1926-11-18 — Page 5

Page

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, 1926.

GALLANTRY OF THE

SUNNING" OFFICERS.

A REVOLVER FIGHT IN THE DARK.

ELEVEN OF THE PIRATE GANG KILLED.

VESSEL BADLY GUTTED BY FIRE.

EUROPEAN PASSENGER TAKEN AWAY.

A vessel seized by a pirate gang, a revolver fight in the dark and the ultimate victory of a handful of gallant officers; then the setting of the ship on fire by the escaping pirates, the subduing of the fames and the arrival of helping vessels-such is the story of the "Sunning" piracy which was given on the arrival of the vessel in Hongkong yesterday » afternoon. Everyone on the ship passed through a time of the gravest anxiety, but they fought splendidly against great odds and the courageous way they recaptured the ship will long be remembered.

The ..Sunning" is wholly gutted "amidships. The vessel was seized at 4 p.. on Monday and the allicers and engineers were imprisoned in the Chief Oficer's room. They were later allowed some freedom, and eybived a daring plan.. Two oficers went on the bridge which was gaarded by two pirates, and, tackling them, secured possession of their revolvers. A running fight then began the dark. The pirates went so. far as to use Mr. G. Cormack, the Chief Engineer, as a shield, and he was wounded by shots from the bridge.

Baled and bewildered, the pirates set are to the ship, but the heroiz officers did not give way. When the fire spread, one of the ship's boats containing a Russian lady passenger, Mr. A. Duncan, the third engineer, "the Chinese wireless operator and two quartermasters was lowered. It had not been intended to take it away immediately but the rope by which it was tied to the "Sunning" burat through, and the boat went out to sea. The passengers were picked up by a Norwegian vessel and will be landed at Swatow." The pirates commandeered two boats and rowed away, taking Mr. H. W. Lapsley, one of the passengers, who is a Hong- kong man, with them. One boat was captured by H.M.S. "Bluebell **; the other escaped. A number of pirates were also captured on the

Sunning."

17

Three of the compradore stall and one Asnamite are stated to have been thrown overborid, and several pirates and a few passengers, were -wounded. At least two persons, both believed to be pirates were burned to death. Two bags of mail from Amoy were destroyed. Eleven pirates were killed, thirteen captured. Ove wounded and a few others are believed to have been drowned.

A LONG WAIT.

THE SUNNING" ARRIVES AT TAIKOO.

The Sunning which was being towed in by the Talkoo tug did not come through Lyemua Pass until 1.15 p.m. and about a quarter of ́an hour later she was

anchored off Taikoo Dock. She was ex pected at noon, and by that time several launches with police officers, and officials were waiting The fire-float with the members of the Hongkong Fire Brigade on board was also in attendance.

As soon as she was sighted it was apparent that the Sunning had passed through a gruelling time. Her upper works were all charred and blackened, and she had the appearance of being an old boat which had been allowed to lie idle for years.

The Police and officials went on board, And the launches crowded around. The wounded were eventually taken away, the first being Mr. Cormack, the Chief Engineer, and the Hongkong Fire Brigade ambulance car conveyed them to hospital. The handcuffed pirates were taken away by the Police to be lodged in the Central Pokee Station, whilst all the Chinese passengers were thoroughly questioned before they were allowed to go away

Not until late in the evening did the police and officers leave the abip:

THE PIRATES APPEAR.

USUAL MODUS OPERANDI " SUCCEEDS.

The Sunning left Amoy for Hongkong at 9 am on Monday. The officers aboard were Captain (3. Pringle), Chief Officer W (T. P. Beatty). Second Officer (J.) Hurst), Chief Engineer (G. Cormack); Second Engineer (W. Orr), and Third Engineer (A Duncan).

There were only two European passen gers, Mrs. A Prokofier, a Russian lady,

fired, and Mr. Cormack was hit in the cheat and leg. He fell, and the pirates rushed back down the gangway.

