1927-09-02 — Page 5

Page

DETAILS OF THE "YAT SHING "

PIRACY.

AN EFFICIENT AND CONSIDERATE GANG OF RUFFIANS.

"

ABOUT $13,000 TAKEN BUT A POOR HAUL."

THE CAPTAIN'S OFFICIAL REPORT.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1927.

ing Swatow.. The Captain WAS rent in the mess-room until about noon, when he and the other Euro- peans were all put into a passenger cabin. One of the pirates then asked for the Captain, and Captai Hodgson was taken to the bridge by two pirates. None of the pirates spoke English, but the No. 2 Com- pradore was called upon to net as interpreter and he interpreted the pirates orders to the Captain on the bridge. Mr. Harris, the Second Officer, was also there with five pirates.

BREAKING DOWN

RESISTANCE.

DRASTIC ACTION AGAINST MONEY GUILDS.

CANTON EXCHANGES AND BANKS CLOSED; \-

A course was steered for Hong [FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.] Kong, the pirates often saking the Captain questions about Chinese places like Pinghoi, Shamun, Tam- shui, and Taisha Mai. Captain Hodgson was ordered later to steer for Tam Chay Inlet. The Fat Shing after dusk, at about 8 p.m. headed for the Iniet, but at 0.10 pm owing to rain, Captain Hodgson decided to anchor as the risibility was poor, the spot being 118.03 40."

APPEAL LODGED · INCOR- RECTLY.

"CROWN IMPROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE

COURT.

40 STOLEN PIGS CASE DISMISSED.

The Full Court, with the acting Chief Justice (Mr. Justics J. R. ths, acting Puisne

the

The Money Changers' Guilds Wood) and continuing its

to the (Judge Mr. P. Jacks) on resistance Cavernment's demand for a levy of Beach, sat at the Supreme Court 84,000,000 and Mr. Koo Ying, Fun, yesterday morning to hear the Chiel of the Fluancial Depart-appeal against a decision made by meat, has sent an ultimatum. His the Magistrate, at the Kowloon message declared that if they did Magistracy in a case against two

дл

Further detalls of the piracy of the ss. Yat Shing," of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, were obtainable yester day, following the completion of statements to the police. The oscars and passengers had more or less recovered from their unenviable experience, and were able to give a fuller story of the ptracy. As stated yesterday, the Fat Shing, is the second Indo-China gore and officers was not taken. Icented as in lat. 22.36 N., 100% not" accept.the Government's terms Chinese. They had been charged

steamer to fall into the hands of the Bins Bey pirates this year, the Hop Sang, on the same rub, having been pirated in March.

Similarities.

There were several similarities between the pirating of the Fat hing and the Hop Sang. Both vessels were captured after leaving Swatow, but the Fat Shing was of her way to Shanghai rid Swatow, while the Hop Sang was on the trip fra Shanghai to Hong Kong Swatow. Both piracies were com paratively tan affairs although by no means pleasant experiences. In this instancy fo on was hurt.. only a little of the cargo was taken, and the offers losers were small. It would seem that about

links, etc. The money of passen exerpt in the case of the Japanese lady, whose story concerning her fosses appears elsewhere in this re- port.

Chinese deck passengers had their belongings thoroughly searched, and all money and jewellery was taken.

$10,000?

by neon yesterday very drastic with having forty pigs in their action would be taken. As a pre. possession, the pigs having been timinary the Caaton police attempt. stolen, and they were each fined

After dealing with the landing of the pientes Captain Hodgson states that he could observe no village aenr the spot. but he saw some men on the islands who might have beened to arrest the Guild's representa- tive on the General Chamber of acting us sentries for the pirates.

After all the pirates had Inaded Commerce. They searched his resi. with their loot and hostages. theydence and several other likely ordered Captain Hodgson and crew No definite estimate can yet be to return to the ship. There were places but failed to find him. given us to value of the booty. about 18 pirates in all, mostly arm Chinese detectives have taken state-ed with revolvers, and some had menta from the deck passengers, but knives and choppers. as these have to be translated and checked, etc., it will be seme time before the exact amount stolen from them is known.

Captain Hodgson got the ship under way at 10.13 am on Wednes day after staying for five hours at Bias Bay. A couran was set 0 Except for ten cases of provi- Shanghai, but shortly afterwards a steam launch was seen heading sions no other cargo was removed. Over 81,000 was taken from the towards the Fat Shing, several apradore, and one deck passenger junks and sampans were also of is said to have lost $9,000. It is served deading in the same diree roughly estimated that deck pastien from the shore, and as the engers losses total $10,000, and pirates had said that other pirates with other things the total haul might attack them if they did not

the

On Wednesday the Government instructed the Finance Department to warn the Money Changers' Guild

raise demands and that if they did not comply with their $4,000,000 required from them be- fore September 1st the Government would dose all the money exchange shops and small banks. All their account books would be detained and gole through with a view to asscasing their assets, their safes would be forced open by the police officers and their ready cash, both. cated.

