CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12] — Page 492

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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guns had been taken away by the pirates, and only a gingall Eaglet, and I have answered them. They commencel was left. Some Chinamen came on board, but I don't know conversation by first putting the questions to me. who they were.

This w We then came to Hongkong, not having I think on Friday last. to my knowledge received at Mamee any remuneration. Except the two vessels already mentioned, I have neve After my arrival in Hongkong, I received in addition to my told either Roberts or Lyons of any vessels captured by the regular pay $56, as my share of the remuneration for the Eaglet, while out of Government employ. I never mention service performed, and all the crew received shares. Mred the word "squeezed" with reference to the mandarins a Caldwell was in command on this occasion. I received the Swatow to Roberts or Lyons, but I said I supposed the shit

have had conversations with Roberts, on Friday, Sunday, Mamee, where the Captain went on shore, and they were I Tuesday. I know that the vessels we convoyed were think disposed of by order of the Mandarins. I do not erally full of cargo, even on deck, and carried only two know of my own knowledge whether they were sold or not; three small guns. I cannot say whether the two boats but persons came from the shore and took possession of I do not know what sum was paid to the Captain by the Admiralty court. hich I said I supposed were sold at Mamee were afterwards them.

I do not know who had as remuneration for the service; I received from the Chief We were ares in the Eaglet nor who had share in her ventures or Officer $55 as my share of the remuneration. ofits. I have heard Mr Caldwell call a Chinaman, I not in this transaction committing an act of piracy; we

$56 from Siemssen & Co., as agents for the steamer. I do had earned $12,000 as compensation for about 15 dank in Hongkong, by the name of Jack; he resided I believe were only rescuing the boats from these murderers. That not know what amount the steamer was paid as remunera-Employment. I never told Roberts or Lyons that my share newhere in the Market,I have seen him on board the

tion, nor by whom.

[Document produced signed. Siemssen & Co., containing "chief officer Randall, his share in prize-money,

entry $56."]

This paper was brought on board to me by a clerk of Siemssen & Co. I do not remember being present on any other occasion, when not employed by Government, at the capture of any Chinese vessels of any class or rig. Neither myself nor the crew were ever employed in any engagement ashore. In the beginning, I think, of 1856, the Mandarins at Swatow came on board, and asked us to assist with their soldiers in the retaking of two villages, which the pirates had taken.

They came on board three or four times a-day

That was $500, or that the Engineer's was $250. I did tel them that I got about $100 for the affair of the two boats, Mamee.

This was mere talk. I had no idea I was coming here. I told them that this money was for prize-money and that my supposition was that the boats were sold. A the time I said this I had not found the paper which I have searched for and produced to-day. I did tell them that was disappointed at losing a lorcha with 50 chests of Opiunt on board, which was the lorcha I have already spoken of as having made her escape at Shatái. Roberts asked me how

I knew what she was, and I replied, we had been told by the boat people of Mamee that they were pirates. I

may have

was the only occasion on which I was present at the capture

essel. He never accompanied the vessel in any of her of any Chinese vessels except when the ship was in the I remember the Mandarins I have seen him on 3 or 4 occasions on board. employment of Government. oyages.

have no recollection of ever seeing him at Swatow or at Swatow requesting the assistance of the vessel in retaking I do not two villages; some of the crew were put with guns in the amec on the occasions already referred to. now whether he was in any way connected with the Eaglet.boats, but did not land, the mud preventing them. The think he had a shop in the Market. I never noticed him villages were afterwards burnt by the people on shore. I ring anything on board, provisions, guns, or cargo. [Shew am not aware whether the vessel received any remuneration I never heard of any squeezing chart produced by Inspector Roberts.] This is the chart for that service; I did not. hich was shewn me by Roberts. The directions for going or attempt to squeeze the sum of $12,000 or any other sum up to Swatow written on the chart are in my handwriting by Mr Caldwell or any other person on board in return for wrote them on the Sunday I have spoken of. Roberts this service. Inspector Roberts called on me on Saturday id he would probably be going up that way himself, and or Monday last. He asked me what I got for the junks

made use of the words "we did not care what the devil she would be obliged if I would give him the course up the that were sold at Mamee. I told him I got $55. I did not

was, so that she had the Opium," but I have no recollections of doing so.

ver. There was no one killed or wounded on board the Eaglet, and none on shore except a petty Mandarin, who was Founded by the villagers who were plundering, and not by

Postponed till 1 o'clock on the 3d June.

Thursday, 3d June.

He asked me what I got out of the volunteer the statement.

I replied that I got nothing. I said I did Swatow concern.

