Page
CANTON-HONG KONG TELEPHONE
PLANS AND ESTIMATES.
SHOULD BE A BIG PROFIT.
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT]
CANTON, September 30th. With regard to the proposed in.. stallation of a telephone system. between Canton and Hong Kong, Mr. Fung Wai, chief of the Bureau of Public Utilitics, acting under instructions of Mayor. Lin "Wen Koi, has drawn a tentative pro
According to Mr. Fung gramme. the line will be about 100 miles in length. The system will be cap- able of giving more than 21,00 telephone calls per month. On the assumption of charging one dollar. Hong Kong currency, per call, the amount of business transacted would be over $239, 200-Hong Kong The total sufrener per annual expenses for the upkeep and maintenance of the system, necord- ing to the Municipal ofheini, will be about 820,000, thus, giving a net profit of approximately $230,200 Hong Kong money for the Canton Municipal Government,
am.
The following is a free translation. of the plan and estimate submitted
by Mr. Fung to Mayor Lie
1. The line. The distance will be from Canton to Kowloon, up- proximately 100 miles. The line will follow the Canton-Köwloon Railway throughout,
-The wires. The line will con- sist of four copper wires and four) rather fine wires All the telephone poles and cross bars at the top will be of wood. In every mile. there will be forty poles erected- equidistant from one another. The size of the copper wires used will be such, that a mile will weigh 172 pounds. All the materials used will be the best obtainable and the workmanship will be the best. This is to insure permanence, and good service.
THE COST.
-Following is an estimate of the total cost of the project:-
4,000 telephone poles....G.840,000. 4,000 cross, bars each
with ten holes
40,000 porcelain insula-
tors .......... 38,000 pounds of copper
wires Metal ropes, etc., for the wooden poles..... Repairing apparatus to be used along the roads. **** Engineering and
сод
struction expenses ... Labourers' expenses, and the like............
Total
14,000
1,000
THE HỒNG KÔNG DAILY PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 1928.
THE "ANKING" PIRACY.
SINGAPORE GANG SEIZE UNPROTECTED
VESSEL.
THREE MEMBERS OF THE CREW MURDERED,
FULL STORY OF THE CRIME.
An immunity of five months, may have lulled seafarers on the China Coast into a false sense of security." This was rudels shattered on Saturday when news was received by wireless that the Butterfield and Swire ss. Anking, ore of the largest and newest vessels of the C.N.C. fleet, had been pirated by a gang who had boarded the ship at Singapore."
The gang adopted ruthless methods and, the Chief Engineer, Mr. H. Thompson, the Chief Officer, Mr. D. C. Jones, and one of the Chinese quartermasters on watch, Cheung Shun Tak, were killed while the Master, Captain C. E. Plunkett Cole, was seriously wounded and the Third Officer, Mr. A. I. Campbell, was stabbed and hit, on the head. He is not, however, on the sick list and is sailing with the ship this morning."
UNPROTECTED.
The Anking runs between Singapore afd Amoy. She does not come under the Anti-Piracy Regulations and is not itted with grilles. Nor does she carry guards. She is quite unprotected against attack of this kind. for though the promenade deck com- panion ladders, fore and alt, have iron gates the deck can be easily clambered into from below and the whole length of it is open to revolver fire from the boat deck aft. The bridge itself is not protected in any way. A report was current in the Colony yesterday that Capt. Plunkett Cole had asked at Singapore for an armed guard but it had not been possible to provide him with
оде
The pirates, who were about 40 strong, had little dificulty in seizing the ship. Isolated and unarmed the officers had no chaned and it was callous disregard for life on the part of the pirates
The crime amounted· thut was responsible for the triple murder.
to shooting at sight.
The pirates were in charge of the ship from Wednesday even- ing at about 6.10 p.m. till 2 a.m. on Saturday morning." Their haul is computed at some $100,000 and seven captives were taken of to be held for ransom, at least until bank drafts found of them
one to the value of $10,000 has been cashed.
PIRATES NEW BASE.