Lying in the darkness for sometime, and assuredly sufering severaly, Mr. Cormack eventually managed to reach the bridge, and in spite of his wounds helped in the fight. The pirates made sporadic rushes but each time they were repulsed.

Vessel Set Abike.

The other wounded men were pirates. Some were only slightly hurt, but others. Ind to be carried on stretchers, Two bad been hit in the stomach. Agony was de- picted in the faces of two or three, but not a moan escaped them are

There were two who had gashes on their heads, and one, was wounded in the throat. They were burly and villainous Booking.

"Sea him," said one of the.. Naval Baffled, bewildered, and seeing that Marines to a group of Prassmen, pointing there was no hope of capturing the to the bigger of the two." He was bit bridge, for avery attempt had been re-twice on the head with the ship's lead, pelled, while several of them were killed | and twice with the butt of a rifle, and it ar wounded, the pirates set fire to the was only then that he gave in.” alleyway near the after deck Fanned by The wounded were taken, some to the the strong wind the fames spread rapidly | Government Civil Hospital and the others forward and the officers on the bridge to the Kwong Wal Hospital.. They were were in extreme danger. Undismayed, carried from the Sunning to the launch they kept to their post, and in the light by the ambulance men, who extrised of the fire they sniped several more great care.

pirates. On the other hand the crew On board were also about a dozen were trying to do what they could to quell | handcuffed pirates who were not wound- the fire.

ed. Several of them were mere youths.. By now the pirates themselves were They were taken to the Central Police shoroughly disheartened and taking adStation, and will be charged in due vantage of their defeat, two armed officers course. went down to the chart room where they The dead men

were taken to the knew that Mr. Lapsley was under the mortuary. · charge of two armed men. When they reached there, however, they found that the room was empty."

་

**0.8

Boat Leaves the Ship. The conflagration

spreading rapidly and the officers lowered one of the boats and put in it the European lady passenger. She was accompanied by Mr. A. Duncan, the third engineer, the Chinese wireless

operator, and two quarter-masters. It was intended that if real danger arose the boat should, leave, but for the time being she was secured to the Sunning. The Sames, however, burat through the rope and the boat drifted away from the ship. (As previous ly reported, she was picked up by a Norwegian boat, and her occupants are being landed either at Swatow or Shang bai).

Tard of the Wied.

On board the Sunning the fire in creased but by an astonishingly good turn of fortune the wind changed and the smoke WAS blown towards the

pirates. It was then that they decided

THE SCENE ON THE SHIP.

CONFUSION AND CHARRED REMAINS.

Wheria Daily Press representative went aboard the Sunning he found that the centre castle (amidships) was entirely burnt, the skeleton showing out like that of a gutted house. Only the iron remain- ed, and it was twisted. Every vestige of woodwork had disappeared, the bridge no longer existed the ruin was complete The alleyways were deep with debris and charred pieces of furniture, cooking aten- sils and other wreckago was lying around. in utter confusion.

to have been the cook-house, there was In a blackened aperture, which seemed

abesp of ashes and rusted pans. A aum- ber of small buckets were filled to the hrim with copper coins, rusty-red as f they had been in a furnace.

Amidst this scene of utter desolation were two sights which added to the ghast liness, Suspended on some pieces of twist to make off, and, crowding into two ofed wire, which seemed to have formed a the ship's boats, lowered them and rowed part of a bed were the charred remains away. They were not too panic-stricken of one who bad perished in the famca. to remember the loot and Mr. Lapsley They were stated to be those of the was taken with them.

pirate who was second in command. In another place a bundle of charred boses told a similar story-the fate of still another pirate.

Fighting the Flames.

A Long Argument. Eventually the officers were allowed a certain amount of freedom, but they were under the eyes of pirates posted at everyTwo of the pirates left aboard put on point of vantage. The course was set for life belts and jumped over the side, and Chilang Point, but they were dubious as the others mingled with the passengers. to whether the captain had really done so. Their fears and suspicions increased and they ordered that the course should be changed. The one they demanded, it was pointed out, would land the ship on a reef of rocks, which lay in the direction. long argument ensued and eventually they gave in. Even then, they were not satisfied, and seemed to be in constant fear that the captain was fooling them.

