PIRACY IN CHINA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1912, Page 11

PIRACY IN CHINA.

¦ o BRITISH STEAMER ATTACKED. DESPERATE FIGHTING. The New York Herald last month received the following despatch from its correspondent at Hong Kong : The whole of tht> Canton delta is seething with, pirates, and there are deplorable tragedies daily. The British naval authorities despatched four torpedo-boat* in consequence of an attack by pirates on the British West River steamer Shuioit. The' vessel grounded near Kongmoon, and was immediately fired upon from the shore. Later hordes of pirates clambered aboard. Chief Officer Nicholson, a Londoner, held tho gangway and shot four of the robbery before he fell dead with a bullet in his Btomach. Captain Johnson, a Scotchman, with - revolvers in both hands, successfully defended the bridge, and killed two pirate*. The ea gineer saved his life by crawling under the boiler. The pirates also attacked the Chinetta passengers, killing two and wounding many. After cutting off the legs of the victims, the pirates rifled the ship of valuable booty. • The bhuion arrived at Hong Kong, riddled with bullets, testifying to the ferocity of the, onslaught. The Chinese Eteamer Kwongywea was al«o attacked between ,W.ucho.w and Sharnshui. AU her woodwork was smashed, and booty to the amount 6f 190,000 dollars was obtained. The pirates had boarded her as passengers. A torpedo boat, an armed launch, a passenger boat, and two cargo boats, all crowded with armed pirates, entered tho harbour of Wuchow, and, pretending that they were Revolutionists, the robbers demanded the surrender of arms, the contents of the Treasury, and -the submission of the soldiers. While tho officials and leading merchants of tho city, panic-stricken, were holding a mass meeting that' was convened to ¦ arrange , terms, the soldiers," who had been mustered to aVait the decision of the meeting, were fired upon without warning by the pirates. Tho soldiers, with great bravery, replied to the fire at once, and after hand-to-hand fighting, in which the carnage was terrible, and during which the four pirate boats were enveloped in flames, completely routed the marauders. Only the torpedo boat escaped. More than 100 pirates -were killed, and seventy-Jive prisoners were beheaded on the spot. The Stour Memorial Hospital is full of wounded soldiers. Drs. Hayes and Hadden, and the members of the foreign community, are doing their utmost to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of tho attack. The situation- in- the North River is no better than in the West River. Junks, launches, and passenger boats are being held up and looted daily. The situation, throughout the province is also of the most serious character. Gangs of armed robbers are everywhere plundering and killing, and this is doubtless ihe outcome of the new, Government's action in releasing prisoners and enlisting the Bervices of criminals and followers of robber chiefs as police and soldiers. The Hong Kong steamship companies are seriously considering the withdrawal, of all steamers.