CAPTURED BY PIRATES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4652, 2 February 1935, Page 5

CAPTURED BY PIRATES

CHILDREN’S THRILLING EXPERIENCE CHINESE DEPART IN JUNKS. PEAR OF BRITISH WARSHIPS. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 11.20 a.m.) Shanghai, February 2. There was great relief when it was reported that the seventy children aboard the pirated steamer Tungchow were safe. The Tungchow reached Hongkong under a naval escort and scores of parents with dread awaited newls of the fate of the vessel and its human freight throughout yesterday, while reports of the activity of British naval ships and aeroplanes from the aircraft carrier Hermes failed to offer any reassurance. A brief message stated: “The Tungchow was located abandoned by the pirates." This proved of little comfort until later a wireless message reported that a.ll the children were safe. It is believed that the pirates made a mistake, believing that the vessel carried a large quantity of silver bullion which was being shipped to various ports at this time of the year in connection with the Chinese New Year celebrations, but the Tungchow carried nothing of value. Prompt response by naval ships to join in the search undoubtedly compelled the pirates to abandon the vessel, they departing in junks when near Bias Bay. * The pirates, disguised as passengers, seized the vessel a short distance from Shanghai, and compelled the captain to proceed south after dismantling the wireless set. It is reported that a Russian guard was killed and another wounded, while the chief engineer, Mi'. Kenneth McDonald, was also wounded. Among the British children aboard the vessel are the twelve-year daughter and the younger son of the captive missionary, Mr. Hayman, a New Zealander, who is at present in the hands of the Communists, having been captured last August at Kweichow, together with the Swiss missionary, M. Rosshardt. Ship Looted. The Tungchow arrived at Hongkong under the escort of H.M.S. Dainty. The 70 British children had been in the pirates’ hands for three days confined to the saloon. On Tuesday evening the pirates killed a Russian guard and wounded Mr. MacDonald. They confiscated all the firearms, robbed the children, and looted the ship to the value of 250,000 dollars. They also repainted the funnel and altered the name to Taomaru. Children Cheer British Planes. Yesterday afternoon the pirates commandeered a junk and transhipped the loot. They were surprised by the Hermes’ aeroplanes, which were cheered by the children, who rushed on deck. The hostages covered the pirates’ retreat, but were released and brought back to the ship by the ship’s boats. A message received yesterday stated that anxiety was felt for the safety of the China Navigation Company’s British steamer Tungchow, carrying 70 British school children from Shanghai to Chefoo. She was more than two days overdue. A general broadcast from Shanghai asking for news of the vessel had no result. The British warships Sandwich, Suffolk and Hermes conducted a search, assisted by seaplanes.