8150.

Mr. Hing Shing Lo (instructed by Mr. C. & S. Russ) appeared for appellant, and Mr. H. Somer- set Fitzroy was for the Crown.

Mr. Justice Wood drew Mr. Hing Shing Lo's attention to the wording of the Magistracy Ordin nace and asked whether the notice of appeal was sent to the complain- ant within fourteen days of the delivery of the stated case.

Mr. Lo replied that notice of appeal had been sent within the prescribed period.

$10,000 to $12,000 should cover all Jusses approximately the same! "amount as in the ease of the Hop!

The usual proceedure was adopted might be reckoned at from $12,000 leave quickly, the ship was turned silver and notes, would be confix. in Court, was asked by His Lord-

Sang.

under

by the pirates. Officers on duty were first surprised and put strong guard at their posts, and then passengers and other officers were attended to nad kept confined. and then the ship was set on a course for Bins Bay.

Filth This Year.

I

This makes the fifth piracy ci teamers this year. The Norwegian hip Solriken suffered just month ago, s haul of 330,000 being made and the Captain died from wounds received in his attempt to defend the vessel. Prior to that there was the Hap Sang, in March, the Seang Bee and the 11ing Wo in

January.

The Fat Shing left Hong Kong' on Sunday for Shanghai, arriving

|

to $13,000.

"Yat Shing" Salts.

The Fat Shing sailed again yes. terday, at noon, for Shanghai. without taking any further cargo on beard. Mr. Meikle and Mrs. Bartolini and children remained on board, but Mr. and Mrs. Brown Becided to stay here.

Her dimen.

The Tut Shing is a steel serow steamer of 2,284 tons gross. She was built in 1901 by Messrs. Swan, Hunter and Wigham, Richardson, Ltd. of Newcastle. sions are: Length 990 feet, breadta 15.4 feet. Her port of registry is Londen. She carries aix European officers and a Chinese crew

rights.

of

The Harbour Office Report of the at Sheng makes the following

At Swatow on Monday morning.rict reference to the occurence," She left there on Tuesday morning At 9 a.m. on August 30th in

Was

It!

18. not on Monday as was in 20 N, 1169 58 E, pirates took charge "advertently stated yesterday. of the ship and headed for Sam two hours later that the Chau Inlet in Hong Hai Bay, pirates, who had boarded at Swatow where we arrived at 8.30 am as deck passengers, made their pre- August 31st. The pirates cleared sence knowa.

They remained on and the steamer left for Hong the ship until Wednesday morning, Kong at 10.45 am. on August 31st. when they disembarked in the Arrived at Hong Kong 5.10 p.m. neighbourhood of Bias Bay, which August 31st. No casuales. had been reached the previous In the official retura no cargo is night at 11 o'clock. --

European Passengers.

The three European passengers on board were "Mr. and Mr. F. A Brown, of the Naval Yard, and Mr. Meikle, first officer of the Indo China Navigation Company, travel ling on duty to Shanghai.

shown.

toward Hong Kong, which was reached, as stated just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Pirates Disappointed. In his report to the Police, the Captain states that there were no casualties, excepting that à Euro pean, Mr. Meikle, was eat alightly in the nud. No bullion was car ried, and the pirates told the inster when they left that they had only. 83,000. They expressed disappointment at their haul.

All the firearms on board were taken by the pirates, and nearly all the food was eaten by them very little being left.

The Master could not describe the pirates in detail, but said the man who appeared to be their leader was of medium height and build, and was dressed in dark clothes, with shoes and socks.

THE COMPRADORE'S STORY.

DISGUISE GIVEN AWAY.

4.

When the complainant, who was ship whether he bad. received the At noon yesterday strong detach-notice he said he had not.. ments of armed police were placed Counsel replied that the papers on guard on all "money shops and tanks in Taiping Street (the were served on the complainant's

Canton) solicitors. Threadneedle Street of

His Lordship: It is addressed to including the Bank of Canton. A Government notice was posted on the doors of the Bank of Canton the Crown. Why was it served on declaring that last year, when there Mr. Hall?

Counsel: I think that was a mis- was a rus on this bank the Cop- tral Bank fanced it to the extent of 8500,000, but now the Bank of take...

His Lordship. You are proceed- Canton was ungrateful and un- a time when patriotic enough to refuse to assisting under a motion which is not inancial help was badly needed.addressed to the respondent. the Government at

entirely untrue. Counsel: I should like to apply This bowever is

for leave to amend the motion. It The Bank of Canton received no

is very unfortunate that the mis- such assistance.

take crept in

Hia Lordship continued that it seemed to him that the Crown had

The more important members, ol the Banks' af are in hit ng or have left the City and the police are now searching for the chainnan of the General Chamber of Coin- merce, Mr. Chow Chin Pong, and nothing to defend, and asked whe the compradore of the Taiwan ther counsel for the appellant Bank, but both of these gentlemen could resist the application by the have made themselves scarce.