Passengers Searched. Early in the proceedings, in fact as soon as they had control of the vessel, the pirates put the wireless out of com mission, and began searching the passen gers, all valuables being confiscated.

crew.

A party made for the compradore's office but the compradore had hurriedly changed into a seaman's suit, blackened his face and gone amongst the Efforts were made by the pirates to force members of the compradore's staff to divulge his identity, but they refused. It was stated, although it was not confirm ed, that three of the staff were thrown overboard by the pirates.

The robbers had hoped that there was bullion on board, but this was not so.

THE BREAKAWAY.

THE GUARDIANS OF THE BRIDGE,

The well-deck was crowded with passengers, police officers and officials, and baggage,was strown about. Down in the steerage quarters the passengers' belongings were heaped in confusion.

The pirates gone or dispersed, the officers left the bridge which was already catch ing fire, and the crew began fighting the fames. An arduous struggle was carried

All the passengers were closely examin on as the whole of the amidships wayed, and were called upon to prove their blazing. It was an appalling sight,

bona-fides. They were then allowed to one of the officers said: The conflagra tion lit up the sea for a long distance, There was a continual ernah of Lalling portions of cabins, the metal was red-hot, the woodwork burajd Bercely and amid- ships there was nothing but sheets of flame."

Strangely enough the fire confined itself wholly to amidships, and burnt itself out. Long before that two Japanese vessels came on the scene, and later H.M.S. Bluebell, and the ss. Suiyang, Then the Taikoo tug arrived.

The Bluebell hud loft an armed guard on board, and eleven alleged pirates were captured. Later the gunboat picked up one of the boats, containing nine pirates and the booty.

As the Bluebell approached the pirates, one of them jumped overboard and was drowned. He is believed to have been the pirate chief, who was wounded before they left the Sunning, Two Sunning lifebelts were also picked up by the Blue bell, and it is thought that the pirates who jumped overboard were also drown-

ed.

THE "SUIYANG'S” HELP.

EFFORT TO TOW BUNNING "

FAILS.-

All was quiet during the evening and darkness fell. Then a daring plan was evolved by the officers for the re- capture of the vessel. There are two stories how this was carried out. One is that the officers found two revolveri

The a.s. Suiyang arrived in Pärt some and some 150 rounds of ammunition in the mate's room, and thus armed, two of them two hours before the Sunning. Captain Purslow, the master of the, Suiyang,

go.

THE PIRATES' BAD SHOTS. "QUE AMMUNITION HAD

RUN OUT.".

shots.

One of the officers who guarded the bridge told our representative that when the pirates departed the 'defenders "had only a few rounds of ammonition left. "Had They went in time," he said. they kept attacking, our ammunition Ah! but they would have run out.

and he Look! were poor pointed to the mast showing the marke where bullets had pierced. "It was a pity," he added, that the Chief was shot, but it just couldn't be helped. We did not know he was there. But he acted like a brick." Added to their strenuous efforts of defending the bridge and quelling the Bames, the officers also were without food or water. All their belong- ings, have gone. They retain only the clothes they stood in when the vessel ar- rived yesterday. The Russian lady pas renger and her companions were in a similar plight,

who intended going to Australia by the rushed the bridge, shot the two pirate stated that when just of Chilang Paint and he told it with gusto. "When the

8.5. Taiping, and Mr. W. H. Lapsley who was coming to Hongkong. The Chinese passengers numbered 80 and the crew over a hundred.

