Bu Mr Shortrede-The junks fired first; I am certain they fired before the Police fired, and am certain they fired one shot after we did fire. When Mr Muir came to the Station, I considered the charge not to be a very serious one, but sufficient to authorise me to take steps to bring the parties implicated to the Station. The Police always go armed on the water at night; the boat sent was not especially armed for this particular matter; but I sent extra men, telling them I did not think it would be necessary to use their arms, but to go about it quietly.
"adammed row you are kicking up," or something like that, but am not certain of the precise words used; but it was not said for the junkmen to hear, it was said in a similar manner as a person in a room would make to people outside who were making a noise, indifferent whether it was heard or not; cannot remember whether this was said before or after the first stone was thrown; some more stones were then thrown, and I said we had better get on shore as soon as possible. The stones came so thick upon this, that two of the party (Messrs Bevan and Cooper were the parties) determined to go on board the junk—I was very much inclined myself to go—the other one was passive, and the other represented the folly of attempting it. The head of our boat was turned towards the junks with the intention of pulling up alongside.
Requested to attend at the Centre Station on Sunday night.
side. The shower of stones continued without intermission; our boatpeople were afraid, and would not pull. We then came ashore and landed. I proceeded with Mr Roose to the Police Station, and lodged complaint against these junks; and brought the boatpeople with me to identify the junks. The people in our boat were, I think, two men, a woman, and two boys. I went from the Bank stairs in the Police-boat; Messrs Roose and Stephenson came with me; there was a Sergeant in charge of the Police-boat; did not hear what instructions he got: he did not ask me to go; I asked him permission to do so. We pulled down to the junks; my boatman pointed them out—I knew them as soon as I saw them. When we got within stone's throw, the junkmen began throwing stones; the Manilamen in the Police began crying out; I do not know if they were hit or not, but some stones fell close to the boat. Should think it was then about 8 o'clock; it was dark. The Police-boat carried a large bull's-eyed lantern. There was a Chinese Lukong in the Police boat; there was nothing said from the Police-boat before the junk men began throwing stones—the lamp was showing. I think the Lukong said something to the junkmen, but am not sure.
So many stones were thrown that I was anxious to get on shore, as the Police were not at liberty to fire; and as there were so many in the boat, I was afraid of her being swamped going alongside the junks. I went ashore near the No. 1 Station; one of the Police came to Mr May for further instructions: he came back (the Constable was an Englishman) and said his orders were to try and go on board again—that Mr May was not at the Central Station, and he had no permission to fire; the boat then pushed off a second time. Messrs Roose and Stephenson, and myself went in a small sampan after the Police boat. The Police-boat lay on her oars when she got near the junk. The Lukong hailed the junks; they made no answer for some time, and then merely said one or two words. The Police told us to be on our guard; I heard the Manilamen on board the Police-boat say the junkmen were going to fire; and saw fire passed in the junks like joss-sticks. The Police-boat pulled on shore. I came ashore also. Before going home, I called at the Central Station, and saw Messrs May and Caldwell going down to a second boat with additional force. I saw the firing afterwards, but do not know who fired first; saw this from the shore; did not go off again. I came up to the Central Station after hearing the junks were taken.
Examined by the Jury—We were not singing in our boat, nor was there any provocation used to the junkmen—there was no threat made to the junkmen of any kind. We had only an umbrella with us; we had no arms or sticks.
(3)
