Enclosure N3
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, August 15th, 1883.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
14th August.
A serious affair occurred here on Sunday. A member of the outdoor staff of the Foreign Customs, who lives in Honam, being, as is stated, under the influence of drink, went to a tea shop and began to interfere with the workmen, teasing or beating them. One of the latter became angry and returned the blows, when the other cried out "tah" and all set on the foreigner. The man ran to his house, pursued by the workmen. On his arrival there, a woman in the house, apparently afraid of the crowd, shut the door and would not admit him, but she handed him out a revolver, whether at his own request or not is not known. When the foreigner got the weapon, he fired several shots, one of which killed a lad fourteen years of age who was passing. A man and woman were also wounded. Directly news of the affair reached the prefect, he went to the scene of the disturbance, and had the foreigner and two of his comrades, also members of the Customs staff, arrested and handed over to the German Consul.
A proclamation was issued to pacify the mob, and soldiers were sent to the spot to guard against any further disturbance.
The China Mail.
HONGKONG, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1883.
Canton.
(From a Correspondent.)
August 16, 1883.
I wish to correct a mistake I made respecting the nationalities of the three men now in custody for killing a Chinese boy and wounding a Chinaman and woman. One is an Englishman, who I believe fired the revolver, another is a Russian, and the third is a Norwegian. The Russian wisely committed himself to the care of the English Consul, preferring confinement within the Consular prison to being handed over to the tender mercies of the Chinese authorities, such being the only alternative, inasmuch as there is no Russian Consul here. The Norwegian has the advantage of Consular protection, in the person of J. B. Cunningham, Esq.
The magisterial investigation is proceeding, the witnesses being all Chinese. It appears that the three foreigners hit five men, but none has as yet been brought forward as a witness.
Considerable excitement still prevails. Inflammatory placards have been put up by some evil-disposed persons stating that the Mandarins are of no use, that they give way to foreigners to the injury of their own countrymen, being merely tools in the hands of the Foreign Consuls, and therefore it is high time the people took matters into their own hands and dealt out summary justice. This is very serious.
The Mandarins have issued a proclamation tending to pacify the people. Should the wounded man or woman die, no one can tell what turn events might take, but we hope that the crisis has been passed.
Fortunately, in this case, Honam, or the south side of the river, is in the Poon-tin district, and the "no-belong-my-pidgin" policy of the Chinese is favourable to peace on the north side of the river, which belongs to the Nam-hui district. As Shameen is situated, and most foreigners reside, on the North side, it is to the interest of the Nam-hoi Magistrates to prevent the excitement from spreading over the river and disturbing their district.
We regret that H.B.M. gunboat Cockchafer has returned to Hongkong. We are decidedly of opinion that one ought to be here. The length of time that must elapse before the trial can even commence, and the difference between English and Chinese ideas of justice will certainly not tend to subside the present excitement. Commodore Cuming would receive the thanks of all foreigners in Canton if a gunboat could be despatched to Canton to await the close of the trial. The Cantonese are the most excitable of all Chinese, and too much caution cannot be exercised. The effects of this affair will take years of cautious dealing and friendly intercourse to obliterate.
We were beginning to congratulate ourselves on the amicable relations existing between foreigners and natives, which have more or less received a shock.
1
Chine f.
487
Enclosure N3
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, August 15th, 1883.
UANTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
14 t August.
A serious affair oo arred here on Sunday. A member of the outdoor staff of the Foreign Customs, who lives in Honam, being, as is statel, under the influence of drink, went to a tea bong and began to interfere with the workmen, teasing or beating them. One of the latter became angry and returned the blows, when the other eried out "tah" and all set on the foreigner. The mau ran to his boase, pursued by the workmen. On his arrival there a woman in the house, ap- parently afraid of the crowd, shut the door and would not admit him, but she handed him out a revolver, whether at his own request or not is not koown. When the foreigner got the weapon be fired several shots, one of which killed a lad ft. teen years of age who was passing. A man and woman were also wounded. Dintly news of the affair reached the prefect that or went to the scene of the disturbance, and had the foreigner an two of his comrades, also members of the Customs staff, arrested and handed over to the German Consul.
A proclamation was issued to pacify the mob, and soldiers were sent to the spot to guard against any further disturbance.
The China Mail.
HONGKONG, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1883.
Canton.
(From a Correspondent, )
August 16, 1883.
I wish to correct a mistake I made re- specting the nationalities of the three men now in custody for killing a Chinese boy and wounding a Chinaman and woman. One is an Englishman, who I believe fired the revolver, another is a Russian and the third is a Norwegian. The Russian wisely committed himself to the care of the Eng- lish Consul, preferring contiuement within the Consular prison to being handed over to the tender mercies of the Chinese autho- rities, such being the only alternative, inasmuch as there is no Russian Consul here. The Norwegian has the advantage of Consular protection, in the personfof J. B. Cunningham, Esq.
The magisterial investigation is proceed. ing, the witnesses being all Chinese. It appears that the three foreigners hit five men, but not vite has as yet been brought forward as a witness.
Considerable excitement still prevails. Inflammatory placards have been put up by some evil-disposed persons stating that the Mandarins are of no use, that they give way to foreigners to the injury of their own countrymen, being merely tools in the hands of the Foreign Consuls, and therefore it is high time the people took matters into their Í own hands and dealt out summary justice. This is very serious.
The Mandarins have issued a proclamation tending to pacify the people. Should the wounded man or woman die no one can tell what turn events might take, but we hope that the crisis has been passed.
Fortunately in this case, Honam, or the south side of the river, is in the the Puu-tin district, and the no-belong-my-pidgin policy of the Chinese is favourable to peace on the north side of the river, which belongs the Nam-hui district. As Shancen is situate, and most foreigners reside, on the North side, it is to the interest of the Nam-hoi Magistrates to prevent the excitement from spreading over the river and disturbing their district.
We regret that H. B. M. gunboat Cock- chufar has returned to Hongkong. We are decidedly of opinion that one ought to be here. The length of time that must elapse before the trial can even cominence, and the difference between English and Chinese ideas of justice will certainly not tend to subside the present excitement. Connno- dore Cuming would receive the thanks of all foreigners in Canton if a gunboat could be despatched to Canton to await the close of the trial. The Cantonese are the most excitable of all Chinese and too much caution cannot be exercised. The effects of this affair will take years of cautious dealing and friendly intercourse to oblite- rate.
We were beginning to congratulate ourselves on the amicable relations existing between foreigners and natives, which have more or less received a shock.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.