It is not certain where the pirates booked. One source of information is to the effect that they came aboard as passengers at Shanghai, whilst another stated Amoy. The pirates used the old modus operandi. At about 3.45 p.m. they suddenly appeared from thirty-fire to forty of them-armed with revolvera. The points of vantage in the vessel werg soon taken, and the passengers, crew and officers were held up.

on guard and so gained control. The other story, which is apparently the cor at 1.46 p.m. on Tuesday, he received a rect cae, is that the Captain and another wireless message to the effect that the officer went to the bridge and while en- Sunning had been pirated and set on fire. Baged in conversation with the two An hour's run brought the Suiyang to pirates stunned them and seized their the scene. The Sunning was still burn revolvers.

ning, and the s.3. Kaying was standing

Tow-Rope Breaks.

THE COMPRADORE'S STORY. HOW HE AVOIDED DETECTION. The Compradore had a story to tell, pirates made the attack," he said, "I rushed to my room, put on clothes, and went amongst the crew. They tried hard to find me, but the Bosun would not give me away. Money gone, that's not of much account. I have got my life.'

seaman's

The first story was related by Mr.by. Cormack, the Chie! Engineer, but at the time the attack was made, at 1.25 p.m.. Heavy seas were running and it was HONGKONG MAN CAPTURED. he was below in the engine room, and difficult to get into communication with

attack

The Captain accosted the two pirates guard saying "There is Chilang in the direction pointed at, and with that Point." The pirates turned their heads the other officer who was armed with a

was later taken up on deck by the pirates the Suhning. After two or three at- Mr. Lapsley Is a Hongkong man, who was one of those who made the the Suiyang proceeded to The other story was told by an officer tempts a tow-rope was got aboard, and having been born in the Colony and tow the educated at the Diocesan Boys' School. He has been with the E.E.AC. Telegraph Sunning towards Hongkong. About an Mr. T. P. Beatty, the Chief Officer,

hour later, however, the tow-rope anap Company at Shanghai for nearly a arter relating the story of the attack to Daily Press representative, said that be

ped. A further attempt to take the of a century and only recently retired on was in his cabin, when he heard a scuffle

then dark, and on receiving a message Sunning in tow was made, but it was pension. in the alleyway, and going out found the

that the Taikoo tug was on her way ont, ship in the hands of the pirates The Indian guards had apparently been the heavy instrument quickly stunned them Capt. Purslow decided that the most he both and the revolvers were whipped could do was to stand by. Had things Grst to be overcome. All the officers from their hands One of the pirates become too serious, the Sunning bad including the Captain, Mr. Lapsley and the Russian lady passenger were brought began to move and he was abot. Another everything ready to take off the passer- to Mr. Beatty's cabin, and kept there mirate was at the same time coming gors and crew, but at 9.15 p.m. the tug the bridge and was also arrived. It was two hours before a con under guard. Mr. Lapley, who could towards

That brought home. to the speak Chinese, interpreted for

the shot.

other pirates that the officers had re amoothly.

nection was made, but after that all went officers.

captured the bridge. By that time this The Kaying had left hours before, gallant group of oficers was joined by and the shaxtung which also came the others, and "a rinning fight ensued. to the scene proceeded on her voyage_ni Spasmodic firing went on for sometime, there was no need for her to wait Bo but the ship was pitching heavily and the pirates' shooting was erratic while that fore the towing commenced H.M.B.

Bluebell had also returned, of the defenders of the bridge was: a great deal more sure y

is

Pirates' Confessions," Eventually two pirates, who were act ing as the chiefs arrived, and through Mr. Lapsley, informed the officers that they did not wish to harm anyone, but that if they attempted to escape it would be the worse for them. The pirates gave orders that the ship should be taken to Chilang Point.

DEAD AND WOUNDED.

LAUNCH

The Chief Engineer's Story.· ́ The pirates then decided on a dastard

USED AS HOSPITAL

SHIP ly plan. Mr. Cormack, who was in the engine room, was seized and forced up

Reminiscent of wartime was the sceno. the gangway leading to the bridge. Crouching behind him with their revolvers on a Taikoo launch which carried the at his back, the pirates followed. These dead and the wounded ashore an hour were anxious moments for Mr. Cormack, or so after the Sunning arrival. He dare not shout as be would have been

NAVAL BOATS RETURN. MORE PIRATES IN CUSTODY, H.M.S. Findictive, and HM.S. Des- patch which were sent to the scene of the piracy on the news being received in, Hongkong on Tuesday, returned to port yesterday afternoon.