Bias Bay has been effectively cleared up by the Canton Gov. ernment, but an equally good base, landlocked and lonely, has been found in the fine natural of Honghai Bay, a few miles, to the north of Bias Bay.
Mr. Thomson although morially wounded, staggered into the asloon and there to the alloyway trying to get to the cabin of Dr. L. K. Woo, the ship's doctor. The sen was rough at the time, and with the rolk Mr. Thomson.pitched forward out- side the bathroom. Dr. Woo came out of his cabin with the intention of attending to the wounded man, but he was prevented from doing so by several robbers. He was also taken to the pantry and locked in.
Knocked On The Head. The third officer, Mr. A. I Campbell, who was silting on the starboard side of the promenade deck heard the commotion but be fore he could do anything, he was knocked on the head by a missile. He was dazed by the blow, but pluckily ran to the port side of the ship in an attempt to gain the lad- der leading tq, the bridge... He was however, stabbed in the back and
when he came to after several hours, he found himself near the dead bodies of Mr. Jones and the Chinese quartermaster..
Pirates Take Control. At this stage the pirates took complete control of the ship. They acted very quickly and systematical ly. Mr. E. C. O. Bird was then in the engine room. "A Chinese fre- man told him that
topside plenty trouble," and on coming up, he was met by a pirate who thrust a The revolver against his side. weapon was one which had been taken by the pirates from the ship's
armoury.
get to Hong Kong before the drafts could be cashed and stop payment. He decided that thô men should ac company them to the piraten lair, where tha.drafts could be posted to the relatives of the prisoners to cash and the money sent to the robbers
DAY&BOC
Mr, Bird Gets $10 Tip.
On Saturday morning at about. I a.m. the Anking anchored at Ross. Hend, in the North of Honghai Bay. The pirates then make pre- parations to leave the ship. Four life boats from the Anking', davits were lowered and the crew was made to transfer the loot and the hostages" into two of the boats while the gang occupied the other two. Mr. Bird was made to accompany the pirates ashore so as to ensure that the lite boats were not fired at from the ship, ...
After the briganda had left the ship, fr. Bennett cruised around for an hour while waiting for Mr. Bird's return. He did not think it was safe to remain stationary and thus offer a chance for another band of pirates to attack them once
more.
Towards daylight Mr. Bird re- turned with the boats and the boat- awain. He was given 810 “tip" by the pirate chief and the Chinese heatswain received the same.
The Booty,
It is estimated that the pirates must have got away with "about 8100.000. Money taken from officers and passengers and jewellery
totalled about $50,000 and the arms and ammunition and other pro-
reckoned at perties were
about $20,000. Six cases of cargo were also opened. The pirates took away with them woollens, blankets, and tweeds. Some shellac and rubber
shoes they did not take the trouble
to remove. ."
Mr. Bennett, the 2nd officer, was then released and forced to navi gate the ship under the command of the robbers. He was only allow;
Bodies Dumped Overboard. ed a few short respites from the bridge until the pirates left. Che The bandits threw the dead engineers, Mr. Norris, Mr. T. bodies of the Chief Officer, the Carry and Mr. Bird carried on as Chief Engineer and the Chinese usdal in the engine room, bu al-qaartermaster overboard on Thurs- ways under guard.
Erms Collected. The pirates carefully searched the ship's armoury. There were 24. fire-arms on board, but the robbers only found 23, one having been hidden by Mr. Norris.
Orders were then given for the ship to be greeted for Swatow. The pirates then changed their attitude, and although they kept the strictest watch over the officers, they were no longer personally hostile.
They even relented to the extent of getting Dr. Woo to attend to Capt. Plunkett-Cale after removing him to the saloon from the bridge. Dr. Wae was taken to the surgery under guard to get his instruments and medicine and returning with these, he did everything that was possible for Capt. Plunkett-Cole, who was then placed on a settee,
The weather was still rough and the Anking preceded on her way with all lights out. The robbers Singapore with 1,431 passengers
wert so far as to disconnect all the for Heihow, Swatow, Amoy and switches. Only candles and torches Hong Kong.
were used.
