re!
of Kwangtung. On the 23rd March-of: last ƒ year our factory was opened at 6.a.me by the fireman. The; weavers axxived as soon as the doors were opened. About a quarter of an hour afterwards there were about 100 weavers at workShortly after this fifteen robbers
:
uniform. There were then twelve fokis in entered, five of them dressed in soldiers the shop. Five of the robbers had revolvers
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„TIIII HⱭAЯD EAJNE TO AWT-13) THE-HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
seven stowaways. The sixth defendant informed His Worship that he knew nothing about the matter.
4
His Worship considered the offence a very serious one, and felt it his daty to convict all the defendants. The first was sentenced to nine
ordered to pay a fine of $1,000, in default a months imprisonment with hard labour and further term of imprisonment with hard labour for three months and six heurs stooks. The second, third and fourth were each sentenced to nine months hard labour and fined $1,000 or in default six months hard labour and six hours stocks. The fifth defendant was sentenced to three mouths hard labour, and the sixth to a similar term and six hours stocks, in lieu of one day of the said imprisonment.
The compradore was then charged with aiding and abetting, and inciting the six previous defendants to aid and abet the seven stowaways The compradore admitted handing the stow aways over to the fifth defendant, who took them on board.
There was only the uncorroborated evidence of the sixth defendant given against the com- pradore and His Worship held that this was not sufficient to convict, so discharged the defendant.
ARMED ROBBERS AGAIN.
and the remainder had rifles. The defendant, who was in uniform, was the leader of the gang. He ordered the robbers to take three of us to the bank of the river and ship us on boats. The other fokis - were hiding in the factory, The female weavers were driven by the robbers into one; crowd, firearms covering them all the time. The defendant said to me "Don't utter a sound if you do we will kill you," He then ordered-- his band to remove the goods consisting of silk, clothing and firearms to the value of $3,000 odd from the factory. On the way to the boat I say about 50 other robbers. They went to our factory to help remove the goods, which were carried down to the river and placed on board the boats. While this was going on some of the braves of the village opened fire on the robbers, and the robbers returned the fire, We three fokis were carried off · ss- prisoners At 9.30 am. we landed at Sui Tin Fan. We were taken into a house. The defendant was there and sold the clothing and firearms. He soted as auctioneer,
A further report of armed robbery is to hand and members of his band bought the articles, from the New Territory. In the early hours of Later on the day we were taken into a farm on the 11th March & villager heard strange house at Lai Man Sha about six miles from the sounds on the road in front of his house, On factory, where we were confined. On the 29th going to "look ses" he saw six men carrying March the defendant told me to write a latter three pigs which were tied on to bamboo poles, to my master talling him that in order to s suspicions being aroused, he called out ransom us he would have to pay $8,000, 100
"steal pigs," which brought a number of neigh- taels of prepared opium and 70 pairs of rub- bours out. They instantly gave chase, and the ber shoes. Provided these were not forthcom- robbers, fearful of capture, dropped their booty ing we would be slaughtered. I wrote the letter and took to their heels. One of the party, and handed same to defendant, The ransom finding that the pursuers did not come, so on the 2nd April the defendant gaining on him turned and fired two shots from were gradually again interviewed me, He said “Your master
a revolver into the crowd. This stopped the has not sent the money to ransom you, so we'll pursuit, and it was found that both shots had slaughter you now." I knelt down and asked taken effect, one villager being shot in the him to have mercy, and to allow further time stomach and a second in the thigh. The for the arrival of the ransom. He said-" Very matter was reported to Inspector Macdonald at well. I will grant you a few more days." Yaumati and he had the wounded men removed wrote a second letter. On the 7th April the to the Government Civil Hospital. The man military attacked the place. The fighting lasted
who was shot in the stomach is so seriously wounded that he is not expected to recover. He succumbed to bis injuries last night.
for a day. It was just like war. During the melee I escaped to the gunboat which brought
́the soldiers.
CHINESE STOWAWAYS.
At the Police Court on the 10th March before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz seven natives were charge with stowing away on the China Navigation Company's steamer Chingtu on the occasion of her last voyage from Hongkong to Australia Although the usual search for stowaways was made prior to the departure of the Chingtu from Hongkong, it was not till the vessel was out st Bes that the Ching met discovered. Thair, hiding plaas was found to be a coal tank, which was believed to be full of coal. The Captain informed His Worship that he was liable to a penalty of £100 on each of the defendants had they landed in the Commonwealth. Therefore he had to carry them to Australia and bring
them back.
The defendants were each sentenced to nine months imprisonment and were further ordered to pay a fine of $1,000, or go to goal for another three months.
Seven of the crew of the Chingtu will be charged to-day with siding and abetting the stowaways.
The cook and five firemen of the s.s. Chingtu were charged before Mr. H. H. J. Gomperts at the Police Court on March 11 with aiding and abetting stowaways Mr. H. Gedge (of Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master) prosecuted.
The defendante denied helping the Chinese to stow stated that a compradore promis ed them 290 for each man landed in Australis, The fourth defendant said he did not receive the fifth who took any money, and that it mean them on the shin. The fifth caid he was inform ed by the comandare that Her landed out in goods which were to be stowed on board they were to get £30. The goods turned out to be
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'BOBBERY" IN DES VEUX ROAD.
