CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12] — Page 367

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The guns had been taken away by the pirates, and only a gingall was left. Some Chinamen came on board, but I don't know who they were. We then came to Hongkong, not having to my knowledge received at Mamee any re- muneration. After my arrival in Hongkong, I received in addition to my regular pay $56, as my share of the remuneration for the service performed, and all the crew received shares. Mr Caldwell was in command on this occasion. I received the $56 from Siemssen & Co., as I do not know what amount the agents for the steamer. steamer was paid as remuneration, nor by whom.

entry "chief officer Randall, his share in prize-money, $56."]

commenced the conversation by first putting the questions to me. This was I think on Friday last.

Except the two vessels already mentioned, I have never told either Roberts or Lyons of any vessels captured by the Eaglet, while out of Government employ. I never mentioned the word "squeezed" with reference to the mandarins at Swatow to Roberts or Lyons, but I said I supposed the ship had earned $12,000 as compensation for about 15 days' employment. I never told Roberts or Lyons that my share of that was $500, or that the Engineer's was 250. I did tell them that I got about $100 for the affair of the [Document produced signed Siemssen & Co., containing two boats at 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. At 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 I was disappointed at losing a lorcha with 50 chests of Opium 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 repli- ed, we had been told by the boat people of Mamee that they were pirates. I may have made use of the words "we did not care what the devil she was, so that she had the Opium," but I have no recollection of doing so.

This paper was brought on board to me by a clerk of Siemssen & Co. I do not remember being present on any 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 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 there several days. The man- darins came with their soldiers in several boats to the attack of the village. We fired several shells, but we were too far off for them to take effect. We took no other part in the engagement. The mandarins took the right hand village that day, and the next day attacked the left hand village, but without success. We fired a few shots to intimidate the village, but did no injury. I do not know whether Goswa is the name of one of the villages. I know that the steamer had remuneration for the shot, shell and powder expended, the wear and tear of the ship, and the time employed, but I received no portion of such remunera. tion, nor do I know what amount was paid-none on board had any share. Mr Caldwell was on board on this occasion. We went back to Swatow. Mr Caldwell went on shore to the Chinese agent. I did suppose that some of the Treasure brought on board on that occasion was in nature of remuneration for the shot, shell, &c, before referred to. I do not know the amount, but the remainder I supposed to be cargo to be carried for freight. When we received Treasure as cargo, it was sometimes in boxes and sometimes in bags. To the best of my knowledge neither Mr Caldwell nor any one on board the vessels squeezed from the mandarins to the extent of $12,000, or any other sum as for remuneration. I never either in Swatow or here made any application to Mr Caldwell, Mesers Siemssen & Co., or any other person for any share of prize money in respect to this attack. I know Inspector Roberts of the Police force here, and a man named Lyons. They have asked me several questions concerning the voyage of the Eaglet, and I have answered them. They

The vessels which we were in the habit of convoying were trading vessels. I remember that some junks under our convoy refused to leave Mamee until the pirates had been driven away. I think, but am not positive, that Mr Caldwell said that the owners of the boats had given him money for their recapture, which he would divide among the crew in Hongkong, retaining a portion for the vessel. I do not know of my own knowledge what the mandarins said to Mr Caldwell. They spoke in Chinese. I do not remember any paper being given him by the mandarins. junks to Swatow was paid there, and a portion at the I think that a portion of the money for the convoy of the

Westward. I remember the ship's boats being lowered to assist the innocent people in driving away the mandarins from plundering them. During the whole time of my connection with the Eaglet, I never remember her having or being in communication with pirates or rendering them any assistance or convoying them. I was passing by the station, when Roberts and Lyons asked me to go up to their room. They talked of various things and brought the questions round. I had not the slightest idea that it was for the purpose of inducing me to give evidence. They did not after questioning me say they should want me to give evidence, but I surmised so afterwards, and told them I thought I would have to come up here. Roberts first asked me if I would compare my Coast me to look at his, and point out the entrance to the river Charts with his. I had not mine with me, but he asked

Han where the villages were. told that the lorcha was a pirate, I would not have con- Had I not known or been

sented to go in chase of her.

