1926-08-23 — Page 5

Page

AN ASTOUNDING PIRACY.

TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF EUROPEAN

FISHING PARTY.

SWOOPING RAID BY ARMED BAND.

FERPETRATED OFF LANTAU ISLAND.

A LAUNCH AND CREW COMMANDEERED.

The news of an astounding piracy, committed in British waters, quite close to Hongkong, and perpetrated with a mixture of "daring, cleverness and sheer bravado, which is hardly conceivable under the circumstances in which it was committed, came to hand yesterday following the return to the Colony of a local European fishing party, who were the victims of the unwarranted outrage."

The scene of the piracy was "Tung Ching Bay, situate" at Tung Ching Island, which lies off Lantau Island, mid-way between Hongkong- and Macao. The victims comprised large party of well-known local:

which was residents, who were engaged in an all night fishing picnic," rudely and dramatically terminated by the swooping raid of a band of pirates, thought to be disbanded, soldiers or members of a bandit gang. The sequel to the raid, was that motor boats and launches belonging to the party were visited in turn by the pirates, who robbed individual members, including ladies, of all valuables they could lay hands oa, and eventually disappeared in the largest and fastest launch, the crew of which they had kidnapped, when they commandered the craft.

The story of the party's brief, but terrifying period of suspense and conjecture as to their fate is told below..

SERENITY DISTURBED.

A still and beautiful night, soft breezes insufficient even to ripple the waters of the bay nestling under the hillside; & bright and nearly full-moon-shining over head in a cloudless sky; a merry and "carefree party of anglers, accompanied by their wives, relatives and friends, whiling away the drifting hours by fishing from sampans. With the worries of tile and the daily round left behind, with no thought of danger to disturb the perfect- ness of the sport, mer joking and the women laughing and chatting happily, such was the animated scene at Tung Ching Bay on Saturday evening about

5.30.

Suddenly, without warning, the peace- fulness was rudely interrupted. The jok ing ceased, the women's laughter and

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY. - AUGUST 23xD

them of a few valuables. Telling them to

keep quiet, and not to leave the boat, the pirates shoved off in their sampan to the Paracels which they boarded. Here they fobbed the ladies of their jewellery, And by their sudden appearance threw them into a state-of-consternation and.

cerur,

There was only one gentleman on board at the time, Mr. F. W. Kew and his friends not then having returned from their ashing expedition.

We don't want chaw," said one, ** Wo want dollars."

SHIP DISABLED, We had begun "chow," and were about half-way through our meal when a sam Each of the pirates bad Mauser pistols, pan came alongside. Someone on the and clips loaded with ammunition were; sampan shouted-don't-make-a-noise!!attapped on their chests They also We got up from the cabin, where we were carried torches. As soon as they got an board the people were ordered to put having our meal, and saw seven men their "hands up and separated. board oar motor-boat. Six of them carried revolvers, and the other man was armed with a Mauser pistol, with a care One pirate posted himself at the stern tridge jacket of three rows. Before we of the boat, and another want down to the engine room and terrorised the knew what it was all about, we were all engineer and his men. They were order- ordered to put our hands up. We wereed to take parts of the machinery off, next asked what valuables we possessed, and complied. and Mr. Mow Fung, who speaks Chinese fluently, said "We have come to fish, and fishers do not carry valuables with them."

SPOTTED."

1 '',

SPECTACLES

---The raiders; however, spotted" Mr Gillard's watch and my geld ring (added Mr. Muskett) which they promptly "callared." They also spotted "Mr.

ARGUMENT OVER A COAT The other pirates then searched Mr. C. H. Kow and the ladies. Mr. Kew's coat was grabbed. "He pulled it back One of the pirates got exasperated. shot, you are too cheeky." "Look here," he said, "You will be

He then took Mr. Kew's spectazios.. "They are useless," said Mr. Kew "they are for a blind mau."

כן

GRABBED EVERYTHING.

