66
PIRACY ON THE WEST RIVER.
On Friday, 20th January, pirates boarded the West River steamer Kwong Shen, on the upper river, as passengers, and shortly afterwards rose and in the usual manner took charge, robbing the crew and passengers of all valuables in their possession. Here they got about $2,000 in cash and a quantity of jewelry and silk clothing. They then, with a steamer in their possession. turned their attension to capturing other vessels, and succeeded in boarding and overpowering the West River steamer Lee On, where they were more successful in obtaining plunder, for they netted from her $8,000 in cash and more jewelry and silk clothing. They after that proceeded down river, passing Kum-chuk in the afternoon, and continued down river towards Macao. Their movements after passing Kam-chuk have not been recorded. The piracy took place somewhere between Shuihing and Takhing and between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
On Tuesday morning, 24th January, at about 8 a.m. the West River steamer Kwongsoo was pirated in the neighbourhood of Kongmoon, The West River steamer Saikong passed her in the river and was hailed by cries that there were pirates ou board and appeals for assistance, The captain of the Saikong tried to follow and shots were fired, but whether at her or at peo- ple on board the Kwongsoo does not appear very clearly, as the crew of the Saikong would not follow up and the Kwongsoo made off, the pirates evidently being in possession. Further details as to what transpired on board the yessel pirated are not to hand but will probably come to hand later.
(CONTRIBUTED.)
During the last three months there have been no less than seven or eight cases of piracy on board the small steam craft plying on the West River and in one case where resistance was offered, by a native captain, the man was shot down and horribly mutilated in order to ter- rorise peaceful voyagers and render resistance less likely. In no case so far has a vessel with foreigners on board been molested but if the scoundrels who perform these depredations are going to continue to go scot free there is little doubt that it is only a question of time, and sufficient inducement in the shape of an ample cash prize, when we will hear of a daring and successful raid being made on a foreign com- manded vessel.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
there are sufficient troops in the neighbourhood to suppress raids if a real attempt is made to do so,
An analysis of the data available as to the past piracies points to one or two facts worth noting. First, that there are two centres of piracy, in the neighbourhood respectively of Takhing and Kongmoon, the oue pace being well up the river and the other near the outlet to the sea. Of course the whole river and its navigable tributaries are afflicted with the pest, bat circumstances point to the above named two localities taking special prominence in piratical raids. Secondly, it may be noted that the pirates board the vessel at a distance from the point where their confederates are in wait- ing for them and that they divide and come on board at one or two distant points, as 'passen. gers, to allay suspicion. Thirdly, their con. staut escape from capture points either to the fact that the official gamen runners and soldiers are in league with them or to their total inability to maintain order in the area sub- ject to those piratical raids.
52 AT $22
GERMAN BALL.
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January 166
26. Assorted CAR
Cakes.
-Assorted German Pastry. 28. —Oräiige Jelly 29 Maraschino -Blane Mange! 81.Vanilla Icë'
32-Coffee Ice Creamï. Cheese. ··Fruiti··
Coffee
(. WeLonguétu
R. Marten
J. Mater
The following were the Stewards sat. R. Abesser A. Booker C Beurmant G. Binder
F. Bischoff
A. von Bobuscowicz P. Brewitt J. Brügmann A. Bune T. Christiani H. Ehmer W. Einstmann G. Engel A. Finke A. Fuchs E. Georg Dr. C. Gerlach L. Glissmann J. Goosman C. F. Grossmanu M. Grote G. Harling A. Haupt
C. Heermann
Vice-Consul Heinze O. von der Heyde F. Höhake
The City Hall was the scene of a brilliäät and most enjoyable gathering on Wednesday night, when some seven hundred guests res- ponded to the invitations issued for "A Ger- man Ball in the presence of Their Royal High- neases Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia." Amongst the distinguished guests present, in addition to Their Royal Highnesses, were H.E. the Governor and Lady Blake, Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour, Major General and Mrs. Gas- goigné, and Major Sir John Carrington (Hong. kong Volunteer Corps) and Lady Carrington. Orders had been issued that naval and military officers were to appear in full dress and with the many uniforms present, the handsome dresses of the ladies, and the effective decorations, the scene in the ball rooms while dancing was in The general progress was a very striking one. arrangements of the ball were on similar lines to those of other assemblies of the same kind-St. George's and St. Andrew's Hall being used for dancing, the library for the card room, and the theatre for supper but the decorations were of course quite distinctive and the Committee who had charge of this department are to be con- gratulated on the admirable effect produced. Over the entrance was a transparency with the word "Willkommen," surmounted by a star in gas jets. The pillars in the vestibule were taste. J. Jebsen fully festooned and the balustrading of the stair-J. H. Jessen oase draped with the German national colours. H. Kammel, On the first landing was a realistic representation H. H. Kirch of a lighthouse, flanked on the right by a large | W. Klose letter "H" (Prince Henry's initial) in electric J. Lauts lights and on the left by the letter "I" | T. W. Ləbmann (the Princess's initial). On the ceiling was F. Lieb a large cross in bunting and a similar oross was hung on the upper landing. In the ante-room were portraits of the Emperor and Empress, of Frederick the Great, and of the beautiful Queen Louise, mother of the Em- peror William I. In this room also was an interesting trophy composed of the German, British, American, and Japanese flags. At the head of St. George's Hall were bust of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and His Majesty the Emperor of Gerniany placed amidst a mass of pot plants, and the walls of the hall were taste. fully decorated with flags, etc. In St. Andrew's Hall was a hust of the late Emperor Frederi k, and a portrait of the late Prince Bismarck was hung in the passage. In the theatre the central feature of the decorations was the stage, which was filled with a beautifully arranged mass of palms and férus, in the centre of which stood a large bust of the Emperor William I.
