Sub-Enc.b.2.
Letter of proceedings.
H.M.S."Fame", Hongkong.
April 15th 1899.
58
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that in compliance with the Commodore's order of April 14th, I embarked Mr May, Chief Superintendent, and 17 police for conveyance to the Government matsheds near Tai-po-hu, and proceeded for Tolo Harbour at 2 p.m. on that day.
On our arrival, we found the matsheds burnt down and still smouldering, and no sign of the coolies who had been working at them.
I landed at once with Mr May and his police to search for them. We found the village of Tai-po-hu deserted with the exception of one or two old men and the custodian of the Temple. The latter informed us that at least a thousand armed men with several standards had marched over the border and set fire to the matsheds about five hours before, and that all the coolies had escaped towards Hongkong. He was much agitated and begged us to leave as soon as possible. As he said the hostile men were all round the village, were determined not to allow us to remain, and would certainly attack us shortly.
We could see four or five standards and a large body of men on the hills N.W. of the village about a mile away; they kept up an incessant yelling, beating of gongs, and firing of crackers or guns, probably gingalls, but if so, we were out of range. I offered to land an armed party and, assisted by the police under cover of the "Fame's" guns, to drive them out of their positions, but Mr May said he had no authority to use force and asked me to embark his men and allow them to remain on board.
C.w.u. Plenderleath
Page 60
Page 61
Sub-Enc.b.2.
Letter of proceedings.
H.M.S."Fame", Hongkong.
April 15th 1899.
58
Jinly 2 frduenib :0 V; Im
*Hoopesi" & Tran
LİASE VOTROLOJ
vivium „00ely cind of wort) gevnoo
Estranged) ovelles of dat no yes ent!
.*deing” vd no nod: I beoufyer
Triomedeni oved I
VEC TAM of 2 wall ni begciteta
21ð er dad glicina nuo to pavida edd
sachitos bra abcovod (mileel boog
Querst." (innie)
mandez
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that in compliance embarked Mr with the Commodore's order of April 14th,
May, Chief Superintendent and 17 police for conveyance to the Government matsheds near Tai-po-hu, and proceeded for Tolo Harbour at 2 p.m. on that day.
On our arrival we found the matsheds burnt down and still smouldering, and no sign of the coolies who had been working at them.
I landed at once with Mr May and his police to search for them. We found the village of Tai-po-hu deserted with the exception of one or two old men and the custodian of the Temple. The latter informed us that at least a thousand armed men with several standards had
marched over the border and set fire to the matsheds
about five hours before, and that all the coolies had escaped towards Hongkong. He was much agitated and begged us to leave as soon as possible. As he said the hostile men were all round the village, were determined
not to allow us to remain and would certainly attack us
shortly. We could see four or five standards and a large
body of men on the hills N.W. of the village about a
mile away, they kept up an incessant yelling beating of
gongs and firing of crackers or guns probably gingalls
but if so we were out of range. I offered to land an
armed party and assisted by the police under cover of
the "Fame's" guns to drive them out of their positions,
but Mr May said he had no authority to use force and
asked me to embark his men and allow them to remain on
Beard
C.w.u. Plenderleath
Page 60Page 61
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