A new Captain and Chigi Oficer have been appointed to the Anking and the ship will sail this afternoon for Swatow and Amoy. Her ensign has been flown at balf mast since the tragedy.
inent.
SCENE ON THE ILL-FATED SHIP.
The Auking, when boarded by our representative, on Saturday 8,000 afternoon,, immediately after ahe had tied up to a buoy in mid- 8,000 stream, presented 4 picture of mingled tranquillity and excite- In the steerage. quarters were nearly 1500 persons many clinging to each other and showing every sign of distress. They have been robbed of their belongings, and the effect of their ordeal waa 8,000 clearly written on many faces. The crew, however, had "tbaken down" and went about their work as 3,000
usual. Hungry children were cry- ing for something to eat and it was 2,000 stated that during the 54 hours which the pirates had control of the ship.. passengers were left to fend for themselves in the way of food.. "Some of them had been liv- ing on water for two days,
G.884,000
The officers on board were:- Captain C. E. Plunkett-Cole;
be-
day night. One of the pirates told a member of the crew that they "had to get rid of the bodies cause they were approaching places where there were likely to be men- of-war and that they did not wish to leave any evidence behind.
The Officers..
Captain C. E. Plunkett-Cole is a resident of Hong Kong. He first joined the China Navigation Co. in 1901 and was promoted to master. in 1900. He took command of the Anking in 1927.
The late Mr. D. C. Jones joined the C.N.C. in 1923 and was pro- moted to chief officer in 1905. He was only transferred to the Anking in June this year.
The late Mr. Henry Thomson was a native of Greenock He was in his home town "when the Anking was being built there. He joined the C.N. in 1902 and was made second engineer in 1905 and becarie Arst in 1915. His brother by a sed coincidence also lost his life in a Hong Kong ship, going down in the Loong Sang.
The ss. dnking is,000 of the largest and newest addition to the steamer of about 3,000 tons.
Ransack The Ship. Three hours after the ship bad Mr. D. C. Jones, Chief Officer been captured, the pirates turned C.N.C. fleet. She is a well-appoint
Mr. T. Curry, Junior Third. "The vessel also carries a doctor, Dr. L. K. Woo.
(killed);
Mr. J. W. Bennett, Second belongings. The latter were told that their attention to the passengers' Officer;
they would be shot without com- Mr. A I. Campbell, Third
punction if they tried to kide any- Officer;
thing. First they were ordered to Mr. H. Thouisou, Chief Engineer per their baggage, and then one (killed);.
Mr. A. W. Norris, Second En-one they were marched onto the main deck, and as they came out, gincer;
Mr. E. C. O. Bird, Third EA- women and children, were thorough ly searched. They were assembled gineer;
on the main deck, under guard, and leaving a strong guard some of the pirates went below and conducted, s Nothing unusual happened until careful search of the passengers It will take about
8.40 p.m. on Wednesday, Septem
belongings. 4.-Income.
They spent several four minutes to get a call. Out of
ber 28th, when the vessel was in hours over the job and when they On the top deck where the quar- the Gulf of Tongking. It was
returned on deck, they had a small the 24 hours each day, let us suppose
ters of the European officers are then that the attack was made. basketful of banknotes and jewel- that telephone calls cover eight situated there was little to indiente Some of the officers had had din-lery.
