CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10] — Page 410

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der it impossible for the engines to be worked's and would make the steamer helpless. They took the lever away with them, but they made a great mistake in their estimate of the result of their precaution, for there was a spare lever on board, and the engines were ready to work at once. Before they left the steamer the pirates told the compradore that he must not take the ship to Hongkong, he must go to Hoi- how, and when he pointed out that they could not stoam without water, the pirates said he must get out the sails and sail there. The pirates then em- barked on board their craft, and were surprised almost directly afterwards to see the Greyhound begin to steam ou towards Hongkong. They fired on her at once, but they could do nothing from their boat to stop the progress of the steamer, and the Greyhound came on into the harbour.

The way in which the piracy was carried out shows that there was an utter want of precau- tion of any kind against a rising, no outrage of the kind having occurred on board a foreign steamer for nearly twelve years. Piraoy is. however, exceedingly rife just at present, and Chinese in this colony ascribe it to the after effects of the Franco-Chinese war, large num- bers of soldiers having recently been disbanded, and many of them failing to get employment have taken to piracy and brigaulage as the only pursuits they have to fall back upon.

The chief officer lost no time in sending in- formation of what had taken place to the Police, who at once took charge of the steamer. As soon as the Government heard of the piracy they communicated with Admiral Sir W. M. Dowell, The Military Mandarin at Kowloon City, was also communicated with, and we believe he came over to confer on the matter. The gunbont Midge was despatched about six o'clock p.m. yesterday in pursuit of the pirates. We trust she may prove successful in the quest. A tele- gram was sent in the course of the day by the local Government to the British Consul at Can- ton requesting him to urge the Viceroy to im- mediate action.

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