CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900 — Page 518

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This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

13030

[APH] 2]

SECT 897 MAY 00

Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received April 2.)

(No. 19.)

Peking, January 31, 1900. My Lord,

WITH reference to my despatch No. 346 of the 18th December, 1899, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Samshui, reporting two further cases of piracy on the West River.

(No. 2.) Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,

Inclosure in No. 1.

Acting Consul Fox to Sir C. MacDonald,

Samshui, January 8, 1900. IN continuation of my despatch No. 12 of the 8th December, 1899, I have the honour to report two further cases of piracy which have lately occurred on the West River in the neighbourhood of Chu-tou-shan.

On the morning of the 31st December, 1899, the launch "Esang," with a passenger boat in tow, was seized by pirates and the passenger boat plundered, near Kumchuk. The alarm was promptly given to the customs station there, and the Customs armed launch "Fumuntsoi," which happened to be anchored at Kumchuk, at once set off in pursuit. The "Esang" by this time was well on her way down the river in the direction of Chu-tou-shan.

Another towing launch meeting the chase, slipped her tow, and joined the “Famuntsoi.”

The British river steamer "Saikong" was next sighted, and she tried, unsuccess- fully, to run down the pirate's launch. The "Saikong," however, swinging round, joined in the chase. her British officers firing repeatedly at the

** with small Esang arms, the pirates returning their fire at intervals. The "Esang" was afterwards found to have her awning and woodwork riddled with shot, but apparently no people were hit.

The pirates at length took refuge up a creek near Chu-tou-sban Island, and succeeded in running the launch ashore and making good their escape, owing to the fact that the "Fumuntsoi" and the other launch grounded more than once in the shallow waters of the creek.

The captain and engineer of the "Esang" were arrested and taken with the launch to Canton.

I have considered it proper to report this case to you in detail, as it is the first instance of foreigners coming into actual contact with these West River pirates, and it is, I think, significant that the pirates did not hesitate to fire on an armed launch and a steamer of 230 tons burden. And it is further evident that the district round Chu-tou-shan, comprising the large villages of Hoo-tong and Ku-chen, is the home of these pirates, and that the villagers are in league with them. The next case I have the honour to report removes all doubt on these latter points.

On the 6th January, the launch "Juenking" was pirated near Canton. On her way down to Chu-tou-shan she was seen by Her Majesty's ship "Tweed," whose captain (Lieutenant the Hon. L. Forbes-Sempill, R.N.) promptly gave chase in the steam-cutter. The launch ran up a creek opposite the south end of the above-mentioned island, and the "Tweed's "cutter followed her for 6 miles to a village on the right bank.

Here the pirates landed, and reinforced by some forty to fifty villagers started firing on the cutter. Our men succeeded in recovering the launch and retired with one sailor severely wounded in the thigh. Of the pirates two were killed for certain, and probably more; they were sheltered to a great extent by the bank and

trees.

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