Crown for the case to be struck off.

Mr. Hing Shing Lo: I must ad- mit that I am taken aback. I can only suggest that I might appeal to you on the ground-

His Lordship I can't hear you on the merits...

Mr. J. Chu, compradore of the

Owing to the run on the Central pirated vessel when interviewed by Bank the Government declared a our representative yesterday said ban on the export of silver from that his safe was broken opened by Canton. The money changers, bow the pirates and about $1,300 stolen. ever, were suspected of smuggling The money was in Hong Kong and coin' out of the City and a detach MASTER'S REPORT," Shanghai currency, He said thatment of armed polien were there. Extracts from the official report when be heard that pirates were on

On Wednesday five persons were

Mr. Lo: A technical or clerical a charge of taking mistake was made. If you have made by the Captain of the Fat board, he at once disguised him fore stationed on the Shakee Road. Shing, Mr. G. H. Hodgson, states self as a greaser and went down to arrested on that the steamer is registered at the engine room, mingling with silver to the Shameer and they are

how awaiting trial at Police Heade objection I will ask for an ad- journment to consider how best I this port, flies the British flag, and the engine hands there.

quarters.

might resist the application made by the Crown. If you allow the is on the Canton, Hong Kong, board, I could hear the pirates making enquiries for me, but they Swatow, Shanghai and Tsingtan failed to find me until a few hours

application an obvious miscarriage will occur. The ship is not fitted with wire-after. I do not know who gave me away, but two pirates walked less, or with grilles or piracy pro into the engine-room and told me tection devices. The total firearm that I need not taide, any longer. provided by the Company consisted of four Winchester rifles and three They wanted me to act as inter revolvers, with ammunition, in ad- preter. I had no alternative but

The Japanese indy who embarked at Swatow was Mrs. Bartoliai, the wife of a customs official in Swatow run. with her two children, Miss Yalerie,

On

POLITICAL AND MILITARY CHANGES.

Another wholesale re-abuffling of positions among the high officials is expected in Canton shortly. It is

His Lordship pointed out that

days. Mr. Lo said he might say the respondent was entiled to motion of appeal within fourteen

engineer, had relieved the Chief dition to which Captain Hodgson to comply and after making their believed that Mr. Koo Ying Fan, Mr. Hall had done his best to get i A Livingstone, and the Chief Officer each. had af wishes known to the captain, I was the chief of the Financial Depart the Crown interested and that at

aged 12, and Master Giulio, aged 10, who were being taken back to School.

Plight Of Officers. Mr. E

Grainger, the third

Engineer, Mr. shortly after 8.30 am. for break private revolver.

The Fat Shing mailed from Hong Inst. Be should have been re- lieved again at 9.15 4.m., but at Kong with general cargo and about the pirates entered the engine-600 tons of Canton and local cargo. 9.20. zoom with revolvers, and intimated There were no through passengers from Canton, but three Chinese that the ship had been captured and the Chief Engineer confined deck and three European first to his room.

They then gave class passengers were taken aboard orders through one of the firemen at Hong Kong, the latter being that they wanted me ateam in bound for Tsingtao. order to reach Bias

quickly Mr. Grainge was ás possible. forced to carry ons this order

The second officer, Mr. C. Harris, was on the bridge, and was com pelled to remain there for twenty four hours carrying out the orders

ransom.

taken back to my cabin. Once in- side my cabin, the pirates naked me to hand out all the cash. I had. They broke open my safe and Mr. Chu further stated that took away $1,300," the pirates had kidnapped seven steerage passengers for rubbers was estimated at about The value of cargo taken by the Arriving at Swatow at 7 a.m. on 81,000. Thieves very inach likes Monday, about 300 tons of cargo canned fruits, they take en cases were landed there, and about 80 away," said the Compradore. Mr. was Chinese deck-passengers, and aleo Chu said that in his opinion, he a European lady and two children would say the total loot were taken on for Shanghai. The well within the neighbourhood of ship was not searched by the Chi- $20,000. The steerage passengers

ILent.

ment of the Canton Provincial ange Minister of the Nanking case with reluctance, Government and concurrently Fin-ast the Crown had come into the His Lordship: Was a stated case pest and that the vacancy will be given on June 30th 7. Government, will resign the former filled by Mr. Feng Man Chuk, now It is thought also that a the Chief of the Labour Depart

will possibly be given to Mr. Chen | post in the judicial Department Yung

General Wang Chun, who was recently appointed by the Nanking Chao-lui districts, is now on his Government to the command of the

General Fan Shek Seng, the com- way to Swatow to take up his post.