...

Despite their lookout over the area, and the search made by the 'planes from E.M.S: Hermes no further boats of the Sunning were found, apart from those previously mentioned.

H.M.S. Bluebell returned to port as well, bringing with her the nine pirates. and the boat she picked up after, leaving, the Sunning in search of the missing ship's boats.

Her pirate prisoners were handed over to the police authorities.

THE DAMAGE.

IN' DOCK FOR A MONTH:

They explained that their families were starving and that was why they had taken to piracy. Later, however, they volum- teered the information that it had cost them $3,000 to carry out their cacapader The chiefs were quite courteous, and communicative but evidently feared

The first to land was Mr. Cormack who The extent of the damage cannot na that the officers might turn the tables on them for they repeatedly warned them as shot by the pirates; and at the same time was found to be wounded in the chest yet be ascertained. The vessel has had to the consequences if they made any owing to the darkness and impossibility and leg. He, however, referred to his no damage except amidships. All the such attempt. We will do anything, of identification he was in danger of injuries smilingly, and when met by Press. holds are intact, and the cargo has not

to the extreme if you try being shot by his friends. That actually representatives tendered his story will been damaged. we shall

go

the approaching ingly. He was able to limp to the wait. said the chini. It we go happened. Seeing. anything, down, you will go along with us.

shadows one of the officers on the bridge in ambulance.

The vessel will probably be in dock for.

a month

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

Telephone C. 4578

Specialists in Gentlemen's

EVENING DRESS WEAR.

COLLARS

TIES

SCARVES

STUDS

SHIRTS

LINKS

BRACES

GLOVES

SOCKS

SHOES

The general excellence of our Evening Wear is well-known in Hong Kong. Smart ness with comfort being our aim.

Our Dinner Suit at $95.00 (lined silk) is unsurpassed for STYLE, COMFORT and VALUE.

"Borsalino”

the most

popular Hat in the world

Bersalines

Broad Ret-Perta 500

Style Quality Durability

AT MODERATE PRICES,

THE WING ON Co., Ltd.

HONGKONG."

COLUMBIA NEW-PROCESS RECORDS.

9109<

91104

·ALDERSHOT BEARCHLIGHT TATTOC, Parts 1 and 2

Part 1. First Post (Bugles); Bugle Marches and Band; Georgia; Le Clarion Anglais; The Rifles,

Bugles of E.M. ROYAL HOESE GUARDS (Bines) and Band of E.M. GRENADIER. GUARDS Part 3.-Oriental Music: In a Chinese Temple Gardens Entry of Drums and Files: The Red Cloak, March; Trumpeters; Cavalry Mesa Call: Stables; Old EngEsh Fanfare.

Trumpeters of HM. ROYAL HORSE GUARDS Blues) and

Band of HL.M. GRENADIER GUARDS “ (ALDERSHOT SEARCHLIGHT TATTOO. | Parts 3 and 4

Pari 3 Entry of Pipe Band: The Back of Bennachie, Marah; Strathspey; Miss Drummond of Ferth; Heel; Reel of Tulloch; March; Road to the Isles: Slow March; Bighland Cradle Bong.

Pipe Band of HM. SCOTS GUARDS. Part. 4-Entry of Goards; The British Grenadiers, March; Troop: The Colours; Evening Hymn; The Day Thou Gavert (Choir and Band)

Band of H.M. GRENADIER GUARDS. With FULL CHOIR Oily the NUMBER is necessary when ordering COLUMBIA Records.

AT

ANDERSON'S,

ASK FOR

MO SHEUNG

CIGARETTES.

They have rapidly come Into favour with

discriminating

smokeri

owing to their delightful flavour

and aroma.

Only well-matured Virginiau tobacco used,

On sale at all tobacconist1.

NANYANG BROS. TOBACCO CO.