J. D. MUIR.
JAMES MILAN sworn,—I am a Sergeant of Police; and went in the Police-boat last evening; Mr Muir and two other gentlemen were with me: I went to go and board two junks and bring their Captains on shore. When we got within about twenty yards of the junks, I told the Lukong to speak to them; he did so. I told him to tell them that it was the Police-boat, at the same time shewing the light of the boat lantern. The Lukong told me the men dared us to go on board; that if we attempted it they would fire at us. They began to throw stones at us. I then told the boat's crew to pull ashore, and sent private Wills for instructions. He returned and said Mr May would be down presently with two other boats. Inspector Ryan then came on foot to the No. 1 Station, and came on board the boat I was in. Two other Police-boats came: Mr May, was in one of them; and presently after I heard a shot fired. Mr. May's boat was at the other side of the junk to me; from the flash and report I think the shot came from the junk. The boat I was in was ordered to pull alongside the junks; I was doing so, when about twelve or fifteen yards from the junks they fired at my boat; there were two shots fired, one a little after the other; neither struck our boat. I do not know whether the guns were loaded with ball or shot—the report was not that of a cannon, but it was louder than a musket. The Chinese at this time were running up and down the decks of the junks with fire-brands in their hands; there were about 14 men in my boat—4 Europeans, 5 Indians, and 5 boatmen. Mr Caldwell ordered us to retreat; I did so. The Police-boats all met astern of the junks; one was named Lewis was wounded. I heard no other shots fired from the junks, but the three up to this time; fired three shots myself from my own boat at the junks. There were four men at least in my boat with carbines besides my own; they also fired. We did so after the junks fired into us, and we were ordered to do so. I heard firing from the other Police boats. After the three boats met, Mr May went to the man-of-war, and returned with four or five men-of-war boats; the man-of-war boats fired at the junks, and then boarded them; I boarded the junks myself. I was ordered to lie off the junks until the man-of-war boats cleared off. I brought one man ashore from the junks.
(4)
JAMES M'LEAN,
Tuesday, 17th October.
MICHAEL RYAN sworn, am Deputy Inspector of Police. About half-past 7 o'clock on Sunday evening last, Mr Muir, who was examined last evening here, and two or three other gentlemen, came to the Central Station; Mr Bevan did not come with them; they lodged a complaint that as they were in a boat passing by two junks which were lying together off the Lower Bazaar, they were pelted with stones, without any provocation, by the junk men. I asked Mr Muir if anything else occurred before the stones were thrown? he said not. All the parties were sober; Mr Muir was laughing when conversing with the gentlemen who were with him—I think he was laughing about the matter.
The Police boat was on the point of going on duty at the time. I ordered Sergeant M'Lean and Police constables M'Kenzie and Wills to take their arms and accompany the boat's crew, and to bring in custody the Captains or the officers of the junks that would be pointed out by Mr Muir. It was dark at the time; Mr Muir was to point out the junks; there was a Chinese belonging to Mr Muir's boat with him; the Police were to enquire for the Captains or officers, and find them out by the interpreter; Poon-chow, one of the Lukongs, went as interpreter. I told him to inform the junkmen when he came near them, that it was the Police-boat, and the business he came upon; and told M'Lean to shew the Police lights when he came near them. I told M'Lean that he should not take more than two of the gentlemen, as the Police-boat was small, and I did not want to have her overloaded; M'Lean asked me, if stones were thrown from the junks, should he fire? I said, No, to go about it quietly.
About half an hour after, constable Wills returned to get further instructions what to do; I spoke to Mr May then; he told me to get all the boatmen ready, and to go myself to the No. 1 station and join M'Lean's boat; he told me "we" would be down directly; and when I saw them coming to pull out towards the two junks, I went and waited close to the junks. Toon-chow was not in our boat at this time; Messrs May and Caldwell came in two boats, and we went towards the two junks; Mr May's boat pulled the quickest, and to the right of my boat; his boat was the foremost. Mr May's boat got within about twenty yards of the junks, when the junks fired, either ginjals or large matchlocks. I cannot say whether the guns were loaded with ball or shot—the reports were dull; I did not hear the whistling of balls. I am certain I heard three shots fired; cannot say if more or not. After the first shot was fired I heard Mr Caldwell say something as if to the junkmen; the junks after this fired a second shot. My boat did not shew the lantern; I do not know whether either of the other two boats shewed theirs or not. The junkmen were shouting and talking before and after the firing; before the junkmen fired the last shot, I heard a splashing as if of stones in the water thrown from the junks; when the junks fired the first shot, I ordered my men to fire; some, I dare say, fired