They next turned their attention hours. Fifteen calls can be had that a grin tragedy bad taken ner and others were tidying them- in, one hour on one wire. Out of place. The deck was specklessly selves up before having their meal.. to the officers' cabins and took away clean and everything was peace- On the bridge were Captain Cyril everything of valuc, even navigat the six wires constituting the line, ful. The officers when not engaged E. Punkett-Cole, the Chief Officer, this could mean that 90 calls could in their duties courteously gave Mr. D. C. Jones, and two Chinese
quartermasters, be made every hour. On this as every help in their power to the
Pressinen who had come on board sumption there will be each days
was quite Capt. Plunkett-Cole 720 calls; and counting 30 days, cheerful when he was taken out of there will be each months 21,000 the saloon to the deck on a stretcher. Mrs. Plunkett-Cole, who
The four men on the bridge were calls. Charging at the rate of one lives in Hong Kong, went on board dollar per call, the income will be as soon as the vessel was anchored. caught by surprise and before they $21,000, Hong Kong currency, per She saw her husband being removed could offer resistance, the attackers to hospital and hore up with re-fired a volley at point-blank range. month. This would mean that the markable fortitude. He was taken Captain Plunkett-Cole was shot business transacted annually would to the Penk Hospital where he is twice, one bullet passing, clean to 2250,200, Hong Kong going on as well as possible, but through his left thigh and the amount
yesterday it was thought advisable other lodging in his right thigh.
Several shots were fired at Mr. booty. Deducting the total annual that he should have a complete rest money.
Jores and he was hit in the chest The pirates then declared that expenses, which will amount to and see so visitors.
and the head. The Chinese quar- they would not take the compradore proximately $20,000, this would
termaster was also shot dead on the captive and thus re-assured, the spot. leave a net profit for the Canton.
Compradore came out of his hid- ing place and they promised to re- turn $60 to him.
The bandits, all well armed, rushed the promenade deck and up the unguarded ladder to the bridge
-Shot At Sight.....
The pirates on their way to the bridge, murdered. Mr. H. Thomson, Chief Engineer, who was sitting in a chair on the promenade deck.
Mr. Bennett To The Rescue.
ing instruments were taken, and what was not stolen was smashed.
Compradore Wanted.
The only glimmer of humour in this tragic business was provided the Compradore. Da
THE "ANKING'S'' NEW
CAPTAIN.
When our representative again visited the ship yesterday afternoon the steerage passengers had settled dewn. They were eating their even- and everything was ing meäl normal.
One of the officers remarked that the ship was due to sail this (Mon- day) afternoon. Captain T. John- stone, of the Company's s.8. Kulgon, had already been appointed master, And Mr. Richards was taking over as chief officer.
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LIST OF TITLES :-
The passengers bound for Hoihow had already been landed and were proceeding by the &.. Chinhud to their destination. The officers were decidedly reticent about details of the piracy. It was pointed out, however, that there were no grilles and the promenade deck, though it had barred gates over its laddere fore and aft, was not protected in. any way. The bridge was also open
A HISTORY OF ENGLAND. | THE ENGLISH NOVEL. night that the ship was captured, to attack, and exposed to small arm
EASTERN ART & LITERA- THE AGE OF THE EARTH, the pirates asked for the Com-fire.
TURE. We are not in the Piracy zone,"
WORLD OF GREECE AND
ROME. pradore. This man was in hiding, and not finding him, the robbers remarked one officer with mild played bavoe with his room break- ing open his safe from which they got 84,300 in cash. The compra dore's gramophone and an expen- aive rug were also added to the
by
the
irday,.
nad so no protection is
don't carry,
necessary and we. guards."
It was bot very long ago that a consignment of arms was found in the Abu at Singapore. It was only that discovery which saved a piracy in that case and probably the same gang was at work.
THE ORIGINS OF CIVI
LIZATION. NUTRITION & DIETETICS. HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE. HISTORY OF GERMANY, HISTORY OF ITALY. THE PAPACY.
HISTORY OF INDIA. THE REFORMATION, RAILWAYS. GREAT PHILOSOPHIES
OF THE WORLD. WAR ON LAND. 1914-1918. BRITISH". PRIME MINIS- TERS OF 18TH CENTURY.
