Page
EIGHTEEN DAYS WITH
BANDITS.
SIX DAYS AND NIGHTS PRONE IN A DARK CAVE,
MR. H. O. ROWSON'S EXPERIENCES.
HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH, 1928.
About this time some meat was brought inter buffalo meut. I had been having three hawls of rice a day and 1. got a little of this buffalo gravy. It was then that I noted down that I had already taken in four inches of my belt.
That was
FIGHTING AT SHUM CHUN SOLDIERS AND POLICE TO BE SENT
"TO THE SET. TERRITORIES
IF NECESSARY,
Yesterday afternom fighting took place in the vicinity of Shen Chan and continuous rita Aring could be heard' ju the New Territories. The information to bajid, is of a spare mature and we learn from the Captain Saperintendent of Pelich (Mr. E. D. C, Wolfe) that he has not been able to verify what few details of the affair there are to band,
On May 6th we retraced our steps in the direction from which we had come and after three nights travel we arrived back to the farm at which we had stayed before. We had traveled in pitch darkness and I old, only see the heels of the mau Mr. H. C. Bowson, the reprezentative | time, but for two days the oil gave out, in front, who could only be kept in sight - the British-American, Tolmera Company Altogether there were ten people in the by grent straining of the eyes. We were who had been for eighteen days a captiva care six guards, three of my party in-going across country and ever hills, along in the hands of bandits in the province cluding myself and one won an associated narrow tracks broken by rocks and ruts. troops in the Shux Chun district and an It appears that therogare. Kwangsi f Kwangtung, reached Hongkong yester with the bandits. They provided me with and at times we were crossing paddy Monday a large body of these inarched day looking little the worse for his trying rice and; uninviting fat pork-a third-fields. I couldn't and a thing. There was over from Nam Tau and encamped close
xperiences though the strain upon his class Chinese chow-all the time I was no travelling during the day.
to Shun Chun They apparently expected robust constitution must have been severe, there, twice a day. There was a natural when when we rested in uud huts and to find the place cleared of Cantonese
„Mr. Rowson's necount of his experience stream of water in the cave, but fearing nobody was allowed to go outside.
troops. In any case they were & strong as related to a representative of the that it might be "contaminated by
The whole gang of te bandits went frem hody of well-equipped mara and had littl Hongkang Daily Press was to the follow the conditions"in which we were living. this place to the barriended village ami
fear of an attack. They took things ing effect: I fell into the hands of the avoided it, and drank only the water back. Their iden was, 1 understand, torily. Yesterday afternoon they were bandits at a spot outside Moli, a fairly in which the rice had been boiled or to take me into the wilds of Kwangsi if, the surprised in their camp and attacked by Large market town about ninety miles due when I could get it.
a body of Cantonese goldiera, but it is not ransom was not paid. north of Pakhoi I was travelling with | We were in that "place six days and
We arrived back at a farm abuut Chung Ming's Army or to Sun Yat clear whether this bly jongs to Cheu an interpreter, a salesman (whose wife nights, and never allowed outside and three o'clock on the morning of the 8th Sen's. They were smaller in numbers. accompanied him), and sun coolies carry had no exercise whatever I spent most there. Then at night we started trekking surprise, and after several hours' fighting mat and the whole of that day was spent and took the larger body by complete ing the baggage and goods for sale. We of my time lying on my back, because as had travelled about ten miles to the north I have said, the roof in the place where again but in the company of only two the Kwangsi men were forced to retreat, of Moli and were resting at a smalt "was confined was only four feet high, men and one prominent member just before nightfall. They retired in the rest-house staniling alone on the rond- and I stand aft 11in.
of the gang. These armed men I had not direction of the border and in the waning' side. We saw six en armed with rifles Now and then a new member of the the morning when we stopped at a ruined from Lok Ma Chau police station in thei seen before. We treked until 2 d'elock in light long strings of men could be seen approaching across a paddy field. They gang would come along and bring fresh were then chout A hundred yards supplies of rice The visits from other house, lit a fire, and settled down to rest. New Territories moving Along the horiler away. They sail nothing to our members of the band averaged about three understood, before I started on this in the direction of Nam Tau. None of party but just came Land' sat down day. I understand that an arned
trek that. I was to be released, but
the retreating soldiers ventured over the by the roadside. As we were preparing guard was posted at the entrance to the instead of going in the direction of Molig going on until darkness fell.
border though there was plenty of shoot to resume our journey, about 20 in the cave but, of course. I could not see.
