Report on the piracy of the British steamship "Sainam" at Fu Wan near Samshui on the evening of the 13th July 1906
The steamship "Sainam" is a steamer of 349 tons belonging to the Hongkong, Canton and Macau Steamboat Company, Limited.
She plies between Canton and Wuchow in Kwang Si touching en route to land and take up passengers at Yung Ki, Mahning, Kumchuk, Kaukong, Sanshui, Haulik, Shui Hing, Yuetsing, Lokto, Lokpo, Lo Tinghan, Takhing, Dosing, Fangchuen. The only Europeans employed are the Master and Chief Engineer. There are also four Indian watchmen.
She has three decks. The lower or main deck is used for the deck passengers, the lower spar deck forward for 1st Class passengers and aft for 1st Class Chinese. On the upper spar deck is the wheel house and Captain's cabin, and here are kept the arms and ammunition.
There is access from the main deck to the lower spar deck by two companion ladders about amidships, one on either side, and these can be closed by a strong iron grating. They are in fact intended to be always closed at night, but it appears the precaution has been more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
Indian watchmen are employed to guard the two companion ladders against any possible rush from the main deck.
There is a clear space in the bow of the lower spar deck, then come two cabins opening on to the deck on either side. One of these is for the Chief Engineer, and the other, the starboard one, for European passengers. Next to these going aft is the saloon running athwart ship with...