He said there was more hear there were $2,000 got for it. money than that for it, and that it amounted to $12,000.

got That was about the whole of the conversation. Lyons was with Roberts at this time. It was a general conversation between the three. Lyons said that he was down at Mamee at the time. I never heard and never said to Roberts or Lyons GEORGE STONE,-Called and examined. I knew Mr Caldwell first about June 1855. In July of that during the time the Eaglet was not in Government employ that year I was appointed by Mr Caldwell Chief-Engineer she captured 180 or any number of Chinese vessels except of the Eaglet. Mr Caldwell commanded her himself in this affair at St John's. I never told either Roberts or remained in that employment until about October 1856 Lyons that my share in the Swatow business was $250. She was principally engaged in convoying Chinese Merchant did say we were much dissappointed that we had not junks up and down the coast, and in carrying passengers captured the large lorcha of which I had spoken, at St and cargo.

She had, I think, seven guns on board, when John's, because we were informed that she had a valuable the commenced the convoy business. She was sometimes targo on board. I had only one conversation with Roberts engaged in the employment of Government for the purpose of and Lyons about this. I should think that the vessels we uppressing piracy. On one occasion she went in company convoyed were nothing but Merchant vessels. My reason with Her Majesty's steamer Rattler and boats of American for so thinking is, that they had their National flags, and samer Powhattan to Kulan, for the purpose of destroying a placed themselves under our protection. The Eaglet never est of pirates. During the whole time of my employment I to my knowledge convoyed a pirate; indeed, I would not. ver knew the Eaglet engaged in committing any act of myself have been in such employ. I looked to Mr Caldwell racy, but only in suppressing such. I remember the ocentirely as my employer, and do not know who were part- sion of our going to Mamee with a convoy; our being ners in the Eaglet, her adventures, or the profits. I do informed that there were pirates on the coast; and being not know a Chinaman by the name of Ma-chow Wong, requested to go in chase of them. We succeeded in finding Ma-tsow Wong, or Wong Akee, I have no recollection of four of them near St. John's: three ran aground, one of hearing Mr Caldwell addressing a Chinaman by the name Chinamen continually came on board about their which was so far off that we could not get near; two we of Jack. captured; and the fourth, which was a large lorcha painted cargo, but I recollect no one in particular; my duties were black, having a large number of men on board, engaged us below about the Machinery, during nearly the whole day till dark; she was too strong for us to capture.

We took the two captured boats to

for several days requesting us to assist them, and when the water was sufficiently deep, we got up as far as we could and anchored at low water. Being a-ground, we remained The vessels which we were in the habit of convoying were there several days. The mandarins came with their soldiers trading vessels. I remember that some junks under ourne Eaglet's people. in several boats to the attack of the village. We fired convoy refused to leave Mamee until the pirates had been several shells, but we were too far off for them to take driven away. I think, but am not positive, that Mr Cald effet. We took no other part in the engagement. The well said that the owners of the boats had given him money mandarins took the right hand village that day, and the for their recapture, which he would divide among the crew next day attacked the left hand village, but without success. in Hongkong, retaining a portion for the vessel.

I do not We fired a few shots to intimidate the village, but did no know of my own knowledge what the mandarius said to Mr injury. I do not know whether Goswa is the name of one of Caldwell. They spoke in Chinese. I do not remember any the villages I know that the steamer had remuneration for paper being given him by the mandarins. I think that a the shot shell and powder expended, the wear and tear of the portion of the money for the convoy of the junks to Swatow ship, and the time employed, but I received no portion of was paid there, and a portion at the Westward. I remem such remuneration, nor do I know what amount was paid-ber the ship's boats being lowered to assist the innocent none on board had any share. Mr Caldwell was on board people in driving away the mandarins from plundering them. on this occasion. We went back to Swatow. Mr Caldwell During the whole time of my connection with the Eaglet, I went on shore to the Chinese agent. I did suppose that never remember her having or being in communication some of the Treasure brought on board on that occasion with pirates or rendering them any assistance or convoying was in nature of remuneration for the shot, shell, &c., before them. I was passing by the station, when Roberts an referred to. I do not know the amount, but the remainder Lyons asked me to go up to their room. They talked off I supposed to be cargo to be carried for freight. When we various things and brought the questions round. I had not received Treasure as cargo, it was sometimes in boxes and the slightest idea that it was for the purpose of inducing me sometimes in bags, To the best of my knowledge neither to give evidence. They did not after questioning me say Mr Caldwell nor any one on board the vessel squeezed from they should want me to give evidence, but I surmised so the mandarins to the extent of $12,000, or any other sum afterwards, and told them I thought I would have to come as for remuneration. I never either in Swatow or here up here. Roberts first asked me if I would compare my made any application to Mr Caldwell, Messrs Siemssen & Coast Charts with his. I had not mine with me, but he Co., or any other person for any share of prize money in asked me to look at his, and point out the entrance to the respect to this attack.

I know Inspector Roberts of the river Han where the villages were. Police force here, and a man named Lyons. They have told that the Iorcha was a pirate, I would not have consented asked me several questions concerning the voyages of the to go in chase of her,

Had I not known or been

*་

Cross-examined, I remember with reference to the Ma mee business, that on the return voyage to Hongkong, the

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