COPY.
N.I.D. 7157/25.
PIRACY.
34
20th March. The Kongmoon-kacao towboat TAISHING on her way from Longmoon to Macao was attacked by a gang of over 100 pirates from shore in the vi ai ni ty of Koochanaha, Heungshan district. The pirates fired on her with machine guns. The towboat was under escort and adequataly armed. Strong resistance was offered, and fighting ensued lasting för over an hour, when the pirates were defeated and dispersed. There were no casualties on the tow boat.
25th March. The Willage of Tai O (Tai O Island) on the west side of Lantao was attacked by a band of armed robbers just after daylight. They arrived båfore the villagers were about ina launch, armed with rifles, revolvers, hatchets and daggers. They looted the houses driving out the inhabitants and took money, Jewellery and sundry property to the estimated value of £21,600. One woman was shot dead and several of the inhabitants were wounded. Two men were kidnapped. They got away without an alarm being raised, towing a boat, full of the plunder.
25 th March. The Macao-Shaldi Ferry boat was pirated. The attack was carried out by three steam launches which took the ferry in tow and kidnapped all the passengers. There were
no casualties, the whole affair being a matter of boarding and taking possession.
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The compradore of a vessel plying on the West River received a letter from pirates demanding £10,000. The letter had printed on top a Chinese Ensign, with a white square on which a red lion with geping mouth was inset, with the inscription underneath The sign of the roaring lion who will devour". It read I beg to inform you that I have to demand from the convoy a fee in the sum of $10,000. This must be paid out within five days. You must go to by Tong for information about how I want it to be done. Otherwise I will have to expose you to an attack with big guns, The place where you have to come is between Shiu Mam and Tai Nam Hei. This is near the pirate village Kong Mi, in the Shuntak district. These letters are very common threats. It is known that a gunboat's crew which recently turned pirates took the guns ashore with them when they left the vessel.
Many threatering and blackmailing letters having recently been received from pirates operating round about Heungshan, two launches of the ilong Kong-Shekki and Maqao-Shokki tow boat service, were commandeered and armed with soldiers for the purpose of joining a district gunboat in a combined operation against pirates. On March 28th, they encountered a gray painted launch manned by pirates. Fire was opened, the pirates returning the fire. A running fight ensued lasting for an hour. The pirates were defeated and jumped overboard to escape leaving their launch behind, which was captured. She had a large quantity of provisions and ammunition on board.
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