ATTACK ON A STEAMER BY PIRATES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3745, 2 October 1886, Page 3

ATTACK ON A STEAMER BY PIR ATES.

« The following details have been received at Gteeuoek of the desperate attack by Atc-hincec pirates upon the Hok Cnnbin, a steamer m the service of the Dutch Government, trading between Penang and ports on tbe coast of Atohiu, m the island of Sumatra : — " The Hok Canton arrived oIT the coast of Atchin about seven o'clock iv tho morning, and was boarded by 200 Atehinese, who came off m three large junks. Ju?t afterwards the chief engineer came on deck from tho engineroom nnd was nt once attacked. Although unarmed liv succeeded m fighti-g his way through his assailants, and reached the forecastle unhurt ; but when m tho act of n»cending the ladder he received his death-blow. It was subsequently found thut he had received no fewer than forty wouiuls on the body, while both his hands h.ul been chopped oft. Tho mate wns shortly afterwards shot dead on tho spot. On his body alno a great many wounds were inflicted. Captain Handson, who now came on deck, w.is met by a group of Atchincse and wns severely wounded. In his despair ho jumped overboard, and was followed by his wife who had also received several blows. The ship's boat was m the water at the time, and m it were six sailors, who were endeavoring to escape. They picked up both Captain Hundaon nnd his wife, nnd were- trying to get away when tho Atjhincso onco more got hold of them nnd bound them nil. The whole of the crew were bound with ropes, and the ship wna plundered. One of the sailors of the Hok GaMon escaped from the Atchincße, and brought tho nows tlr.il Captain Haiulron died about two hours after the party landed, and that Mrs Haudson ami Fay, the second engineer, were getting on well. A message has beon sent demanding 60,'iOOdol as a ransom for the prisoners. Three Dutch ships of war, with about 100 soldiers on board, have beon sent m pursuit of tho marauding At.hinese. "