Word was forwarded to the Central Police Station on the 13th March that a riot was taking place in Des Voeux Road in front of the premises of Mosers, A. Jack and Co. Inspector Smith, who was on duty at the time, sent a squad of Police to bring the rioters to the Station in order that he might learn the cause of the trouble. Some fifty or sixty men were marched up, accompanied by the manager of A. Jack and Co. The trouble, it appeared, wol, because the then had agreed with the coolies to pay each man a month's wages to go and salve the s.s. Tsinan. Provided operations were completed before the month was up, they were (according to the coolies) still to receive a month's pay. The work was finished in seventeen days, and the master of A. Jack and Co. wished to go back on his con- tract and pay the men for seventeen days only, hence all the "bobbery." The Inspector asked the Manager whether his firm were prepared to pay the amount agreed upon. The Manager said the master would not, so the Inspector in formed the spokesman of the coolies that they could seek redress for their grievance in the Summary Court. If they continued their riot in the street, however, they would probably be imprisoned for two or three months.
THE 8.8. “MINNESOTA.”
25th March. She experienced fine
The leviathan: Minnesota = arrived “on” the from Manila till quite near Hong kong,
thick that the anchor had to be let go." But four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, when the" was enveloped i» inga blanket "offog, 10** for this, the vessel would have made a 41 hour* Passage, as she left Manils et about 3.90 p.m. * weather and head winds across the Pacifies She on Sunday? The vessel experienced "very bad: took eighteen days from Seattle to Japan? Some than a hundred miles. Though a heavy cargo days it blew so hard that the "ran” was · less. was carried across from · América" less than Hongkong, there were 43 cabin passengers, For 500 tons was `consigned · ·for this "port": For÷ intermediate and a hundred Amatio. She miled from Beattle 23rd January, arrived at Yoko hams, 11th February, at kobe, 21st February, at Nagasaki 28th February, at Shanghai, On her return trip to America she takes from 1st March,- and -- Manila,... 9th¤· March.“
and sugar. The local agents are the Nippon Manila 5,500 tons of cargo, mostly bales of kömp Yusen Kaisha.
THE " PRINCESS ALICE.”
.
The overdue German Mail steamer-Princess Alice arrived from the north on March 15th She experienced fog all the way down from Shanghai, and, when near Hongkong, one mile south-west of Waglan Island, the weather became so thick that it was considered advisable to drop anchor. That was on Monday_night; and the vessel so- remained till: 11.30am, on the 15th, when the Captain_ found it- to be clear enough for him to proceed
The Princess Alics left for home on March-
passengers. 16th at ten o'clock with a full ship as regards
Included among those for whom”. passages have been booked are many schildren, -- The Laptain is going to accommodate two of them in his own cabin. He is fond of children and is quite pleased to do so. The following... are some of the most prominent names inɛthe list- of departures:-Mr. B. Layton (bullion broker).~ Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Tomen (Messrs:: Showażny żi Tomes and Company), Mr. H. E; Tomkins (Messrs. Reiss and Company), Mr. F. Mait- land (Messrs. Linstead and Davis); Mrs. Drvare (wife of the Consul-for-Holland), Mrs.÷Booker (wife of the taipan of Mesare, Sander, Weiler and Company), and Mrs. Volpicelli (wife of the Italian Consul). Cher, Z. Volpicell. is to accompany his wife as far as Singa- - pore and will be away a fortnight..........
L
MASONIC MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
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The large Masonic Temple in Zetland Street... is the property of -Zetland Lodge (English Constitution) the oldest and largest lodge numerically in Hongkong. It is rented by the many other lodge at so much per night gu the lodges in the Colony,
Lodge Eastern Scotia (Scottish Constitution), holding.... their meetings there. Brethren of Lodge Eastern Scotia meet in the upper hall of the Seamen's Institute at Kowloon The Masonic : Quadrille Club has, since its institution, held its monthly winter dances in the large banquet- ing hall on the ground floor of the Zetland Street Lodge. The rent, however, 150 a night; precludes the Club from paying hits way » To raise the needed funds, it was decided to hold : a smoking concert on the alat instant ți-Someti dissension arose with Zetland Lodge about the -- letting of the hall --Asės consegmenon, “thá 5~- concert will be held in the old Chamber of Commit meros Room at the City Hall. Therefis also talk of some of the lodges, perkapa Lodgian St: United Service, and Naval and Military On: the::15th March; during the fog, the regular and emergency meetings, an
now i place soutaide = fort: :holding: Norwegian ss. Proteus collided with the British that is charged, $75 to $100 per
Venetia off Swatow. Both ships were considered to suchi Ons lodge, for seriously damaged a hole being knocked in the meetings last year, sid to have pai Proteus starboard bow, and long length of them 11:500 rent
tland lodge. rail being torn from the other ships The minent Freemine Venetia also sprang a leak. The Proteus was that this question is notti on a voyage from Japans to Hongkong, sad of all concerned, for if not, Zet the Venetia was outward bound from Hong-find itself with something tof the kong to Japan.
“ white elephant” on itä hands.