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I have had conversations with Roberts, on Friday, Sun- day, and Tuesday. I know that the vessels we convoyed were generally full of cargo, even on deck, and carried only two or three small guns. I cannot say whether the two boats which I said I supposed were sold at Ma-mee were afterwards sold by the Admiralty court. I do not know who had shares in the Eaglet nor who had share in her ventures or profits. I have heard Mr Caldwell call a Chinaman, I think in Hongkong, by the name of Jack; he resided I believe somewhere in the Market, I have seen him on board the vessel. He never accompanied the vessel in any of her voyages. I have seen him on 3 or 4 occasions on board. I have no recollection of ever seeing him at Swatow or Mamee on the occasions already re- ferred to. I do not know whether he was in any way connected with the Eaglet. I think he had a shop in the Market. I never noticed him bring anything on board provisions, guns, or cargo. [Shewn a chart produced by Inspector Roberts.] This is the chart which was shewn me by Roberts. The directions for going up to Swatow written on the chart are in my handwriting. I wrote them on the Sunday I have spoken of. Roberts said he would probably be going up that way himself and would be obliged if I would give him the course up the river. There was no one killed or wounded on board the Eaglet, and none on shore except a petty Mandarin, who was wounded by the villagers who were plundering, and not by the Eaglet's people.

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

Thursday, 3d June.

GEORGE STONE.-Called and examined.

I

to Mamee, where the Captain went on shore, and they were I think disposed of by order of the Mandarins. I do not know of my own knowledge whether they were sold or not; but persons came from the shore and took possession of them. I do not know what sum was paid to the Cap- tain as remuneration for the service; I received from the Chief Officer $55 as my share of the remuneration. We were not in this transaction committing an act of piracy; we were only rescuing the boats from these murderers. That was the only occasion on which I was present at the capture of any Chinese vessels except when the ship was in the employment of Government. I remember the Mandarins at Swatow requesting the assistance of the vessel in retaking two villages; some of the crew were put with guns in the boats, but did not land, the mud The villages were afterwards burnt preventing them. by the people on shore. I am not aware whether the vessel received any remuneration for that service; I did not. I never heard of any squeezing or attempt to squeeze the sum of $12,000 or any other sum by Mr Caldwell or any other person on board in return for this service. Ins- pector Roberts called on me on Saturday or Monday last. He asked me what I got for the junks that were sold at Mamee. I told him I got $55. I did not volunteer the statement. He asked me what I got out of the Swatow concern. I replied that I got nothing. I said I did bear there were $2,000 got for it. He said there was more money than that got for it, and that it amounted to $12,000. That was about the whole of the conversation. Lyons was with Roberts at this time. It was a general con- versation between the three. Lyons said that he was down at Mamee at the time. I never heard and never said to Roberts or Lyons that during the time the Eaglet was not in Government employ she captured 180 or any num- ber of Chinese vessel except in this affair at St John's. I never told either Roberts or Lyons that my share in the Swatow business was $250. I did say we were much dissappointed that we had not captured the large lorcha of which I had spoken, at St John's, because we were inform ed that she had a valuable cargo on board. I had only one conversation with Roberts and Lyons about this. I should think that the vessels we convoyed were nothing but Merchant vessels. My reason for so thinking is, that they had their National flags, and placed them- selves under our protection. The Eaglet never to my knowledge convoyed a pirate; indeed, I would not myself have been in such employ. I looked to Mr Cald- well entirely as my employer, and do not know who were partners in the Eaglet, her adventures, or the profits. I do not know a Chinaman by the name of Ma-chow Wong, Ma-tsow Wong, or Wong Akee. I have no recollection of hearing Mr Caldwell addressing a Chinaman by the name of Jack. Chinamen continually came on board about their cargo, but I recollect no one in particular; my duties were below about the Machinery.

I knew Mr Caldwell first about June 1855. In July of that year I was appointed by Mr Caldwell Chief-Engineer of the Eaglet. Mr Caldwell commanded her himself. remained in that employment until about October 1856. She was principally engaged in convoying Chinese Mer- chant junks up and down the coast, and in carrying pas sengers and cargo. She had, I think, seven guns on board, when she commenced the convoy business. She was sometimes engaged in the employment of Govern- On one ment for the purpose of suppressing piracy. occasion she went in company with Her Majesty's steamer Rattler and boats of American steamer Powhattan to Kulan, for the purpose of destroying a nest of pirates. During the whole time of my employment I never knew the Eaglet engaged in committing any act of piracy, but only in suppressing such. I remember the occasion of ou going to Mamee with a convoy; our being informed that there were pirates on the coast; and being requested to go in chase of them. We succeeded in finding four of them near St John's: three ran aground, one of which was so far off that we could not get near; two we captur- ed; and the fourth, which was a large lorcha painted black, having a large number of men on board, engaged us during nearly the whole day till dark; she was too strong for us to capture. We took the two captured boats

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