The pirate tried them, apparently fail- - Gillard's gold-spectacles, which they deed to see through them, and threw them.

manded; but Mr. Gillard promptly swore back. at them in English, and informed them that he was no uso without them and would be unable to see if they took them away. The pirates then left him alone. Some of us had a little money with us, which we had managed to conceal by slipping it under cushions and so on.

The pirates then asked the coxswain for the vital parts of the engine. The cox swain, being smart and up to their game, adroitly handed them some spare parts which he had been" working on while we were away from the boat in our sampan fishing. They seemed satisfied, however, and left the Amy. Before the pirates left, they warned us

not to leave the

boat, a to keep quiet, or they would come back again.

SITUATION REALISED

The ladies were robbed of their rings, their watches and their earings. They however, managed to secrete a few of their belongings. The total loss in money and goods amounted to $1,000.

The pirates grabbed everything they could lay hands on. Not only were the most expensive things taken, but trifling: things were also commandeered, such as towels, slippers and shaving utensils. Some 8400 in notes were taken, and amongst the most expensive things were a platí. num wrist watch, two gold bracelets, one pair of jade earrings, two wedding rings, a pair of binoculars and a gramophone.. said some- Why do you want that, one on board, as the gramophe was been taken away. It only s Eng- lish music."

The pirates grinned. A slight objre- tion was made-when-they confiscated a mahjongg set. They grinned again.

EAGER TO FINISH.

A bedroom, on the boat was not enter- Had the pirates done so, they would have certainly added a great deal to' their haul.

We now began to realise the situation. The Chung Wo had been attacked frsted. and commandeered by the pirates, who bad overcome the crew by intimidation and terrorisation, forcing them to below deck and leaving some of their

THE PIRATES DECAMP. In the meanwhile, the pirate chief had commanded the Chung o to go along side the. Wing Shing. No one was on board her at the time, except the Chinese Eng Here they commandeered a supply crew. of coal, and partially disabled the machinery of the launch. After remain ing a little longer the pirates disap- peared from the vicinity in the direction of Lappe and Macao.

"They were eager to get through with their business," said one of the occup ants. It was apparent that they were nervous. They had come, and gone in ten minutes."

1926

ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS.

BAKERY

GROCERY

CATERING & HIRE

LADIES' OUTFITTING

MEN'S OUTFITTING

WINES & SPIRITS

HOUSE FURNISHING

SHIP FURNISHING

OROCKERY & GLASS

SHIP CHANDLERY

BOOTS & SHOES

SILVERWARE

OFFICE EQUIPMENT

HARDWARE

PERFUMERY

BAGS & TRUNKS

JEWELLERY

SPORTS & TOYS

TOBACCO & CIGARETTES

SURVEYORS INSTRUMENTS

AND OFFICES.

"ARE NOW HOUSED. IN

EXCHANGE

BUILDING,

LANE, CRAWFORD,. Ltd.

WITHOUT PURE BLOOD HEALTH IS IMPOSSIBLE:

VETARZO

BLOOD MEDICINE

Never before was there anything like it, nor are its marvellous properties likely ever to be squalled in diseases arising from impure blood. It searches out and expels from the scrofulous and glandular swellings, bad legs, abscesses, ulcers, eczema, gont, rheuma vital currentjevery lurking trace of poisonous matter, curing blood and skin diseases, tim, goitre- or Derbyshire Neck, etc. It improves the general health and quickly,

100 often the precursor 92

of consumption. removes long-standing bronchitis, asthma and hacking, straining, spaamodio cough,

must have been watching them when theyETARZO Brons Fan-down & Chromis Werknees

on board The crew were also forced to keep steam up, so that the

NOT A SOUND HEARD. launch would be ready to convey the

Mr. F. H. Few accompanied by two of pirates away when they had completed chatting died away. In its place came a brief period of terrifying and unnerving

their raid. The Chung We now came his brothers was in a fishing boat and alongside the amy, and the pirate chief, within sight of the Paracels.