Wanton Destruction. The compradore's cabin showed
There is no difficulty in getting wanton destruction by the robbers.
on board. They stream up fore and Municipality of about $325,000, Hong as top writing desk had been
aft as fast as you can count them Kong currency.
smashed to splinters and the safe
On Friday night, however, the and some times faster. Their bag- 5.-Deposit fees. Any one desir-broken, and no less than 34,300 in
compradore had a sudden fear that gage is already on board and for when the robbers left the ship, they all we know any number of pistols ing to make use of this long discash had been taken. Electric fans, life-belt brackets and everything tance telephone will have to pay hanging from the ceiling or against Mr. J. W. Bennett, the second might take him as captive after all, may be smuggled in. Hong Kong
THE FRENCH NOVEL. and he again went into hiding. In is the only place where any sort. the wooden partition had been torn officer, had seen one shot fired at a deposit of $50 Hong Kong money. down in an attempt to find the key Mr. Thomson, who grappled with the meantime, the pirates had of effective search is made. Assuming that there will be 2,000 of the safe.
the pirates and put up a brave placed 850 beneath the compradore's That a new and still more serious clients, this, would yield $60,000 The passengers luggage was struggle until he fell with a bullet pillow but when they could not find phase of Chinese piracy may be expected was obviously in the minds forcibly opened and in their search, through his head. Mr. Bennett him they took the money 'away.
of the officers. They felt. deeply i -Hong-Kong-currency..
for valuables, the pirates had-mix-could only get hold of a club and Beyen Kidnapped. -The above is only a tentative ed everything in great heaps so bravely went to the rescue of ble
One Chinese first class and six the helplessness in face of a large
sistance.. programme, the details of which that many passengers were at each comrade. Ho wielded the club to steerage passengers were taken by armed gang and the futility of re- will have to be worked out in con- other throats disputing over their good effect but he could do little the robbers for ransom. These worst thing that can against a gang of desperate men. seven men had little cash on them, happen is for a warship to inter- respective belongings. sultation with experts.
bat they each had a bank draft, and vene,
e said. ons officer. These -It-is-reported that the construc
Mr. Bennett then made for the these they showed to the pirates pirates mean busines. They made ladder heading to the bridge, but when they were searched
it plain that they would kill-overy. tion will be given to the China
ho was forestalled by one member When the robbers assembled these
one if we were challenged by a Electric Con a joint American-
of the gang, who tare pen his seven men to take them away, though eval-ship. If that had happened Chinese enterprise. The Company
shirt and pressed a revolver against the hapichs passengers offered, their they would have got on board to is now installing an automatic The ss. Anking leit Hong Kong his ribs. Other bandits closed in drafts to the bandits in exchange and no European officers there at system of telephones in Canton on September 10th, for Amoy and seiring Mr. Bennett they drag for freedom: The Pirate chief said all-and-the-pirates all mingled in ander the supervision of Mr. Carey, Swatow and Singapore. On Sepged him into a cabin and locked that the draft would not be of any with the passengers who would be the. American resident enginters,
e-to-them-as-the passengers.would-too-frightened to give them away!! teaberard (Sunday) the-left-him-ion
-STORY OF THE_SHIP'S_ CAPTURE.
ALLWELL-UNTIL
armed with fire-arma.
BRITISH CONSTITUTION. THE ENGLISH STAGE, EUROPE IN THE AGE OF
NAPOLEON. ENGLISH LITERATURE. [ITALIAN LITERATULE. GERMAN LITERATURE. MYTHS OF GREECE AND
ROME.
ROMAN BRITAIN. ORIGINS OF AGRICOLTURE A HISTORY OF EUROPE,
476-1925.
A HISTORY OF WESTERN
EUROPE 1815-1926.- HISTORY OF ROSSIA. HISTORY OF CHINA, ANCIENT EGYPT":" ISLAM. THE PRESS. ENGLISH WATER COLOUR
PAINTERS CRIMINOLOGY. FREE WILL PROBLEM... OCEANS & RIVERS. PRE-ROMAN BRITAIN, FRENCH LITERATURE. SHAKESPEARE. RUSSIAN LITERATURE. ARCHITECTURE.- MODERN SCIENTIFIC
IDEAS. THE ATOM.
AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
KELLY & WALSH, LTD.
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CHATER KOAD,