There afternoon, a further gang of fifteen armed While I was in the cave they loosened my men approached from the opposite direc- ropes somewhat so that I could move my tion, and the two gangs working in co-arms a little. Unable to make myself un-my rescue was effected. I heard a crewi
•peration surrounded our party. They derstood by speech I resorted to gestures to making a great hullabaloo. They were to some looting in Shus Chum and a small of x, and took indicate iny wants, but an extremely firing rifles and shouting. They weruumber of shop-keepers have fled over the charge of the whole party and our belung. limited knowledge of mandar a proved soldiers whe had been seat by General order into the New Territories for ingi They took all the money I had useful. for the safesumn knew mandarin which was not sufficient to meet their and I was able to gather from him that
refuge... demand, and they took our goods. Then the bandits were bargaining for my re they marched the party off-excepting lease, while the Bandity indicated by two chair coolies. We forded a stream gestures with knives and rifles that if the and got into the hills. Our party, be
rangom was not forthcoming is meant vides myself, consisted of the interpreter, death to me. the salesman, the latter's coolie and five] others, Sone farm workers had observed dar capture, and as soon as we were out faight, the bandits tied me round the neck with a rope taken from my own baggage, ahil also tied my arms, neras the biceps, tightly to my body. We were taken to
two different cuthousey and stayed a good time in each, and after wards our destination for, six days and night was a cave in the hills. We teach ed the first house about an hour and half after our capture and stayed there about three hours. The bandit, searched all. Inggage, helping themselves to what ever took their faney Then we pro- geeded to a much larger plazo which we Teached" after about an hour's walk over the hills. It was a sort of farm home. stead. We were detained there some Eve
demanded a
hours.
TAKEN TO THE
CAVE
we went in the direction of Linshan.
RESCUE EFFECTED.
was we understand, some danger of the retreating me being forced over the
At the first sign of dawn on the 10uff border by their pursuers.
According to report the fighting has led
Wong Ming Tong, in charge of the whole territory around Pakhoi, to effect my rescue. I was taken charge of by these fighting along the border, it is quite In view of the liklihal of further men, and after several hours' delay I was ssible that a string body of troops will taken to Moli where I received every
be seat out from Hongkong to guard the attention from the Chinese officials. Afrautier and yesterday a number of pony and
11 chair The time in that cave seemed as if it for
Wag assigned, soldiers and police were warned for duty and my us would never pass. I get very little sleep saleanan. Then we, proceeded to Pakhoi
in the New Territories should occasion a chair for my for I was continually wondering what with an ercort of 30 armed soldiers was going on and what might happen arriving there at 5 o'clock in the after- at any time. It was cool in the rave at noon of May 19th. day time but very cold at night, and though the cave was "smelly it was not unendurable on that account as a goxd current of air found its way in.
WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE RELEASE.
ris.
A MYSTERIOUS
BURGLARY.
OVER $3,000 WORTH OF CLOTH STOLEN FROM MESSRS. J. T. SHAW'S.
the late Mr. J TShaw's tailoring When Mr. W. H Coole, proprietor of
Mr. Rowen kurw nothing about ang ransom having been paid, and he sup poses that what brought about his release tabl shment, arrived at business yester was a threat which he had heard the tiny murning he was startled to find that General had made to wipe out the whole bis shop, Beaconsfield Arcade, had district in which the kidnapping occurred entered by burigars during the night. Un taking stock he later found thint over $3,000 worth of cloth had been stolen.
and. ns ench receptacle contained some holding rolls of cloth had been emptied No less than eight of the receptacles for
eight to ten suit lengths. the burglars must have got awar with some sixty or many of which were made up in suit lengths. seventy rolls of cloth of various lengths,
OUT OF THE CAVE. Oo the morning of the seventh day of our incare ration in the cave everything this time I was feeling rather weak if he were not speedily released. was packed up and taken outside. By owing to lack of exercise and fresh air, but I was marched from 7 o'clock till Mr. J. W. Jamieson, C.M.G.. HM
The matter had been in the hands of 12 across mountains and valleys in a north-Congul-General at Canton, who, it is westerly direction, towards the West River. understood, took up the matter with the We spent the rest of the night and the Authorities at once and pressed for the following day at a big farm, proceedings strenuous exertions to rescue the the next night in the same direction for
50me 50li (between 18 and 20 mile)./ captives. The British Consul who has that no one in the adjoining premises ap
ultimately arriving late at night at a I was still bound, and still had my neck in a nose, with a loose end hanging down my neck.
BANDITS SUSPICIOUS OF A NOTEBOOK.
The mysterious part of the affair is It was about midnight when we re barricaded village.
charge of Pakhoi was in Evibow at the pears to have heard any suspicious move- time, and owing to interruption of the ments, sumed our journey, but I have no idea
telegraphs through a strike, the news was according to his statement he neither saw An Indinu watchinen was on duty. it the front entrance to the shop, and of the route we travelled. It was a very dark night and we travelled by the aid;
very late in reaching him. Mr. Bristow nor heard anything untoward. He had a of a dim lantern. I was firmly bound by
was consequently not able to get back to full view of the shop premises which was Pakhoj until the day Mr. Howson arrived lighted throughout the night. the arms. Four armed men and one
there but meantime the French Consul, effected an entrance. At the back of the It is quite plain as to how the gang woman accompanied us. My interpreter With more freedom for my arms I was M. Reynaud, had actively interested him shop there is a small marrow yard parti had been kept at the farm as the bandits able on these treks to jot down a few notes self in the matter and did all he could to tioned off from the adjoining shops, by a had formed the intention to send him to in a book I had in my pocket. The impress the local authorities with the shed in the other. Access to this gard wall in one ease and the side of a wooden Pakhoĩ the next morning to make known handits had seen "ine writing and, later. importanes of taking every their ransom demands. It was under when I came to know that I was to be measure to secure Mr. Rowson's release.