Interviewed by a Daily Press repre- experience, a period fraught with uncer

who had been in the sampan ordered her tainty, caused by the sudden, dramatic, MR. CARVALHO'S PLUCKY ACTION. to go to the Wing Shing. The sampan, within calling distance and yet we were sentative yesterday, he said we were and unheralded raid of a-band-of-pirates. who proceeded calmly to rob their vic-

Proarding back in his sampan with with the seven-men-in-it, then went to tims of whatever valuables they had on his wife to the Chong Wo, Mr. Carvalho the Paracels owned by Mr. F. Kew, who entirely oblivions of the fact that pirates Everything was over before we them. The thrill, excitement and plet was considerably alarmed on bearing one had on board his family, Mr Charles were on the Paracels. "It was astound

Kew, his family and some friends. They g "Pirates on santness of the fishing-picnic vanished and of the crew calling out

Mr. Kew was positive that the pirates one launch and crew, the whole party to the Paracels, but instead of boarding and Balcellery belongin tl valued it the return was made to Hongkong, minus board. He immediately took his wife ransacked the Paracels for valuables, knew anything had begun."

taking to the considerably shaken and the women folk, the boat himself, he awam to the land over 31,000. After the sampan left the were having dinner at 7 o'clock, and, as was only natural under the circum There he walked until he rounded the stances, in a more or less prostrate con-headland, which brought him apposite Paracels she went to the Chung Fo. We after they saw the fishing boats leave

He again

then saw two sampans, containing some the motor-boat Nuff Bed.

of the party of the Chung W, who had Saturday afternoon about 3.30 a took to the water and swam to the been fishing, approaching the launch. large party of local Europeans left Hong-Sed, giving them warning to clear out As they drew near, the pirates shouted kong to spend an all-night fishing picnic of the way of the pirates.

from the Chung FoKeep away." ore of the sampans were Mr. and Mrs. Carvalho Mrs. Carvalho shouted out Nothing further happened, but the Why can't we get on board our own picnic had been effectually spoiled and the boat. In reply to this a shot was fired, unnerved party took immediate steps to but did not hit anyone. Mr. and Mrs. make a speedy return to Hongkong. The Carvalho instructed to take their sampan au eu towed the partially disabled to the Paracels, and this was done, the Paracels to Hongkong; the ing Shing other sampan following. was repaired sufficiently to enable her to return vader her own power, while the motor launch Amy proceeded to Castle Peak to report to the police.

dition.

Therefore,

at Tung Ching Bay at Tung Ching Island, off Lantau Island. They left intending. to carry out a programme which they had often carried out before. little did they anticipate what was to befall them before they saw Hongkong again.

THE PARTIES.

The party, made up of different groups, left Hongkong in two launches and three Part of the craft was pri- motor boats, vately owned, while the other boats were chartered...

The party were made up as follows: Steam-launch Ching Fo: Mr. C. A da Rocha, Mr. R. L. da Rocha, Mr. and Mrs. H. Barnes and Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Carvalho,

Mr.

"

THE RETURN. ...

NUFF SED". WARNED.

In

Mr. Carvalho jumped overboard and

·Swam

LIFE WITHOUT HEALTH IS LIVING DEATH.

BRAIN AND NERVE FOOD,

VETARZO REGULATORS. Safe and Reliable with the Europeans, launched their at- English Price 88, (either remedy). The YETARZO REMEDIES UO, Gospel. Osk, tack. A Chinese in the fishing boat saw N., London, Eng Unprincipled Dealers may try to sell you something else for the big launch steaming away, and itra profit do not accept it. Insist on having VETARZO. The genuins had words was only then that they realised that VETARZO REMEDIES" on Government Stamps Sold by LEADING JAIN CHEMISTA, something untoward had happened. Mr. Kew with his brother, Mr. J. W. "Kew, who owns the "Nuf Sell, hurried to their boat, hoping to follow the launch which the pirates had taken. But when they reached the 'Nuff Sed and began follow. iug, they found that the launch was well Lout of sight.

NO ARMS.

