stance there seems no reason to doubt that he would have been brutally murdered by wretches to whom he had given no cause of offence whatever. Another circumstance we mentioned was a report which was pretty widely distributed and credited, that an Indian constable had lopped off the head of one of the rioters (who had thrown a brick at his head) at one blow of his sword. Wel simply gave the report and discredited it, but since then a gentleman has sent us the following: "You mentioned in your notice of the riot a report about an Indian cutting off a man's head, This is said to have been seen by one of the Hong- kong and Whampoa Dock Company's employés' sous as he was going to school. He says he saw. the Chinaman strike the Indian policeman on the side of his head with a brick, and the policeman rau after him, cutting his head en- tirely off. The boy adds that the man ran for several feet without his head!” It is possible the report may be correct, but if it is, what has become of the head and the body, and where was the pool of blood that such a feat would have caused to fall? To our knowledge only one considerable amount of blood was to be soon, and that came from the coolie whose head as shattered-it is supposed by a shot-- below the Civil Hospital.
As to the last named case, the medical gentle. men at the Civil Hospital are not certain how the injury was caused, because no bullet remains in the head, but if the wound was made by a carbine bullet it would not be expected to do so. At the short distance from which the shot must have been fired, it must have passed through. The top of the skall is entirely smashed up, but on the top of the forehead there is a semi-circular | hole, just below the level of the top of the head. as though a bullet had struck there, and smashed through the top of the skull. It is possible a hig stone dropped from the roof of a house might have done it; but people as a rule do not keep that sort of missile on the roofs of their houses, and the shape of the wound in front is rather against it. There is no information as to how the man was killed, and one can only judge from appearances and circumstances. An inquest was opened on the body at the Civil Hospital on Saturday and adjourned until to-day.
Yesterday reports were in circulation of a very serious disturbance, the reading of the Riot Act, and the shooting of a couple of Chinamen, Those reports happily turned out to be exagge- rations. There was no shooting, and the dis turbance was not of a serious character. The cargo boat people had arranged to return to work, a few of them at six o'clock in the morn- ing and the main body at noon. The first batch came over, but some influence was brought to bear to induce them to hold off, and but little work was done during the morning. Shortly after noon the boats came over in large numbers, and Mr. Horspool took a strong body of police down to the Prays for their protection. The men were posted in couples within easy reach of each other, so that assistance would be readily available if it was wanted at any particular spot. A large crowd, chiefly composed of boys, who appeared to be attracted by curiosity, followed the police, but there was little disorder amongst them. The sight of such a large crowd, however, seems to have excited alarm in the minds of some persons, and word was conveyed to the Administrator that the rioting had been renewed. A body of troops Was then ordered to the Prava, and the proclamation issued the other day by the Administrator was read to various groups of persons when they wore found assembled together. As the coolies ashore still remained on strike there was little
work done in the landing or shipment of cargo along the Praya, but work was going on alongside vessels, the boats being willing to accept what- ever engagements were offered to them. Tho roughs on the Prays were quite ready to drive! the boats away if they had been allowed to do so, and some stones were thrown, which caused the boatpeople to waver a little, but when Mr. Horspool told them they would be pro- tocted by the police they remained. Six or seven of the stone throwers were erested. Some persons anticipate serions trouble this morning at the hour for commencing work, but as the authorities are on the qui vive and the troops held in readi- ness it is hardly likoly, if any adverse demonstra- tion is attempted, that it will be allowed to reach a head.
Yesterday the unusual spectacle was seen of the soldiers marching to church under arms. Each man was provided with twenty rounds of hall cartridge. There was a very small parade, only about a hundred mon. The others wore either on duty or had just boon relieved. The men are all confined to barracks to be in readi ness at a moment's notice. They are not un-1 naturally exasperated at being deprived of their usual liberty, and would not be displeased to have an opportunity of settling affairs with the Biob.
C. O.
448
19555
REC.
REGE 18 NOV RA
2235
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