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The Tean left Haiphong Thursday last and arrived at Hoihow on Saturday. It was at this port that the pirates embarked as passengers. The vessel was scheduled to leave Hoihow on Sun- day morning at 5 a.m., but the free-booters did not wait till then but attacked the officers and cap- tured the ship at about 4.15 a.m. They held the officers up with their weapons and ordered the ship to be taken to Bias Bay.
In an interview a Daily Press representative had with Mr. J. J. Thompson, third engineer of the ill-fated vessel, a most graphic story was gathered. It appeared that Mr. Thompson was sleeping on the poop with the other officers' who all sleep up on deck during the summer when the steamer is in port. He
was suddenly and roughly awakened by the second mate, Mr. Forster, who said "Get up, the ship is pirated.'
Mr. Thompson started up and on looking forward he saw the Indian guards, all disarmed. He asked them what had happened and the Indians told him that there had been a fight. Mr. Thompson was naturally rather hazy at the time but he saw that the second mate was in a very excited state.
He ran to the boat deck, closely followed by Mr. Forster. At the boat deck, Mr. Thompson was seiz- ed from behind by three armed men, one of them stuck a gun against his stomach. Almost at the same time, Mr. Forster was also seized. They were taken back to Mr. Forster's cabin, where the pirates ordered them to surrender their arms. Having no alternative, they told the pirates where the ship's armament were kept. They were led out of the cabin and while passing the chief officer's door, the latter also came out and was seized and taken away by the pirates.
Mr. Thompson and the second officer were led past the captain's cabin and there they saw the skip- per with his hands up and a pirate keeping guard over him. At that time the second engineer was sup- posed to be on watch at the engine room, but Mr. Thompson also
fluent English and he assented to the chief engineer's request. From that time, the officers were allowed to go about their duties-under guard. They had breakfast and permission was also obtained to feed the three European passengers on board.
THE CAPTAIN'S STORY.
The police were in charge of the vessel from the time of her arrival and nobody was allowed on board. However, later the Captain (Mr. E. H. Histed) landed and very kindly gave his story to our repre- sentative. They were at anchor in Hoihow Harbour on Sunday morn- Captain was aroused by the sound ing, when at about 4 a.m. the
of shooting and general pande- monium. He rushed out of his cabin, but was confronted by a pirate who levelled his revolver at him. Soon after other pirates came along, and also covered him with revolvers. cabin, and later he met the other They looted his deck officers who were also prison- ers under cover. They were sent to the bridge, while the engineers were kept prisoners in the engine- Resistance was impossible, and although treated civilly they were warned that any attempt to would result in their being shot im- regain possession of the vessel
mediately. The No. 1 pirate spoke very good English. His orders and Captain Histed said that he were to take the vessel to Bias Bay,
was closely watched during the whole of the voyage.
room.
We were very surprised he continued to see H.M.S. Somme lying at anchor just outside Bias Bay, and when the pirate chief saw her, he immediately turned the vessel around and made for the nearest land-a little cove between Bluff Point and Lok Siu Point. We had another surprise when we saw the Yueng Shing overtaking us. The pirates lowered two life- boats, and taking seven passengers, the first and second officers (Messrs. A. Mills, and J. G. Firster) and their loot they made for the shore. It was rough at the time, and one of the lifeboats was dashed on the A commotion then broke out in rocks. The pirates were pursued the Chief Engineer's (Mr. J. by armed parties from H.M.S. Robert's) cabin. Mr. ThompsonSomme and the Chinese Customs shouted a warning to him not to come out as the ship was in the hands of the robbers. Mr. Roberts however came out and was also seized.
found him in the mess prisoner.
room a
At this stage, all the European officers having been accounted for, the pirates were in a hurry to get off. They shouted out to "make steam"
and the second engineer was ordered down to start the en- gines.
Mr. Thompson and the chief en- gineer were imprisoned in the latter's cabin while an armed man kept guard over them. Later the chief engineer asked the No. 1 pirate to allow them to carry out their usual routine, explaining to him that it would be hard to make one man do all the watches. The chief pirate appeared to be a very reasonable man who spoke
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launch. They were followed for about four miles inland and one of the captives was pushed over the cliff. We were treated alright, but our revolvers were taken from us. I believe the passengers were badly treated. I heard that they hung. several up by their wrists and beat them so as to extort money from them. They ransacked every cabin! and where they could not steal, they wilfully broke the furniture. They broke open all the cargo, and took two pigs, killed and fried them, and made merry, The Tean will leave Holt's Wharf at 10 a.m. this morning and will tie up to a buoy in mid-stream," concluded the Captain.
Captain Histed has been in com- mand of the s.s. Tean for over 3 years, and this is his first experi- ence of pirates.
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