TIMES
9.12.29
PIRATES FOILED
ATTEMPT TO SEIZE BRITISH SHIP
FIERCE FIGHTING
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
HONG-KONG, DEC. 8 While the British steamer Haiching (a vessel of 2,000 tons), of the Douglas Com- pany, was on a voyage from Swatow to Hong-kong, an attempt was made by pirates to seize her, which was frustrated by the British officers and Indian guards.
The pirates boarded the steamer as passengers at Swatow yesterday after- noon, and early this morning, as the vessel was approaching Chilang Point, north of Bias Bay, they tried to rush the bridge. They were resisted by the officers and guards, and a fierce fight ensued, resulting in a number of casualties. The first officer, Mr. R. Perry, was wounded, and the third officer, Mr. K. A. Wood- ward, was killed by a shot through the heart. Two Indian guards, several Chinese passengers (among them a smail girl), and a number of the pirates were killed.
At least six Chinese passengers were wounded and a score injured. The pirates finding they could not capture the bridge set fire to the ship. While the fight was proceeding some of the crew and pas- sengers launched a lifeboat, which cap- sized, several persons being drowned.
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The master, Captain Ø. H. Farrer, succeeded in sending out wireless message stating what was happening, and the British destroyers Sterling and Sirdar, which happened to be in the vicinity, went to the rescue. The Sirdar placed a party aboard the Haiching, arrested all the Chinese, and
put out fire. The Haiching was brought in here by the warships this evening. The local police went on board, and the wounded, numbering 26, were sent to hospital. Nearly 300 passengers were detained in order that the pirates, six of whom were known to be among the wounded, might be sorted out. The ship bore signs of the fierce encounter, which lasted for an hour.
Mr. G. C. Perdue, who is a Hong-kong police official and was on board the war- ship, was accidentally shot in the foot by a naval rating.
14A
TIMES
2.29
10.12.2
30
THE HAICHING PIRACY
GALLANT DEFENCE BY THE SHIP'S COMPANY
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
HONG-KONG, DEC. 9 On the arrival here of the British i steamer Haiching, which had been the object of a piracy off the Chinese coast [aɛ reported in The Times yesterday], the authorities would allow no one to go on board; nor would they give any account of the fighting which had taken place on that vessel. It was not until this morning that particulars became available.
The surviving officers give graphic ac- counts of how the pirates, finding that the element of surprise had failed and their efforts to get past the grille, which was defended by Indian guards, were un- successful, made three attacks on the bridge. Only one man reached it. He shot down Mr. Woodward, the third officer, and was in turn shot down by Mr. Perry, the first officer. The pirates suffered heavily under the steady fire of the officers and guards. When the steamer was set on fire by the pirates, who poured kerosine oil over the deck, the defenders found themselves in a perilous situation. The bridge began to burn from below and was rapidly becoming unten. able when, just after dawn, the British destroyers arrived.
It is stated that a big ship passed with- in four miles of the blazing Haiching but failed to come to her assistance. The identity of this vessel is unknown. The Chinese wireless operator stuck to his post throughout, and, in fact, the whole crew, some of whom were killed, behaved in a most gallant fashion.
Among the passengers were three American women, Mrs. J. W. Campbell, 70 years old, and her daughters, Louise and Dorothy, who are connected with the Baptist Mission in the Swatow district. They were coming to Hong-kong. When the fire was at its height they approached a lifeboat [which afterwards capsized] in which some Chinese were getting away, but there was no room in it for them, and they awaited their fate most calmly. They were later rescued unhurt.
Mr. Woodward was buried this after- noon, and was accorded full naval honours by the orders of Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Waistell, Commander-in-Chief, China Station, who visited the Haiching this morning.
**A Lloyd's message from Hong-kong says that the Haiching reached port under her own steam. Her superstructure was damaged by fire; holds Nos. 1 and 2 were burnt out and the cargo destroyed.
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