possible from the shop is by means of a window stood that they wanted thirty thousand released, I was able to gather that the
which is protected by a grill which also Mr. Rowson is a well built
contains a small door, also made of iron- dollars, or rather the equivalent of that bandits wanted the Betbook. But I had fellow, of between 25 and 30 years of age, entered through a wall shop adjoining young work. The burglars had apparently amount in English gold. (Afterwards all along suspected "this and filled many and he owes it to a robust constitution the premises (on the Murray Parade they were prepared to accept golf-leaf or unges with tommy-rot," and the that he has come through such a trying Ground side) which is at present under Mauser pistola of that value as anings I handed to the bindita when they ordes) co well!
reconstruction and open to the street. quivalent). By depriving me of the were demanded and concealed the notre,
At the back of this shop there is a larga services of my interpreter I was in the One of my notes during this time after
window frame uct set Gtted with glass. predicament of not being able to speak my experiences in the cave was to the NEW CADET COMPANY FOR in the yard at the hack, and from there The burglars probably climbed through this and then on to the top of the shed to anybody, for the elemen spoke but effect that I had taken in four inches of few words of English and I do not my belt
Into Messrs. J. T. Shaw's back yard. The lock of the grill door was forced and the spenk Cantonese, None of the bandita
The Hongkong Volunteer Corps Cadet strange part about it is that nobody heard had any acquaintance with pidgin Eng. During thes: marches we never kent providing there are sufficient applications securing the window were drawn and the Company has now been disbanded, but, the smashing of two pane of glass in hish. We reached the cave after about an to the main roads, but took what I sup-from British boys, n new Company is toinen had a complete run of the shop. the window behind the grill. The bolts bour's tramp. From the pathway by pose were short cuts" over hills and he formed on somewhat different lines, There are several light finger prints on which we approached it we had to across three or four streams which we which will give it a definite official status the broken pants of glas but the i clamber over a number of rocks and then forded waist high in the water. We wore and recognition.
pressions are not clear enough to be of descend into the cave in the dark. The in this district five days, though we made
much assistance to the police, who were A small hole, just large two or three changes of quarters, which and on attaining the age of 14 years may of men were engaged on the job and Boys' of 10 to 14 years of age may join busy yesterday investigating the affair.. enough for a man's body to get through, were mud fints or third-class cow house elect to be sworn in or pesigns Boys they must have formed a chain passing It is also apparent that a large gang and I had to slip through feet first. The I had no change of clothes the whole time, from 14 to 18 years of age become sworn the rolls of cloth from one to anther into save proved to be about 8ft by 15ft as all I had wore what I stood up in. All in members and their service will be the back yard on to the shed and then with standing room only in one corner the clothes I had taken with me for the reckoned
La boys' service the into the adjoining shop. They had of it, and this was occupied by the armed journey had been
"pinched by the H.K.V.D.O. On attaining the age of 18 whole premises, "but, judging from the appareatly intended to clean out tha guard. The part assigned to me was nos bandits.:
years they may transier to another com look of things, they must have been start more than 4ft. high, so that during the
WELCOME NEWS.
pany in the Corps or resign
lod, for, on the floor of the shop and in whole six days and nights I was unable
found several rolls of cloth which in their the yard and on top of the shed, wern hurried flight they had left behind.
Evidently the cloth was taken out into
entrance was
THE NIGHT TREKS.
BRITISH BOYS.
in
the eyes of the watchman who was not
Ou May 5th the nows came through that They will be taught first aid work and to stand up, but had to sit or lie down negotiations, but been opened for my re-will be eligible to enter for the St. John's the whole time. This cave had been lease. My alesman heard this news and Ambulanco examinations. There will also formed of large boulders which at some conveyed it to me. I knew that two of be shooting practices and competitions Queen's Road and carried away under time or other had fallen as they now lic the coolics had been released, that my and if camp is held, they will be expected Daylight streaked through interstices in interpreter had been sent to Pakhai and to attend about three places so that I could just tell when it was day and when it was night. We had a lantern most of the
hat the woman who was travelling with
ne of my party and had been kept in
more than a few yards distant. Whether or not the stuff was taken away by truck Thin to an excellent opportunity for it cannot be said, but if it was not, quite a large number of man must have been
Izolls of cloth stolen,
the cave only three days had been sent British boys to obtain useful training to engaged in carting off the sixly or seventy sack with a further mensage.
fit them for emergencies.
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