Page
STORY OF. MR. RASMUSSEN'S
CAPTIVITY:D
EXPERIENCES WITH A PIRATE
ences:-
GANG IN KWANGSI.
THE ATTACK ON THE MOTOR BOAT. “
MIDNIGHT MARGIES.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,
CHINESE SINGING GIRLS IN
COURT.
MAGISTRATE OËNSURES THE PRES-
IDENT OF A COOLIES: GUILD.... The two Chinese, who were charged, at the Magistracy, on Thursday afternoon, before R. E. Lindsell, with demanding money from Chinese singing girls by means of threats were discharged yester day afternoon, after further hearing of the chao.
SATURDAY, DECEMBRE ATE, 1911.
THE SHOP'S CHOP. HOUSE BOY'S IDEA OF SAVING MONEY.-
A house boy named Keung Fur Wing," aged 17, employed at No. 35, Robinson Boad, was brought before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy, yesterday after- a charged of having a chop noom, on made in the name of the firm of Nam Bing Loong for the purpose of defraud- ing that Company.
The first witness called was Ping Szé, At the previous day's hearing it was
a chop carver at No. 2, Ting Tak Lane, at the foot of the stairs of her house his stall and asked witness to make s by the defendants who demanded 250 chop-a goods order chap-for the firm. from her. Some time later the defend of Nam Hing Loong. Witness know the ants visited the girl's house and under firm in question, which, was a foreign: threats of being stabbed to death the grade shop situated near the Central girl promised to pay $40 on the 19th Market. The price of the chap was to be on the order. When the chop was finish inst. A police trap was arranged and 2 cents and witness deposited ten conts the defendants were arrested. Mr. Hall, ed witness took the shop to the firm (Nam appearing for the defendants, denied the Hing, Loong) and there obtained the re- charge and said that the money demand-maining 15 cents due, but he was informe made by the Guild of Tea House em- by Nam Hing Loong and he was inform ed was the result of an investigationed that the chop had not been ordered
to the shop when he called for the chop On the 20th inat. the defendant called and was taken to Nam Hing Loong where be was arrested.
A representative of the firm of Nam been authorised to order the chop. The on ordered by the defendant was not the same as those generally used in the shop. The chops were used by the firm for chopping bilis for goods sold. They weze not used for any other purpose.
The Magistrate: What use could the defendant have made of the chop He could make use of it in chopping bills not belonging to us.
We carried on that night until about midnight when we were put up for the rest of the night in an isolated form- | house. We stayed over here the next day, but as soon as the sun "had gone down we were moved on again to another Now that Mr. Rasmussen has quite farmhouse where we stayed the rest of recovered from the effects of his two the night and the next day. Thus we Ware keep on the move for the next three. months captivity and wanderings in the nights, always changing lodgings in the Isirs of pirates in the fastnesses of the dark. Then at last the chief came to see province of Kwang, the full story of me; bt it mattered not how I argued, be would not release me. I was then his experiences is made available for moved with my boy to a place about whose 25/30 miles inland, taking nearly the publication Mr. Rasmussen,
whole night over the march. (Meantime parents live in Kowloon, is a young I had been able to wash my wounds and
age, in bandage them up with a shirt I had alleged that a singing girl was accosted who stated that the defendant called' at mad, twenty-two years of
At this place they the service of the Asiatic Petroleum torn into pieces).
built a small shock of gross, leaves, etc.," Company, and at the time of his capture where we stayed for about two weeks).