The following was the dance programmé : Valie
66 An der schönen blauen Donau,” "imbsa."
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Valse Lancers Pas de Quatre Valse
Lancers ........................ Polka Valse
Washington Post
Lancers Valse Caledonians Polka.. Valse
Valse and Gall-p{
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F. Meyer E. Mirowe W Nagel
E. Niedhardt H. Nölke?
J:: von Oertzen“-
K. Oldörp
G, Pappier
Dr. E. Paulan · · B: Plaschke
Consul Dr. Rieloft C. Rockstrohen...! G. Rogge
H. Rümoker
P. Bachse
A. Sander
A. W. Schellbass
A. M. Schoenemann:
C. Schroeter
J. G. Bobroster F. Schwarzkopf·· O. Schwencke
N..A Siebay W. O. C. Spalekhater P. Stoppa
A. Struckmeyer
C. Thiel
E. Thōnert W. von Uffel J. Wacker P. Witkowski
·CHINESE CHAMBER OF COM MERCE AND THE "OPEN. DOOR" POLICY.
PUBLIC MEETING.
At noon on the 22nd Jan, a meeting was held at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of discussing the question of the "Open door" policy and passing resolutions thereon to be forwarded to Lord Charles Beresford. The greatest interest was taken in the meeting, and the promoters, of whom Mr. Ho'Ting was one of the most euérgetiv, are to be congratulated on the hearty respouse which the Chinese merchants add trailers gave toꞌ the invitation to be present, some 1,500 people. Bhing in attendance, the room and adjoining yard being crowded. Mr. Lo Chi Tin (chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce) presided, shd there were also present the Hon. Dr. Hō Kai Mr. J. J. Franois, Q.C., Messrs: O. Sullivan, Ho Tung (compradore for Messra: Jardine, Mathesonand Co.), Leung Shiu Kwong, Low Chi Shán (min- ager, China Merchants' Steam Navigation Ueber den Wellen." Company), Lan Wai Chuen (compradore, Hong
"Her Majesty's." kong and Shanghai Bank), Lau Yau Pair (chief "Nues d'Oiseaux." manager, Taf Shing Paper Mill), HỏʻMại, "Yours Sincerely." Wong Ham Fuk (Godown Company), Ho Fook (secretary to the Chamber), Donau-Wellen." Li Shing, Tam Tsz Hong, Yung Hm Pong, Chan Wah, U Him Hing, U Law Woody Lo "Sängerlust." Cheung Shui, Chów Tak Wan, Wei Lan Əhék, Li Pak, Ho Ham Tông. Chow Hat wing, Hu Fai Shan, U Pak Yu, Ip Of Shän, zübun Chan Chua; Chan Chân Nam Cheng In Tung Lau Shan, Sin Tak Fan, Shes Po Shunj Chân How Wan, eto, eto:
C
"Maid Marian"
"1
"Künstlerleben. Schlittschuhläufer "Lande mondaine ” The music was supplied by the Band of the Deutschland.
The following was the supper menu, the caterers being Messrs. Madar and Farmer :--
MENU.
It may be mentioned that the Loting district, watered by the Loting River, discharging into the West River almost opposite to the city of Takhing, is one of the greatest, if not the great- est, centres of piracy in the southern provinces. This river is navigable by light dráft boats for a distance of fifty miles from its mouth (right up to the large business centre of Loting) though the distance overland is only about twenty miles, the course of the river being very winding: The merchants în this district, which is a large exporter of the valuable' cassia oil, have to pay very heavy tribute to the pirates, Roast Baron of Beef. in the shape of blackmail, in order to pass their exports and imports free of molestation down and up the river, and it is especia ly down, near the mouth of the river, that the pirates lay toll. This
within two or three miles of where' several guard boats are lying, speaks for itself as to either the rascality or supineness of the officials entrusted with the duty of maintaining law and order,” for Takhing is a large Walled bity and
2.- Lobster Balad. 1.-Julienné Bonp. 3.-Chicken Fálað. 4.-Herring Salad. 5-Quails in' Jelly, 6.-Lamb Chops in Jelly. 7.—Cold Asparagus. Roast Saddle of Mutton.
10.-Kobe Corned Beef. 11.-Roast Stuffed Turkey. 12.-Roast Capon. · 13-Boiled York Ham. 14.-Wild Boar's Head, Stuffed. 15-Roast Pheasant. 16. Roast Wild Duck. 17-Game Pies.
19-Pointo Salad. 20.-Mashed Potatoes. 21-New Potatoes and Parsley. 22-French Beans. 23. Cauliflower
26. Butler Sandcake. 24.-Gooreberry Tarts
18.-Green Mixed Salad.
Mr. Ho Foor read the notice éonvening) the meeting
The CHAIRMAN then said - Gentlemen, you have heard
the notice ... convening this meeting read by Mr. Ho Fook: The notice had previously appeared in the news. papers, so that you know very well the purpose for which we are met here th-day? I think you have heard that the large and influential Cham- bers of Commerce in England some timeingo ́decided to send a représentative of theirħabtlse to China to see for himself and üsoertåif thə condition of trails in this our large) Empito. The gentleman whom the traders of Gredt and
Greater Britain selected was Lord 101***,
Beresford. In due time the noble Loriblume but here, and, as befta our country and dur Hihihters, very cordial hospitality was notorie
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