ASA
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPLEMENT
you an official letter which I have bad addressed to you by the Colonial Secretary; and as I have said, it is merely a formal recog- nition of your services:-
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th April, 1914.
Sir,
I am directed to inform you that your spirited action on the occasion of the piratical attack on board the steamer "Tai On on the night of Monday the 27th of April, 1914, has been brought to the notice of the Governor. It appears that with the help of pour colleagues, Mr. McCartney, the Chief Engineer, and Mr. Evans, the Chief Officer, you gallantly withstood the armed assault upon the bridge, and that when the vessel had beeu set on fire you did all that lay in your power to obtain help from oiler vessels in the vicinity, afterwards remaining at your post until all had left the burning ship.
Your devotion to duty in cir- cumstances of great peril was worthy of the highest traditions of the British Mercantile Marine Service and I am to convey to you the thanke of His Excel. lency and the Government of Bongkong for
your courageous conduct, which, was the means of saving many lives.—1 am, Sir.
Your obedient servant, Sa. CLAUD SEVERN,
Colonial Secretary.
R. H. Wetherell, Esq.
Master, S. S. Tai On."
1 may say here that enquiries will be made into the circumstan- ces under which certain ships, who although they know that the Tai On was on fire did not stand by to render ber assistance. thank you again very much and my personal opinion of you at the present is, that you are one of the inest chaps I have ever shaken hands with.
Mr. McCartney you come from
• race the Scots race-which has proved itself equal to any emergency, and you are a fine
specimen of one of the finest races on the face of the earth, though I say it who am not of your race.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th, April, 1914. Sir, I am directed to inform you that the valuable services which you rendered on the occasion of the piratical attack on board the steamer "Tai On" on the night of Monday, the 27th of April, 1914, bave been brought to the notice of the Governor,
You gallantly supported the efforts of the Captain in repelling the armed assault on the bridge, and afterwards when the vessel had been set on fire.
I am to convey to you the thanks of His Excellency and the Govern- ment of Hongkong for your trave conduot.-Iam, Sir,
Your obedient servant, 8d. CLAUD SEVERN
Colonial Secretary-
I am proud to shake hands with
you.
Mr. McCartney :-Thank you, eir.
His Excellency :--And now, Mr. Dias, you acted a very brave part. You were foreman of the guard on board and
you showed
that the Portuguese race has still got lots of the courage for which it was famous in history. I am glad to think that one of the ancient allies-or a member of a country, the ancient ally of England-stood by British officers to do the strenuous work that you did.
The following letter has been directed to you:
·
-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 30th April, 1914.
Sir, I am directed to inform
you
that Hia Excellency the Governor has heard with much pleasure of your gallant conduct on the occasion of the piratical attack on board the steamer "Tai On on the night of Monday, the 27th of April, 1914,
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It appears that with your colleague you assisted the officers
in preventing the pirates from capturing the bridge and wheel- house, and that while so doing you shot down several members of the gang.
I am to convey to you the thanks of His Excellency and the Government of Hongkong your services,
of
I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Sd.) CLAUD SEVERN. Colonial Secretary.
Antonie Dias, Esq.,
· Armed Guard,
8.8. "Tai On.
I am proud to shake hands with you and I am only sorry I was not beside you on the bridge.
I will only add that I deeply regret the loss of Mr. Evans and so many others, especially Mr. Evans who must have had a very strenuous time on that night. Now I have asked the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Harbour Master to enquire into the losses .hich you have in- curred and the Government will deal fairly with you in
this
matter.
Capt. Wetherell:-I heg to thank you on behalf of myself and my shipmales and to unite with you in
regret at the loss of Mr. Evans.
The men again shook hands with His Excellency and left, being photographed in the grounds as they went.
One of the Chinese passengers of the "Tai On," Leung Ping- wan, who was sent to the Govern- ment Civil Hospital on the 28th inst., suffering from shot wounds, died there at 7.45 p.m. on Wednesday,
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Lee. Sgt. Grimmitt reports that be picked up on the wreck of the The metal parts of a shot-gun, 3 Tai On" the following articles: Winchester Rifles, 2 Mauser Pistols, 2 Automatic Pistols, 2 Revolvere, various silver and Finger Ring, I piece Jade Stone. copper coins, 3 Bangles, 1 Gold
WC
On
THE INQUIRY.