Then reports came of soldiers (they by pirate gang was acting as travelling inspector on the waterways turned out false afterwards) and in the middle of the night of October end of the province of Kwangtung. He we were awakened and made to go to a was one of the first batch of pupila in place about two hours' walk away where the Chamber of Commerce School, and we spens the rest of the night as best we bas a good knowledge of Cantonese,, so could under the pine trees. The fallow that he had little difficulty in discussing ng night we were again moved up to the very top of a high peak where we position with his captors. What it
A disused charcoal means to be two months à captive in the spent a night in
oven. Again the next night we were on hands of roving band of desperate the march up and down mountains for Chinese pirates may be gathered from the following narrative of his expert in the morning, we made our beds in a ployés in which they demanded compened that the defendant was to be brought
many hours, and eventually, about three very thick jungle high up a mountain.ation for certain allegations made by Here we stayed for several days it being the girl against the Tea House Guild. a safe place-bit one day we were, chased it was stated at this hearing that the out of our hiding place because the moun- singing girl was a member of the Sanj a letter on her be Bamboo River, when about 1.15 p.m. to go very far away, but spent the night Guild had sent while I was having timin, I was startled sleeping absolutely in the oper on a half containing the alleged complaint
the Guild When we woke against
House of Tex by sudden valley of shots coming from grass-covered hillside. the right bank of the river, to which the up in the morning our cotton blanket employes. The complaint was that mean- vessel was holding close in owing to the way wes througs with dewill this bers of the Guild threw certain things shallowness of the rest of the river. No time there had never been more than upon the girl as she passed the Kat warning of any kind was given and the about or 5 men looking after us, the Cheung Tea House, and on one occasion thickness of the bamboos ou the bank of rest of the gang being engaged on other soiled her jacket. At yesterday's hear the river completely concealed the at-piracies now and again nearer the river ing the first witness called was the tacking pirates. As soon as I realised and market towns. On the night of President of the Sanitary Board Coolies' what was the matter I turned over the tiffin October 27th we went a long way again Guild. Be admitted that he had ordered table and threw myself into the bottom to see the chief. He was staying with a letter to be written for him at the of the boat, seeking shelter, from the a lot of his men in a farmhouse some-
request of a friend named Feung. shooting from the seats surrounding thewhere in Kwangsi. The place was ex- The Magistrate asked witness if the cabin, through which I thought the bulleta ceedingly noisy, what with a few of the letter had anything to do with the could not penetrate. I was dismayed, pirates womenfolk about and the pirates however, to And them coming through behaving like a lot of coolies having a Sanitary Coolles' Guild. Witness said one after the other and realising that it lark all the time. They felt perfectly would be dangerous to remain there I secure in this place, their outposts being I had a few took a chance from the flying bullets and continually on the watch. leapt for the door whence I dived into words with the chief but the position the shallow river. I found my feet and looked as hopeless 45 ever--he had stood up with my hands up facing the nothing to encourage me with but lies.. pirates who were beginning to come out Indeed I was told lie upon lie every from amongst the bamboos, shouting to day just to encourage me and keep me them to stop firing as we were not firing from doing something desperate. On the at them and promising not to oppose night of the October 29th we were moved them in looting the boat. Thereupon on to another farmhouse with only two they stopped shooting but threatened to or three men looking after us, and the letters sent to the Tea House Employes bought some tins of cigarettes at 70 cents re-open fire if we did not immediately pilot who had hitherto been separated get the boat alongside the bank for them from us was thrown into our party. We to get on board. I gave the necessary stayed at this farmhouse for a few days order, and while one of the crew cour-and then moved a little up a nearby hill ageously started poling the Naamkony to live in another grass shack built for
I waded ashore and handed over my watch and signet ring to the first pirates
THE CAPTIVES ARE ABANDONED. Here we had a long atay, taking us who came near me, stating they would
The agistrate: I should think so. find the rest of my things in the boat, up to November 19th, when the chief
In the face or one of these letters, you The pirates were exceedingly herce and came along to say that we would be released in a few days and made us
still persist in saying the singing girl Ibad to make myself as cool, meck and
is pot a member of your Guild, although submissive as possible lest one of them move to a small farmhouse a couple of
the letter in should do some serious injury. It was hours walk away. Here we stayed about
so many words says that she is.. only when I reached the bank that I two
days and were then moved on to a
Witness: I did not write the letter. discovered I had been wounded as fol-small hut up a hillside close to a farm- Jews-One shot through the calf of my house where I knew the chief and some The Magistrate: You say go. It is right leg, causing two holes, another one of his gang were saying. On No-
no good trying to blame the letter had apparently slid across the back ofvember 24th I was told I was to be re-writer, because he wrote according to my left thigh causing a small furros leased that night. I had been exceed your dictation You told him to write deep enough to lay my finger in yetingly ill since the 20th my stomach being and he wrote what you told him.
The complainant, the singing, girl, was
On October 1st, 1921, 1, was pro- kong from Koo Shui to Waitsap on the tain side was on fire. We did not have tary Board Coolies' Guild, and that this King Loong said the defendant had never
eding in the Company's M.B, Vaan
ricocheted, grazed the top of my right hip bone causing a lot of blue bruises all round but not much of a wound. Of the crew only one mar, the engineer, was wounded. I understand he received two flesh wounds in his thigh. The crew's part of the boat not being closed in, they had found it easy to jump into the river immediately the firing started and find shelter behind the hull of the Naam- Long where they were comparatively safe as long as the boat was between them and the pirates. I found out later that altogether between 110 and 120 rounds "bad been fired at the beat and it is not much short of a miracle that nobody was killed or very seriously injured The pirates were at least 60 strong but probably had only about 40 firearms, a good number of which belonged to their chief, known by the name of Chan Toap Yat, who did not and, I believe, never does take part in piracies.
15.
high fever. Serae time after midnight
it had not...
The Magistrate: Why did you the use the name of the Sanitary Board Coolies Guild in the letter-Witness failed to gave a satisfactory answer.
The Magistrate If your firm trusted him could he obtain goods on credit and then chop the bill ns if he had paid for them 1-Yes, he could do that.
