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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 283, 3 December 1935, Page 10

face a Many showed ruthlessness, others queer streaks of kindness. “Golden Gracious” was captured through the combined operations of the Huang Tung provincial forces and the British Navy. British warships have wiped out many of the pirates' lairs, which have been a scourge tu coastal trade. ‘‘Gracious” fled to Jtiiaj Bay seven years ago when her husband had to leave Canton to escape the law. At first she took no part in the raids, but her beauty soon attracted the pirate chiefs. She left her husband. “Gracious” then planned several daring coups, two of which affected British ships, which were seized by ‘ ‘passengers” between Shanghai and Hongkong. This exhibition of brains as well as beauty made “Gracious” popular among the pirates and she gradually assumed the leadership. She frequently changed her “husbands.” The woman generally stopped m the Bias Bay district while directing acts of piracy, but several times she led her gangs aboard ships, sometimes disguised as a man. She is reputed to have been responsible for the Tung Chow piracy this year, when seventy British children, destined for school at Chefoo, were carried off. Finding crates of oranges among the cargo “Gracious” is said to have distributed them’ among the children amid great delight. The Canton authorities, trying to stamp out piracy, suspected her, and a discarded lover who was captured indicated her. But “Gracious” was warned and fled along the coast, finding refuge in poor fisher-folks’ huts. Her money was exhausted and w’hen she was finally captured she -was poor ly dressed, weary and ill-fed.