41
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPEMENT
Tuesday the official inquiry into the circumstances attending 'the casualty to the British 8.8. Tai On," to quote the s of the warrant forming the Court, was commenced at the Harbour Office. The court which was composed of Commander Basil Taylor R. N. president, Lt. T. D. Sharp, R. N. HMS. Tamar, Mr. F. T. Wheeler, master of th 8.8. Kum Sang, J. W. Evans, master of the 8.8. Hai Mun, and J. Robinson master of the 8.8. Sangking.
The first witness called was the master of the ill fated Tai Oo. Capt Wetherell said he left hie wharf at 7 p.m. on April 27.
The President :- Bound for Wong moon?-Kwongmoon.
Were there other ships which left at the same time?—Yes; the On Lee. She left after me and came astern down the central fairway.
Was the Lintan due to leave at the same time ?-I believe 80.
Did you see her?-No. Did the On Lee?-I cannot say, but I have been told she passed me at Capsimun Light.
Did you see any more of the On Lee?—No.
Then you
went along and everything went well until when I turned in before then.
When?-About 10 p.m. What is the next thing that happened?—I had a few smokes but could not sleep. I never cap sleep on that watch-and then I heard yells, shouts, and revolver ahota.
Coming from where ?-From both sides.
On your boat deck --Yes. Any down below?-I can't say that.
Then what did you do?-I got up and turned the light on. A plan of the ship was produced showing the captain's quarters.
You were fully dressed-No, in singlet and gown.
The gun was a-? Ten bore shot gun.
Loaded? It is always kept loaded.
Loaded with what?-S.G.
Your door is on the aft deck?-- There are two doors. I went to the starboard side when a man met me. He went back and I went to the port side.
what
The man who met you; was he? A pirate.
Armed?-1 had not time to see if he was armed.
Then you went to the port side and what did you see ?-A ma attacking the Chief Engineer.
one
Armed?-I could not see. It was dark; I don't know whether it was before or afterwards that the engineer shouted he was shot. Anyhow I gave the man barrel.
In his head ?-No; in his chest. You fired at the man, and killed him? He went over backwards; he was killed. I went to the
starboard side and saw another man;
I don't know whether he was coming up or going down but I gave him the other barrel.
The man dropped on the Teesel ?-On the fo'cale.
Your gun was then empty?— Yes. I told the engineer to go into my room and passed him my gan to load up again. There were four spare cartridges on the locker.
Were you firing from your cabin ?-No. went into the cabin, got two revolvers, and shot two or three times with thuse
Were the pirates behind the grille?-Behind the after grille shouting and yelling.
Were there many of them?- The place swarmed with them,
There seemed to be a lot?- Yes.
one.
ני
mean
IT
must remember
You fired a few shots at them? -Yes. I must have gone into the wheel house and got another
What do you have; don't you it?—I don't remember it.
You were using revolvers then?-When the gun was loaded. I got in two more shots, one forward and the other to the starboard side..
=
How long did this firing go on ?-Perhaps two ΟΙ three minutes.
And they went off; how about the people behind ?-They were
there all the time.
escape
475
Then how did you were you behind the shiel Is ? — No.
Then what happened ?-1 sung out to the mte. I saw there were no more on the bridge, and I told the mate to guard the bridge and see that no more
came up.
Where were your watchman?— In the meantime I had the grillea closed.
That was the foremost grille; the after grille was already shut?-Locked.
The watchmen, where were they? There was one on each side between the foremost grille and the shield? -Yes.
What were they doing?-Fir- ing aft
What were they using ?-Esch one had a .38 calibre revolver and a Winchester.
The chief engineer was were? -In my room.
Was he badly hurt ?—N He was complaining.
Witness said :-I gave him the keys of the rocket looker, and when I got them I let one off.
How long after the attack commenced did you send off these? About five minutes.
As soon as you had repelled the attack? Yes.
Then
you started firiog rreketa ?-I fired one and then had another two or three shots
aft. These men were firing all the time. Then I went and got another one but I found the brass tube burst and I was hit in the chest.
You kept on fighting and send- ing off rockets?-As best I could. Were your engines going all this time? I can't say.
You had not stopped the engines?—The engine room had rung up.
You can't say what time the engines stopped?-No sir. I rang one engine full ahead and
put the helm a-port after I had rung the engines two or three times. I could get no reply. Then I found the steering gear was out of order. By this time were they still firing?-Yes, from aft.
How long afterwards ?—Before they started the fire.
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