PIRACY IN FAR EAST SEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1933, Page 5

PIRACY IN FAR EAST SEA

PASSENGERS SEIZE SHIP KILL CAPTAIN AND CREW [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] SHANGHAI, July 1. A remarkable’ story of murder and piracy on the high seas comes from Dairen, a port in southern Manchuria. A few days ago a Chinese owned steamer left Tientsin, a Russian, Captain Vikhman, commanding her, accompanied by his wife. He gave a passage to live men who said that they were of German nationality. Immediately on the vessel entering the open seas these passengers are said to have murdered the captain and his wife, together with seven of the vessel’s Chinese crew, and then taking control of the vessel, in- which they planned to cross the Pacific Ocean, and to gain some American port. Needing additional provisions, they put into Hoshigaura, near Dairen, but their bad navigation put the ship ashore. 1 The murderers then absconded, but later thrtfjb Were arriested. A hunt is being continued for the other two. LATER.

The pirated steamer is the Chinese vessel Shenan. She was bound from Tientsin to Shanghai, and not to Vladiyostock. She was carrying a general cargo. The five men were given passages, after stowing away. When about 200 miles from Shanghai, they brutally murdered Captain Vikhman and his wife, and also the Russian ship’s mate, and tliey threw the bodies overboard. They also murdered the seven Chinese crew, who offered resistance. The Japanese police have arrested Captain Taudin, and two German compatriots, named SchulGr and Beeton. The two others, Gauch, a Swiss, and Muller, a German, escaped, but their capture is certain. They intended after provisioning the ship at Darien, to cross the Pacific and then to sell the ship and her cargo for one hundred and ten thousand dollars. . :