CAPTURED BY PIRATES

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 11

CAPTURED BY PIRATES

THE TUNGCHOW OUTRAGE CHILDREN ROBBED AND SHIP LOOTED Priu Association— By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, February 2. The Tungchow has arrived at Hongkong under the escort of H.M.S. Dainty. Seventy British children had been in pirates’ hands for three days, being confined to the saloon. 'On Tuesday evening the pirates killed a Russian guatd and wounded Mr K. Macdonald (second officer). They confiscated all ' fire Arms, robbed the children, and looted the ship to the extent of 250,000 dollars. They also repainted the funnel and altered the name to the Toa Marii. Yesterday afternoon the pirates commandeered a junk and took the lo°f' away. They were surprised by Aircraftcarrier Hermes’s aeroplanes, which '■ were cheered by the children, who rulhed on to the deck. Hostages i ‘ covered the pirates’ retreat, but iliey were released and brought back to the ship by the ship’s boats. SCHOOLMASTER'S STORY CHILDREN ENJOY EXPERIENCE. HONGKONG, February 2. Mr P. J. Duncan, the schoolmaster, accompanying the children, stated that just after leaving the Yangtse there w4b a sudden commotion, and he saw the Ruiiian sergeant heroically resisting four men, who were obviously .. pirates. They were pumping, bullets into him, and he soon collapsed on the deck. The second engineer (Mr K. Macdonald) was afterwards shot in the ’ 'chest. He had a revolver in his hand. ' Meanwhile Captain Smart and Other officers and Russian guards were overpowered and revolvers pressed into their ribs. Captain Smart then ordered • the resistance to cease. Pandemonium prevailed. Children were taken screaming into the saloon ; by Mr Duncan. The pirate chief threatened to shoot all aboard and burn the ship if the captain did not prevent the British Navy interfering. He managed with great tact to assure no harm. • Miss K. Mac Nair (head mistress of the school) said that after the first pamc the children quickly made friends with the pirates. Their chieftain playfully pelted the boys with fruit which had befcn raided from the storeroom. The children wbre all anxious t 6 obtain. Souvenirs and scoured the deck for cartridges. The chieftain’s pullover was found, and the children tore it to pieces, each anxious to secure a souvenir from it. During mealtimes the pirates sat behind lady teachers with revolvers and prodded them in the back. It was a terrifying experience. On other occasions some of the pirates seemed to go mad, brandishing revolvers, gesticulating, and threatening to butcher everybody.