twice; three of the men had carbines; I saw firing from Mr Caldwell's boat; I cannot say whether the junks fired more shots than the three, in consequence of the noise of our firing; I saw Mr May's boat pass astern of the junks; I heard the words “Go back"—either from May's or Caldwell's boat, I cannot say from which, and the firing ceased. I went back; Mr May told me to wait until he returned from the Commodore's ship. A boat from the Commodore's ship came shortly after, and inquired what was the matter; that boat then left us. Mr May returned in his boat accompanied by three or four boats; they hailed us, we answered; we pulled up to the junks. Again the junks fired on board. The junks were shouting; I do not know what, for we were waiting about thirty or forty yards from the junks, and on pulling out, the junks fired either a ginjal or matchlock. I do not think anything was said from the Police or man-of-war's boats before this shot was fired; the man-of-war's boats fired a volley at the junks; the man-of-war's boats were a little in-shore of the junks; their firing must have gone clear of the shore. After the volley was fired, the man-of-war's boats boarded; I heard an explosion on board the junks about as loud as a report of a ginjall, but not so clear; cannot say that there were any other shots fired from the junks; the boat I was in fired at the same time as the man-of-war's boats; when the man-of-war's men boarded, I heard a great clashing of swords, and saw 3 men taken from one junk—one appeared to be covered with blood; did not see them taking the men from the other junk; did not see any men in the water; heard there were some; the other two Police boats were in-shore of the junks—my boat was outside.
Questioned by Mr Cairns—The two junks were lashed together: I do not know whether the shots came from one or both junks; the night was dark.
(5)
M. RYAN,
WILLIAM MORRISON, Colonial Surgeon, sworn,—I was about half-past 10 o'clock, in consequence of policeman named John Lewis having been brought into the Civil Hospital seriously wounded in an affray with the crew of two Chinese junks. I remained until twelve o'clock, when a large number of the said crew was brought to the Station, eleven of whom were wounded more or less. It was obvious to me that U-afoo and Niu-achin were mortally wounded; they were ordered by me into the Hospital, and put under the necessary treatment. The latter was wounded by a musket ball which entered the cavity of the chest an inch below the clavicle, penetrated the lung on the left side, and made its exit about three inches below the point of the scapula. Another ball entered the muscles of the shoulder about three inches below the point of the shoulder; its exit is not perceptible. He died in great agony about half-past 2 on Monday morning. He was apparently quite sensible up to the moment of his death.
U-afuo received a ball in the middle of the outer side of the right arm, it shattered the humerus, producing compound fracture, passed through the flesh, and has made its exit on the inner side of the arm. Another ball penetrated the abdomen on the front and right side, and passed out at the back or the side of the dorsal vertebra. Through this wound on the front side the omentum protruded. This man died at 5 o'clock on Monday morning.
In both cases I have no doubt that the wounds inflicted by the balls were the occasion of death; there were no other marks of violence on them. I should remark that both these two Chinese were wet; U-afoo was brought in naked; the other man was partly clothed; his clothes were saturated with water. I am under the impression that U-afoo was picked up near the No. 1 Station, and brought to the Hospital by some sailors; the other man was, I think, brought in by the Police. I am certain that the ball which struck U-loo entered in the front of the chest. The balls in both cases were, I should say, common carbine balls.
WILLIAM MORRISON, Colonial Surgeon.
Re-examined on the 20th October—The other men brought to the Station from these junks who are wounded all exhibit bayonet or cutlass wounds. Some of the men have a great many wounds. The bayonet ones are numerous in every instance.
(6)
KRE Kwok sworn,—I am a broker, and live at Lower Bazaar near Acqui's theatre. On Sunday last after my dinner I went on board two junks; the junks were lying opposite Acqui's. I met Yow-aqua, one of the men belonging to the small junk; had known him from the year before last; I went with him on board the small junk, and then into the large one; we went down into the cabin; there were four or five of us in the cabin; it was then dark. Some of the men of the small junk cried out "Thieves;" the people in the cabin with me said "Never mind, we have no occasion to interfere." We were taking tea at the time; it was dark when I went on board. After I heard the men in the small junk say there were thieves, I went on board the small junk with my friend. The men on board both vessels were getting their arms ready. It was dark and drizzling; I could not see plainly; distinguished a long boat; there was no light in her. There were no Chinese boats close to the two junks; we did not hear anything from on board the long boat; it was at the time blowing a strong easterly wind, and the boat had a number of men in her; we thought them thieves. I was in the stern of the junk.
