND

MURDER.

Details of the attack by Chinese pirates on the steamer Namoa, of which informawas received by cable a short time ago, are now to hand. The affair took place within a few miles of Hong Kong, at the Tsinco Channel, and resulted in the murder of the captain, a saloon passenger, and several of the crew. The plan of the attack evinced perfect knowledge of the rules of the ship on the part of the leaders of the pirates, who bad most carefully prepared their schemes.

The following is a reliable account of the occurrence:—" The Namoa left Hong Kong at eight o'clock in the morning on December 10th on her usual coasting trip, bound for Swatow, Amoy, and Foochow, having on board five saloon and 240 Chinese passengers. Nothing unusual occurred until tiffin time, when, at 1.15 p.m., acting on a preconcerted signal, about 35 or 40 of the Chinese passengers showed themselves in their true colors, and armed with revolvers and cutlasses began their murderous work. Dividing themselves into four parties they simultaneously attacked the officers' messroom, the bridge, the engine-room, and the after saloon, where the captain, the chief officer, and four of the passengers were at tiffin. Mr Petersen, lighthouse keeper at the Lammocks, who was on deck aft, was at once murdered—four shots being fired into his head. The course of the Namoa was altered by the pirate chief, and she was steered out to sea—ultimately being taken outside Pedro Blanco and then slowly back to Mendoza Island, where she was anchored by the pirates about 7 p.m. In the meantime a wholesale fusillade was being kept up on board the ship, the miscreants firing into the saloon and throwing 'stinkpots' down, endeavoring to suffocate those whom they could not reach with their bullets. They ultimately sent a deputation down to the saloon to inform the captaiu and passengers that if they came on deck and quietly submitted to be locked up whilst tbe ship was being looted no harm would come to them. This apparently was agreed to, and while ia the act of obeying their summons Captain Pocock was shoe down. The bullet entered his right breast, and no doubt penetrated the lung. He was conscious to the end, and did not seem to suffer much pain. All that could be done for him under the circumstances was done. In the meantime Mr Richardson, the second officer—who is acknowledged to have acted coolly and bravely all through the trying ordeal —was marched around to collect the passengers and officers. When this was done, and the pirates had them all safely barricaded in the captain's state room, they seemed to devote the whole of their attention to looting, and did not molest their prisoners further. After turning all the Chinese passengers out of the 'tween decks they proceeded to business in earnest. They also ransacked the baggage of the European passengers, and looted them and the officers of the ship of everything of value, including gold watches, &c, not forgetting a bundle of Manila lottery tickets that were in the possession of one of the officers. Notwithstanding their wanton cruelty in murdering two men iv cold blood, booty seems to have been the chief object of the pirates, for had they chosen they could have massacred every living soul on board. They stove in and destroyed every boat on the ship. Oncoming to anchor at or about seven o'clock tbey signalled to four confederate junks which were waiting for them. These came alongside and took the booty on board, They are supposed 10 be Hongkong junks, but no one apparently was in a position to take their numbers. When all waa ready and the junks loaded the pirates forced the firemen to draw the fires and also to blow steam off, and as a reward for these services threw them a bag of dollars before finally taking their departure. Once over the side it took but a short time for the prisoners <who bad hitherto been barricaded in tbe stateroom, guarded by four pirates) to break out, The anchor was slipped, steam got up, and the Namoa, under the command of Mr Eldridge, the chief officer, made the best of her way out to sea and was safely brought into Hongkong harbor at 8 o'clock next morning. Resides Captain Pocock and Mr Petersen, the pirates are responsible for the lives of two Malays, one of whom they wounded and threw overboard and another who died In the Civil Hospital from the effects of a shot in the groin. There were also two Chinese cooks who were wounded, and the second engineer, who was shot through the wrist, and the third officer, who had a bullet in his arm. The latter four were removed on the arrival of the Namoa to the Civil Hospital. One of the officers, in giving his version of the affair, said—The first thing I saw was a scuffle between one of the quartermasters and a Chinaman; there were also eight or ten Chinamen firing revolvers off aimlessly, apparently, but making a hideous noise. I went up to the quartermaster, and found he was wounded, and on looking round noticed that I had become a target for the group ot whom I've spoken. I made the best of my way aft to the saloon, but' bad to "run the gauntlet," and how I escaped is a miracle, for no less than five men fired point-blank at mc, One 5b.96 grazed my cheek and the bullets were ying about like hail in a storm. However, I got safely to the saloon, which, to my surprise, I found empty, but oa calling out I was answered by Captain Pocock, who was then standing at the entrance of the boy's room. We held a council of war (with the length of the saloon between us) and thought it would be better to wait results where we were. In about a quarter of an hour's time a deputation, consisting of the ship's carpenter and a fireman, came down from tbe pirates and informed us that if we went up and quietly submitted to be imprisoned whilst they looted (he ship no harm would come to us. Pocock a_d I agreed to go up. He led the way, and while in the act of stepping up the com" panion was shot down. I then decided to remain where I was, but iv a little tixns the second mate (Mr Richardson) came to say that the captain had been shot. I then went up and was at ones confined with the others in the captain's room, _£• had been shot in the breast, and was not then dead. I washed his face with water and we did all we could for him. He died about 20 minutes after being shot. A. quarter of an hour or so elapsed and then the balance of the craw were brought in, making ten in aU, bat after this we were in no way molested, for the Slrates were going on with tbe looting, lone of the cargo, so far as I know, was touched, but It is computed that fhey got close on 20,000 dollars worth of valoablea and property from the unfortunate passengers. The pirates had a distinctive badge consisting of a knotted piece of red tape to which was attached a cash. They also carried their revolvers suspended from their necks by lanyards, and were under the command of one chief who was here, there, and every where,"