"We had no arms either on the 'Nuff to the shore. He then walked The message was received at Ping along until he got opposite the motor-Sed, por on the Parucels, he continued. Shan Police Station at mid-night, and boat Nuff Sed, which was lying at a "But if we had, we could do nothing. the Amy and the other boats reached considerable distance from the other and two of my brothers were in a Hongkong in the early hours of yester boats beyond a jutting headland, out of fishing boat, and we knew nothing. day morning, somewhere between 1.30 and view of the pirates. From this point be Strangely enough, not a word of warn-

swam out to the Nuf Sed and gave war- ing was given by anybody." The value of the captured Chung Woning to the crew, who were thus able to

o'clock.

Steam-launch Fing Shay Sousa, is not known as yet, but, apart from get under way. Rebeiro, Mr. Rodrigues, Mr. Mir. L. A. Osmand, Mr. Samy, C. F. Vas this, there is the crew which were kid

and Mr. E. L. Barross

Motor boat day: Mr. W. D. Muskett, Assistant Engineer, Hongkong Electre Company, Mr. A. Gilard, chief traffic inspector, Hongkong Tramways, Mr. E Mow Fung and Mr. M. Sousa.

"

napped,

The pirates, after remaining in the vicinity for another twenty miutes or so, All the crew of the Chung Wo were sailed away in the Chung We, disappear not taken, the exception being a fehi, ing in the direction of Lappa and Macao. The Amy then went off to Castle Peak who, when the Chung Wo was alongside the iling Shing cooling, managed to slip and gave a report to the police there.

The Paracels had been partially dis on to the latter boat, and thus escape.

The Water Police were engaged all day abled and was towed back to Hongkong M.B. Paracels: Mr. F. H. Kew, Mr. C. Kew and friends.

M.B. Nuff Sed: Mr. J. W. Kew, who yesterday, and will be so engaged for by the Muff Sed. The Wing Shing was some little time, in taking statements owns the bust, accompanied by friends.

On reaching the fishing ground the from members of the party and the crew. The majority of the party are still various craft anchored, all within hailing distance of each other, excepting the feeling the effects of the terrific strain which they underwent. The ladies espe- Nuff Sed which laid to around & pro cially are suffering the most and sym- montory of Tung Ching Island, and was therefore out of sight of the other craft.pathy will go out to them.

also partly disabled by reason of the pirates baving interfered with her ma chinery, but she was repaired sufficiently to enable her to return ander her own power to Hongkong. We reached Hong- kong about 2.30 in the morning. We had komety in getting our coxswain to take The police were still pursuing their us first to Castle Peak, but eventually The Europeans left their boats and investigations late last night, and had succeeded in doing so, after tremendous launches for sampans and commenced by no means obtained a complete report trouble." fishing Everything went well until about 8.30 when members of the party decided to return to the boats.

THE REALIZATION.

for the higher authorities when he went THE RAID ON THE PARACELS,"

to press

The stories of members of the party, who were interviewed yesterday by Daily Press reporters, follow:-. EXPERIENCES OF THE "AMY'S

PARTY.

WOMEN ILL

"The women," added Mr. Kew, "are very sick to-day. They were threatened with the Mausers. One of the women was in a state of prostration. But it is astounding. I have fished there off and on for 15 years and nothing aver happened before."

LITTLE DAMAGED. Before the Yuff Sed towed the Parucels back to Hongkong, the Chinese

When our representative. waa inter- engineer of the latter was sent to Tai O Police Station to make a report. viewing Mr. Kew, in his residence, the that the Chinese captain of the Paracels put in engineer had returned and said that 40 appearance. He said when the pirates ordered him to dis able the boat, Ee merely unlosened some pieces of machinery, and hid them. They could be easily reaxed, and except that a few of the magneto wires were missing, the boat was all right.

