}
,
ES, MONDAY, OCTOBER
PIRACY IN
CHINA.
BRITISH SHIP SEIZED.
OFFICERS KILLED.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
HONG-KONG, SEPT. 30. The China Navigation Company's steamer Anking (3,472 tons), which was on a voyage from Singapore to Hong- kong, was seized by pirates in the Bay of Tongking on Wednesday evening. The pirates numbered 40, and although the ship's officers had no time to arm them- selves when the pirates attacked they resisted valiantly. In the struggle Captain C. E. Plunkett-Cole and Third Officer A. I. Campbell were seriously injured, and Chief Engineer Henry Thomson, of Greenock, and Chief Officer D. J. Jones, of Newquay, were killed. A Chinese quartermaster also was killed.
With the ship's lights extinguished the pirates steered a devious course to Honghai Bay, north of Bias Bay, whither the headquarters of the pirates were,
f
Miles.
20
40
fan Lokony
Canton
Victoria HONG KONG
(BRITISH)
2.
(6724)
apparently, moved after the recent mili- tary activity in the Bias Bay area. The officers' bodies were thrown overboard, and the pirates escaped with booty totalling £10,000.
There is much local indignation over the outrage, and renewed demands are made for an effective naval patrol. The Canton Government recently cleaned up the Bias Bay area, but apparently, more comprehensive operations are neces- sary.
FIGHT ON BRIDGE.
FIRE OPENED AT POINT-
BLANK RANGE.
HONG-KONG, Sept. 29.-The Anking had 1,400 passengers on board. When most of the officers were at dinner a gang of about 40 pirates, masquerading as passengers, suddenly threw off their disguises. Some of them rushed the bridge, where they took Captain Plunkett- Cole and Mr. Jones, who were on duty, completely by surprise. The officers made a gallant resistance, but the pirates opened fire at point-blank range;
Mr. Jones dropped dead, shot in the head and chest, and Captain Plunkett-Cole fell to the deck with bullets in both thighs. The Chinese quartermaster courageously camo to their help, but was immediately shot dead.
The
At the same time another party_of pirates attacked Mr. Thomson. Chief Engineer pluckily closed with the ruffians, but was shot in the head and left side. The Second Officer, Mr. J. W. Bonnett rushed to his aid, armed only with a club. He made an heroic stand was eventually
arpowered. The Third Officer, Mr. Campbell, was resting in a deck chair when he was stunned by a blow on the forehead before he had a chance to defend himself. When he came to he managed to stagger to the bridge, only to receive a knife in the back, and he fell beside the bodies of the Chief Officer and the Quartermaster, The Second Engineer, Mr. A. W. Norris, the Third Engineer, Mr. E. C. O. Bird, and the Assistant Third Engineer, Mr. T. Curry, were all taken by surprise and overpowered.
The pirates then seized the armoury and took control of the whole ship. They permitted the ship's surgeon, Mr. Woo, to lay Captain Plunkett-Cole and Mr. Campbell on settees and dress their wounds. The Second Officer, Mr. Bennett, was forced to navigate the ship under a guard of pirates, who held revolvers at his back. He was ordered to steer for Swatow and was compelled to remain on the bridge for 54 hours with only short intervals for rest until the Anking cast anchor in Honghai Bay. LOOT TAKEN ON SHORE.
All the passengers were mustered on deck and systematically searched, while | other pirates attended to the luggage bolow. The officers' cabins were rani- sacked, and a number of cases of cargo, mostly containing woollen goods, were broken open. After a search lasting ten hours a great pile of loot was heaped upon the deck ready to be taken ashore. The pirates were in gay humour at the success of their plot, and during the voyage those who were not on guard over their vietins made merry and feasted in the saloons and officers' messes. When the ship approached Hong-kong last night the pirates became very watch- ful, and the surviving officers were threatened with death if the Anking were challenged. A Blue Funnel liner and other vessels were sighted, but success- fully dodged, Bias Bay itself was given a wide berth for foar of the warships which might be patrolling this notorious neighbourhood, and the Anking entered Honghai Bay without incident, anchoring off Ross Head at 1 o'clock this morning. After gathering the loot they had piled on deck the pirates disembarked in three lifeboats, taking with them seven Chinese passengers for ransom and the Third Engineer, Mr. Birl. The Chinese crew of the steamer were compelled to row their captors ashore, after which they and Mr. Bird were set free to return to the Anking. When daylight came tho Anking made for Hong-kong, where she arrived this afternoon.--Reuter.