י

Mr. Lo: Yes, but amended since, His Lordship: Therefore there was no stated case on June 30th.

After Mr. Fitzroy had stated cases instancing that the Court had no power to amend the notice of motion, His Lordship gave judg ment as follows:-

"My Brother and I are agreed es to the proper coarse to be follow- ed on this motion. This appeals by two persone convicted before the Police Magistrate in certain pro

of the pirates at the point of anese authorities at that port, but bad some money with them and they mander of the Kuomintang 16th ceedings. It is provided in the!

revolver.

Confined Under Guard.

and fired by letter that pirate

and officere," as the Captain had

In the meantime the officers and gangs might operate, and he book

passengers find been placed in the all precautions consistent with the

up

cent they

Canton Military Headquarters that pellant shall within fourteen days | General Li Shui Chung be appoint after the delivery of the stated case ed to command the remainder of to him transmit the case to the

General the Yunnanese troops.

Registrar first giving notice in Fans main forces in Northern wing of the appeal and sending Kwangtung but he claims to have with it a copy of the case to the

other party (the respondents). 30,000 men in Yunnas.

·KOWLOON-CANTON - RAILWAY.

REPORT FOR 1928. INCREASE IN TRAFFIC

RECEIPTS, A

LADY PASSENGER'S ORDEAL. Mr. Bartolini, wife of a Customs Official at Swatow, who took pas mess room, with two stewards in circumstances.

ange at that port with her two children for Shanghai, told a Daily Pirates Take Control, attendaner Mrs. Brown and Mrs.

In this matter, the appellants Bartolini were not interfered with,

Dealing with the pirates obtain Press representative that she was

have not complied with that sec bat Mr. Brown was put under

tion. They did not within the guard in the mess room with the ing control of the ship, Captain more than thankful that her chil

period named send a copy of the officers and Mr. Meikle. Although Hodgson states that he was on the dren and herself had come out of

stated care either to the respondent tea, coffee, lomogado, beer, sand- afterpart of the bridge-deck, on the the ordeal unharmed. "What they wiches and "smokes were allow starboard side, conversing with the took away from me, does not mat

or to his solicitors. Notice of of rash ed, the passengers and officers had Chief Engineer and European ter. I am glad to see any children was playing about. I was taking them

motion was prepared on behalf to keep their bands above the table, passengers when

the bridge by a1back to school in Shanghai. I und

the appellants and was served on They were about 800 with me for incidental

the respondents' clicitors within and eventually a troubled sleep made

number of Chinese.

the time specified but that notice overcame most of them through armed with revolvers, and in expenses and a cheque which the

of motion, however, was wrong in sheer weariness.

mediately covered the Europeans pirates did not take. They took The pirated certainly showed con.

The annual report of the working form in that it was addressed to sideration for their prisoners. A and ordered them to put up their my chain and my daughter's First

The Boliators on whom window from the upper deck was hands. There was a general simul. Communion chain and some small brokea to allow air to enter the taneous rush by the gang to all articles of jewellery. Altogether I of the Kowloon, Canton Railway fox the Crown who were named as lost about 8250, but that does not 1026 shows that the local grassenger respon erved were therefore co overheated mess room, and a fan strategic points of the ship.

Capt. Hodgson was hurried into matter. The pirates, before they receipts amounted to $127,230.22 15 15 was later introduced. Eventually

removed under the mess-room, as were also the re- left, broke open my daughter's against $332,265.31 for the previous titled, to disregard it.The Crown the party were guars to the stateroom, and later mainder of the ship's staff. and trunk and scattered all her cloth-year, and the goods receipts were have been improperly brought be

passengers on board. Several shotsing about."

mile the previous year The Through in the absence of proper prelimin- to the saloon."

were heard being fred at the time Mrs. Bartolini with 825,861.3:1 or 84,095.0 more than fore the Court on this motion and The Losses

of the attack, but resistance was said that the pirates wera very and Joint Sectional Traffic receipts impossible owing to the suddennes smart men Why, if they had taken my cheque, instead of throw of the pirates action

ing it on the deck, and tried to cash it in Shanghai, the Police would surely have made an-arrest."

The losses of passengers and officers appears to have been gene rally confined to petty thefts of -individual members of the pirate band of such articles as pins, studs,

The position of the ship at the time of the capture was. lat. 83.09, Long: 116.00, -the nearest port be

起

were 839,291.31 as compared with $17,665 38 for the year 1925

The operating expenses of the

$101,743.07 line exceeded the revenue, by

ary proceedings this Court has no of the appeal as raised. jurisdiction to consider the merits

The motion will be dismissed and

Crown appellants will pay the costs of the

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