The Paracels, which is a large boat, was taken out by Mr. F. H. Kew. He was accompanied by his wife, his two brothers, Messrs. O. H. W. Kew and G. Still unsuspecting anything untoward

--A_LIGHT ON THEa HILL. having happened, they proceeded toward

Kew, their wives and members of their families. Whilo Messrs. F. E. and their respective motor boats, and it was

J. W. Kew went out fishing, Mr. C. H. Just before the occupants of the boats net until they reached them or wore in

on board with the were, surprised, a bonfire was seen on Mr. W. B. Muskett, of the Hongkong Kew remained close proximity that they. realised that something serious had occurred. Then, Electric Cumpany, who was one of the ladies. In spite of the fact that the one of the hills above Tai O. It might to their dismay, they learned that during party on the "motor-boat my, when pirates bad raided the other boats which have been merely some Chinese carrying their absence pirates had suddenly ap-interviewed yesterday related a very were not far dway, those on the Paracels out the ritual of ancestor worship, but had no idea that anything untoward was one of the victims suggested that it might peared on the scene, without warning, interesting story,

He said: We had been out fishing happening. They were chatting gaily, have been a signal to the pirates. It was a and taken possession.

Prior to the return of the anglers, since our arrival at Tung Ching Bay when suddenly the pirates came along: bright moonlight night, and a good look! however, the pirates had first of all and at 8.30 we decided to return to the side. The bush of the night was broken out could be kept on the sea, from the boarded the Ching Wo, which they seem Amy for chow." There were four of as a stentorian bawl came from a sampan hill. The pirates were certainly san ed to have discovered was the largest us in my party, namely, myself, Mr. A. nearby. We have come to search for guine that no police launch was in the In a twinkling the pirates were vicinity, and they timed their raid and fastest of the boats, and the one Gillard, the Hongkong Tramways, arms." most suitable for a quick exit. There, Mr. E. Mow Fung and Mr. M. Sousa. on deck. The occupants were startled, successfully..

The previous night, soon after mid- they terrorised the crew at the point of When we got back we noticed there were the suddenness of the raid was astound- the revolver and forced them below decks, no lights. We ordered the coxswain ta ing. The pirates were five in number, night, & house in one of the villages of but at the same time compelled them to put the lights on and we got on board. their chieftain, a small but sturdy man. Tai O was raided. There were seven Just as we arrived on board the boat we He rapped out his.orders; he was arrog- robbers, six of whom were armed with keep up steam.

The next boat, visited was the "Amy heard a shot fired. We were rathor ronant and domineering but with a hauteur revolvers and the other with a Mauser Here Mr. Mankett and his party were cerned about it, but the coxswain allayed which showed that he was inßexible. But pistol. These men might well have been in the words of one of the persons on among the pirate gang. They might also surprised by "soven pirates, all armed our fears by saying it was a cracker and with revolvers and a Mauger pistol. The that there was a Chinese festival in pro board "his men seemed afraid; they even have had confederates in Tai O, who gave miscreants hoarded the boat from a sam-greas. Therefore, we took no further slightly trembled at times; they asked, in them the signal of All's well" by the

shaky voices, if we had arms.

light on the hill.- pan, held up all on board, and robbed notice of it

REMOVAL

GRAMOPHONE" RECORDS

LITTLE WONDER "RECORDS

RECORD CARRIERS... SHEET MUSIC MUSIC ALBUMS...

SALE.

OE DIRECT,CB.BILCK,18,QUAI

VANDICK, AKIWART

TERSTINATION,

PODOS

TROUBLES, ENGLISH PRICE 3/-. ALL PHARMACIES BAD ODOUR, AND ALL POCT İMARÝHĽLOUR BALM, TENDER AND BORN INST

10 For $5.00 212 For $1.00

5.00 "Each

10cts. Per Copy 20cts. Per Copy

THE ANDERSON MUSIC Co., Ltd.

ICE HOUSE STREET.

TEL C. 1322.

Waterman's Ideal

Fountain Pen

Standard of the WorldTM

THE PEN YOU

WILL EVENTUALLY

BUY

Self-filling type from $6.50

KELLY & WALSH, LTD.

THE BOOKSHOP.

CHATER ROAD.