Continuing witness said when the de-
fendant was brought to the shop he attempted to run away, but was taught by a police constable on point duty out side.
Asked if he wished to make a statement defendant said I had this chop made. The Magistrate: I will tell you why, without any intent to defrand the Nam You made use of the name to intimidating Loong firm. My master sent mo other people. The rascality of the there to buy some Three Castles cigaret Sanitary Board Coolies' Guild is well fes. The price was 72 cents per tin. I known. suppose you are the worst could buy these cigarettes elsewhere for. man in it. The reply to one of the 10 cents per tin. My master ordered me -to--get-a-bill-for-these-cigarettes-I Guild was that you are to mind your own business, and not to bother about singing girls. It is a pretty good an- Of course, you lose face by this Witness: 1 gave the Latter up when I received that answer: "
swer.
answer.
another shot. apparently, one that had completely out of order, and I had, veryalled. She stated that the man named on the 24th we heard a lot of firing eang was her husband. He was until below the hill near the farmhouse where recently a bar boy employed at the Hong the chief and other had been until a few kong Hotel, hours previously. The two pirates whoThe Magistrate: Did Feung mention were looking after us immediately blew to the President of the Sanitary Guild out the lantern they had and went out anything about which happened at the side where they emptied a rifle and de-
house about having your jacket soiled camped in the opposite direction. A few by the employés of the Tea House minutes later the soldiers came up firing
Guild ?—I don't know. S their guns, blowing bugles and shouting, atc. They found us; my boy, the pilot you know nothing about the tea shop The Magistrate: Yesterday you said and myself as well as the dog all alone, incident? and they were not long in procuring A
The Witness: The employés of this chair for me and setting out on the long-locked-for homeward journey.
tea house all throw dirty things at me. We
The Magistrate: You don't remember were, it transpired, right in Kwangsi province and to get back to the Bamboo any particular incident in which you Hiver it took us no less that the whole have had your jacket soiled a piece of of the rest of that night and up to about oil-paper thrown at you?They often do 3. p.m. the next day. The journey down river was continued at once and oven- tually we reached Canton safely on the following Sunday afternoon, Novem- That is outside the matter. It is your ber 27th. I was naturally curious as
own business. Why should they be angry While about a dozen or more of the to how my release had been effected and because you dont go there?—I don't go pirates wore engaged in looting the on questioning the officers in charge of there because they always use dirty Naombong, some others came along and the soldiers I was told that they had words to me and because of that when made it clear to me that they wanted intimidated the pirates to such an ex- to carry me off as well as my boy, who tont that they had been forced to release dirty things down.
ever I pass the shop employés throw had a piece of thin rope round his neck.me.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hall, the girl said that she had often complained at house. the rough treatment received at the Tea Mr. Hall: You don't know that your
820 1-No.
CARRIED OFF INTO - CAPTIVITY.
HOW THE CAPTIVES WEEK FED.
While I was in captivity my chief dif.
It
that.
The Magistrate: Why -Belouse don't go there and sing.
Mr. Hall: Your husband took the matter into his own hands, without your knowledge-Yes,
Witness, later said that she did not
W
|
Perth elsewhere. I utended to use the chop for chopping the bill to make it appear that the goods bad been obtained from the Nam Hing Leong firm. I did this because they charged two cents per tin more.
The boy was committed to the, Supreme Court. for trial at the next Criminal
Sesssiona
•
TRADE OF HONGKONG
IN 1921, Sh (Continued from yesterday.)
SHIPPING AND FREIGHTS,
This
Business has been dull during the greater part of the year, and a large number of steamers has been laid up in Japan for want of profitable employ- ment. Several old boats have also been tied up in Hongkong and Shanghai. Rates of freight ruling in the various trades have been below those of the past year, but, fortunately, the price of bunker coal has also declined, which help- nd to reduce operating expenses.
the recent boom, must have lost heavily. as heen a lean year for most owners. and those with steamers bought during The Siam rice crop was only about 80 per cent of average year, and although a number of tramp steamers, was fixed for January loading at Bangkok for Hongkong, very few outside ateamers were chartered during the rest of the year, the regular liners being able to accommodate shippers with all the space required. The Indo-China crop was a fair average one, and many steamers were taken up for Saigon, Hongkong, Japan, Singapore and Java. The highest rate paid for Hongkong was 360 in February, and the lowest 15c. in June. The bulk
of the coal cargoes from Japan was car ried in Japanese bottoms. The rate from South Japan to Hongkong declined from Yen 8.00 in January to Yen 3.50 in Deceraber and to Singapore from Yen 11.00 to Yen 5.50 per ton. From Hongas to Hongkong, the rate remained at about $3.00 throughout the year From Java, to Hongkong, very few tramp steamers were chartered.. most of the cargo being for warded here by liners, rate averaging about 30c. per picul.
