CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 483

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471

PIRATES FIRE HONG KONG

SHIP.

A remarkable piracy involving it is feared, the death of a Eurof pean officer, the drowning o many Chinese, and the wounding of the Chief Engineer of the 9.8. Tai On, took place on Monday evening April 27, off Ki O, at the entrance of the West River. A

a result the Tai On now lies a

wreck at Ki O, burned to the water's edge, while it is feared that as many as one hundred and forty lives have been lost.

The news Was brought to Hongkong by s...Hoisang which came into the harbour on the Tuesday shortly after four o'clock, sounding detonators and whist. ling for the Police. She had on board Capt. Wetherell, master of the Tai On, the compradore and seven Chinese. Later in the day, the s.8. Shun Lee and the Shiu On arrived in port with other passengers of the Tai On on board and took up their an chorages in mid stream patrolled by police, and with armed guards on board.

The Tai On, which is owned by a Chinese company, and carries three European officers, Capt. Wetherell, Mr. Evans, Chief Officer, and Mr. McCartney, Chief Engineer left Hongkong between seven and eight o'clock, bound for the West

River. At about ten o'clock the boat had made Ki O, just at the entrance of Wongmoon. It had been the habit of the Captain, since the last piracy of the ship, this district, which is generally to keep particular watch nearing

cleared what is thought to be the infested with pirates, and having

his room

danger zone, the captain went to to retire, the watch being taken by the Chief Officer, on the bidge, who was accom- panied, for the time being, by the Chief Engineer, who was ly- ing in a chair.

The captain had changed and was lying down in his book when he heard a rush on deck, and, learning of the trouble, he armed himself with a duck gun. There was no one in the fore part of the boat, and in the absence of a ladder up to the bridge, the pirates, for they had manifested themselves as such, attempted to scale the bridge by means of the stanchions in front. The captain made a dash for the bridge him- self, and killed the first man with a shot full in the stomach. Hos tilities were opened from this, and an Indian guard, who was also OD the upper part of the boat, opened fire with telling effect; it is thought that he alone accounted for seven or eight of the marauders. [a fact, he acted with great gallan try all through and did much to convince the pirates that the

resistance offered them was likely to be effective. In the exchangə of firing the Chief Engineer received a shot wound in the buttock.

hope of taking the bridge, the under the gunwales of the boat, pirates retreated and took refuge where they were out of range of the guas on the bridge. Then, in spite and rage at not being able to take the craft, they set fire to the vessel in the stern.

Convinced that there was little

Seeing what had happened and realising the seriousness of the situation, the captain brought the ship's head up to the wind to prevent the conflagration spread- ing too quickly to the fore part.

However, the fi.e did spread with rapidity, and in a short time it became untenable to remain on board. There were about three or four hundred passengers on board, and they became panic- stricken, some even jumping into the flimes in their fright.

The European officers were ordered to remain with the captain, who told them that they would all jump together when it became necessary. Eventually, they jumped into the water and Capt. Wetherell and the Chi of Engineer were aiterwards picked up by the s.s. Wo Kwai, which, attracted by the sight of the ship on fire, had come up as close as she could.

The officers and four Chia933