(7)
Cham Leisure sworn in as Tii-tchien interpreter.]
Test-rong sworn.—I am a batman, and belong to a Tii-tehieu junk; she is a small junk. I am very often coming here. During the day of last Sunday there was nothing happened on board the junk; there was another junk alongside of the one I belong to. I saw after dark a boat; the people in the boat said something in the Canton dialect; I did not understand what was said, though I know it was Canton dialect; they said "Qui chi," a term of abuse understood almost in every dialect; the men in our junk returned the abuse. The night was very dark, the boat fired at our junk four or five times. I thought the boat was a thief's boat. The names of the two men lying dead are U-afoo—the other man's name is A-chin. A-chin belongs to my junk; A-chin came as a passenger—there were twelve people in all belonging to my junk—ten were the crew, and two were passengers. My junk has only been here three or four days; we came on the 8th Chinese day (12th) of the month. On Sunday afternoon I went down into the cabin before dark (there were four or five men with me) and did not go up on deck until I heard a cry of thieves. There was a man from the shore of the name of Kee in the cabin also. I was here twice before, when the junk was in was robbed at night—once when lying at East Point, the other time opposite Mr Edger's; the first time was three years ago, the 2d time two years; was twice here after the last robbery. I recognize the large man now dead as U-afoo.
When we saw the boat that fired, it was dark; I would know the Police boats if the moon was up; the moon did not rise until five or six boats came. When my boat was robbed two years ago, all the men who robbed us were dressed as Englishmen; they said they were a Police-boat, and that they came to search my boat to know if she was a good boat or not. Some dried fruits were robbed from me, and everything else that was on board the junk; they came off in a boat pulling nearly twenty oars on both sides; the master of the junk then went to complain at Cowloon; I don't know if he did so here.
Questioned by Mr Shortrede—My tail was cut off by a man in the boat I was brought ashore in; the boat was larger than the Police-boat. I was thrown into the boat, and while lying down in her bottom, some one laid hold of my tail with one hand and with a knife or sword cut it off. No more of the men in the cell where I am, had their tails cut off in the same manner in the boat while coming ashore.
(8)
Tox-SEW-LE sworn,—Of the three bodies now lying dead I recognise A-m-ching and Hoo-tsing; I do not recognise the third. I belong to the small junk; so do the two men I recognise.
(9)
RO-A-queu sworn,—I am a junkman on board the small junk. Of the three men now lying dead, one is my brother Uafao; the names of the others are Niu-nehiu and (log-c-tsing. The three men belonged to the small junk; I am master of the junk, one is a passenger from Shanghae; his name is Iu-c-ting.
(10)
Wednesday, 14th October.
Be-a-guen, being further examined, states,—During the day of Sunday last, the 19th of the China month, nothing particular happened on board my junk. I was ashore on Sunday, and it was dark when I came on board; I went down into the cabin, and was down there when one of the men, Oa-n, called out there were thieves coming. I came on deck; there was a little rain, and it was very dark; I only saw the outline of a boat, but could not distinguish her. The people in the boat did not say anything; there was no light in her. My men threw stones at her; the boat did not come very near, but we got out bamboo pikes ready; I could not distinguish what description of boat it was. The boat then went away. After a little while, I went down into the cabin again, when I heard the same cry of thieves. I went under a table when I heard the second cry of thieves; I was in the cabin by myself. I remained under the table about two hours; after this my friends cried out it was Policemen; they came on board and brought us ashore, when the second cry of thieves was made, I heard firing; I stopped under the table, as I was afraid. I was here two or three times before—my boat was not robbed here.
Questioned by Mr Shortrede—There are rare robberies at night in Hongkong by sail boats than at Shanghae, Chusan, and the other ports where I trade to. I never heard that a true Police-boat goes round the harbour here at night; but I always heard there was a pretended Police-boat, who used to come on board and put all the crew below, and take the cargo ashore; I never saw this boat myself.
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