I refused to go, at first, drawing atten tion to my wounds and pointing out that it was a very serious matter to arrest ficulty was in getting suitable food. At foreigner They took no notice of my first I refused absolutely to eat rice, protestations, however
and with a lot but eventually I could not help it. of savage men with daggers drawn and was probably, the rics which led to husband stated that the soiled jacket cost guns pointed at me I had no alternative stomach trouble, as this was local stuff but to do as I was told. I was wat of very poor quality and contained a through and had on no clothes but a lot of sand and paddy. Sometimes I
The most remarkable feature in ship shirt. white trousers and a pair of socks.. got eggs and condensed milk whenever
ping during the period under review is In this condition I was made to walk the men who looked after me had money
the enormous depreciation in the value shoeless for about three hours over rough and were sufficiently generous. The first
mention the fact to her husband that she of tonnage, due to world wide depression mountain paths until they stopped for two or three weeks, before I took to rice had made an appointment with the intrade, and to a large number of ex- a rest and at my request gave me a pair I lived almost entirely on Chinese defendants or that she would hand the German steamers disposed of by the Bri of my own shoes and my topee. bananas and eggs. Another article of money over to them.
tish Government at very low prices. The Throughout the afternoon march I was food I sometimes received was, of course, The Magistrate saked wby," and "the value of a new steamer has dropped 100- not allowed to quench my thirst because chicken; but that was considered to be witness denied her former statement and 200 per cent. and old boata 900-400 per the pirates according to Chinese ideas a luxury-the price being 30/40 cts. a said she did tell her husband of the cent, according to condition. Many own said it was pero numerous dru Chity and it was usually only when the appointment
ers of large feets have sold and are sell- raw water" the numerous moun- chief was near that I got any. My boy's The Magistrate: The defendants are ing their old boats due for 2nd No. sur- tain springs we passed owing to my favourite dish was dog's meat but he discharged.
vey at about £9 10s. 10d: to £4 per ton wounds About pin the whole gang only got that once. As for the country
deadweight, rather than go to the expense. stopped on top of a mountain and put people we came into contact with, while
of re-classing them. The Japanese have their loot down in a heap on the ground.in some cases they were obviously just
recently hanght a number of these_old. One or two good-natured pirates pulled pirates in disguise or men with two pro- "The following estates have been proved: steamers, no doubt thinking prices have out a couple of sailers uniforms and fessiona-farmers and pirates, in other-Chemistry Professor Belias, Rangoon, now reached bedrock. gave them to my boy and me to wear. cases it was clear that they merely assist- £3,029; actor and playwright Casino The prospects for next year are more It was here that I discovered that they ed the pirates through fear of them. The Gordon Lennox, £13,000; Colonel Six
Siam has a bumper rics had also carried off the pilot and my pirates themselves were of varied descrip Pater Freser, £120,000; Rhipbuilder Sirror and it is estimated there will be
encouraging. fox terrier pup. They proceeded to hold, tion.... Those who wore at the head tot Herbert Rowell Chairman Hawthorn about 1,250,000-1.800,000 tons available for an auction among themselves of the things were, certainly, ex-soldiers-either Leslie, £80,000; Alfred Onions, M.P.,
export. Bangkok merchants have already stolen goods, each man's purchases being disbanded or desertors, while the rea £3,000 Sir John Bramston assistant taken up steamers on time charter- registered in 1 book, the amount being seemed to be country people picked up under secretary, Colonial Office £50,000 The Indo-China crop is not as good as presumably debited to his account, as in the locality to do the manual part of Alexander Mienau, director, British anticipated, but there should be about no money was passed. Some little time the business, e. carrying off the loot Burina Petroleum, £43,000 Harry Haw. 800,000 tons available for export The after dark we came to a few farm houses and going to market, etc. bor, the neront 26,100; Leonard Schce crops in Japan, Kwangtung and where the gang stopped to get their Mr. Hasmussen bed to go my burning thirst with the water taken happily completely record out is Reyser & Co. £16,000; Colonel Francis large quantity of grain will have to chow and I was allowed to quench upon his return to Hongkong but as leinger of the London banking firm Philippines are very poor this year and from the rice after it had been boiled. physical injuries and from the shock to Charrington, the Burton brewer deal of tonnage will be required to more Hore they also took a roll call to place the system that resulted from the fore on record who had partaken in the day's going experiences, and is now at work work and accounted for all ammunition again in the Company's head office in
ted-in-a-book for that puTPONE:
Hongkong
握紧
into hospital
་ ་
302,000; William-Rigder of Fownes Rigden, the glovemkery, £278,000; Austin Dolson; 27.000; Marquis of Milfordhaven, uhittled £8,63-
be imported into these countries. A good these crops, but rates will probably re main at a low level, owing to the number of steamers seeking employment
in Eastern W
Jargo
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