1927-10-22 — Page 5

Page

PIRACY, BRILLIANT RESCUE

(CONTINUED “

MEN AND WOMEN TORTURED.

CREW'S TERRIBLE STORY.

"WHAT WENT ON IN THE'

STEERAGE.

Late at night a Daily Pren re presentative learned that 84 mem- ber of the crew, who had been taken to the Central Police Station for examination, had been released, and on enquiries made, found that they were staying in a Chinese boarding house."

Our reporter called on them and was told by the Chiness steward that he no can speak English and no ssvee. Cantonese. They all be- long Ningpo men, therefore no can talked about thief man."

WORK.

HOW THE PIRACY WAS DISCOVERED.

WHAT THE "LA" DID.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, 1927.

It was on the ship's arrival at Bias Bay, when the pirates must haye been thinking that all was safe, that the biggest surprise came. H.M. Submarine L under the command of Lieut. Halahan was thers having been carrying out tactical exercises during the day, and she had anchored under the leo of the land.

OFFICERS SWIM FOR THE THE

SUBMARINE.

CHIEF OFFICER'S HELF TO

WOMEN.

Speaking to Dany Press r porter yesterday, the officers of the Irene could not speak too highly of the magnificent work carried out by Lieut. Halahan and his men. "They behaved splendidly," said one of the officers. Our "reporter

also learned how

POLICING OF THE KOWLOON CITY STAB CANTON

PLANS TO RESTORE GOOD ORDER.

AVIATION SCHOOL TO BE STARTED.

KWANGSI TROOPS DIS. BANDED.

BING FATALITY.

YOUTH COMMITTED TO THE SESSIONS.

A fourteen-year-old Chinese, who is alleged to have caused the death of another boy. in Kowloon, City" by stabbing him with a pen-knife daring a quarrel, was committed for trial at the Criminal Session, "by the Kowloon Magistrate yester- day. Mr. T. S. Whyte Smith 'ap.

The defendant admitted having struck the boy, who died in hos pital, but stated that at the time he was not aware he had the knife in his hand. youth

the officers of the ill-fated ship [FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.] peared for the Crown. made their escape. The Captain and Chief Engineer, it appears were cut off by the flames, and the other officers thought they had been When the Irene appeared with ne killed. They managed, aftor a lights Lieut. Halahan at once sustusele with the pirates to effect pected that a piracy had taken their escape, by jumping overboard, place and signalled "Stop Im clad in practically nothing, and

swimming to the submarine. mediately."

No notice was taken of the fignal, and Lieut. Halahan turned his

the Our searchlight on

Irene and fired a blank round. The vessel continued on her way and a live shot was fired across her bows...

reporter answered them in Shang. hai dialect and a friendship was at once formed, and from them our reporter gathered a story which had so far not been given out by the European officers.

Cruel Pirates.

Captain Johnsen who was under guard on the bridge, signalled to the engine room to stop the engines, but the pirates in the engine room forced the Chief Engineer at the poins of the revolver to keep the engines running..

The submarine then fired a shot into the Irene'e engine room, smash ing the engines and putting them completely out of action.

The Fire.

The pirates, our informants said, were very cruel in their treatment of passengers. Immediately the ship was seized, they lost no time in rounding up the passengers and drove them into the steerage, Every passenger was thoroughly question- ed as to the amount of property A small fire broke out at once, they had on their person and the but it was thought in. official quar prospect of getting a ransom from ters yesterday that the pirates in their relatives. Thoes passengers their rage had set fire to the Irene who did not give a satisfactory in several places. The officers, how answer were driven up one by ocever, think that the shell caused the to the stern of the boat and there are, and they state that although they were cruelly tortured until the pirates put up a fight when they spoke out.

the firing began, they did not see them attempt to fire the ship, as they appeared to be in too much of frenzy to think about it.

The ship, as stated, elsewhere, sank yesterday.

The method employed was burn ing the passengers' hands and feet and hitting them with a hammer. The women underwent the same ordeal, and the screams of the vic tims were most heartrending. "We are hardened seafarers and have seen some dreadful sights in our time, but this experience will live forever in our minds. We have wives and children and what we saw was enough to make us wish to rather see our little ones and

"

Chief Oficer's Action,

The Chief Officer, one of the last to leave the ship, worked nobly. He with other officers secured all the lifebelts available and placed them round the Chinese women passengers. The women did not know what the lifebelts were for. but were very grateful when they were at length persuaded to don them.

Struggle To Get Free... The officers of the Frene said they

had a stiff fight before they were

able to go over the side.

of

The Chief Officer, was stripped all his clothes, except his trousers and spoke of his thank- fulness for the loan of a pair al police shoes, from one of the police who went out in police launches. The Chief Officer was struck in the eye by one of the pirates, and the other officers received similar treat meat,

New Victhes.

Following the recent disturbances in Canton the Police are being **shaken "* and a number of

up, fresh orders aiming at the suppres sion of disorder have been pro- mulgated.

IA the first place

Dr. A. Cannon, who had had the

812,000 has been allotted for oder observation since

the "suppression of espionage" in Canton during the next four months. Notice of public meetings, their time and place, has to be given to the police who will, when they consider necessary, send strong detachments to watch the proceed- ings. Another projected activity is a house to house visitation of "all! residences in the city," with the idea of turning out those who are asing the influence of their unions or their military unit to obtain free board and logging. An eßtórt is also to be made to suppress highway

Police is asking for authority to robbers and the Commissioner of deal with these gentry by sammary execution. That is the only way, he is convinced, to lessen the pre sent crime wave.

attention.

14th, expreased the in evidence, that the de- mental defectivencas fendant's almost amounted to feeble minded- nesa. He would say that the youth was certainly responsible for his action, but if annoyed he would be likely to lose control of himself.

THE FIGHT ON THE "HAI

"NING."

DEFENDANTS DISCHARGED.

The case in which some members of the crew of the as Hai Ning came into conflict with other seamen who had been sent by the Chinese Seamen's Union to relieve them, was brought to a conclusion yes. ferday at the Central Magistracy before Major C. Willson.

WATCHING THE UNIONS. The Authorities are seriously

Three of the defendants who were canton Printers' Union and, if that on bail of $100 each failed to considering the position of the body is found to be under Red appear and their recognizances were influence, is proscription will be estreated. The two who appeared ordered. In the meantime, the were discharged. Evidence was to present committee have offered to the effect that those sent on-board on orders received from the Chinese On arrival here the officers had resign so as not to get the whole to relieve the crew were acting

Union into trouble."

The activities in Canton of the Seamen's Union. This was done no clothes, or very little.

Goldsmiths Union of Hong Kong in accordance with the regulation are also being watched by the that the crew of every steamer police. A meeting of the Union at should be replaced at certain in- the Tai Ping Theatre in Canton on tervals by those who were unem Thursday received special police played.

It appeared that when the relief The moderate leaders of the party went on board, they met with Chinese Seamen's Union will again a warm reception and in the fight form an executive committee. The which ensued, several persons re- Authorities, it is understood, are ceived injuries who decided that

His Worship' not hostile to the Union as such, but they will not tolerate extremist there was no evidence on which to convict ordered that from the bail control

The forthcoming conference "of of the first defendant, $20 should magistrates and other civil adminis- be paid to the first complainant, trative officials, from Canton and and also 810 from the bail of the the provincial districts, which opens fourth and fifth defendants. next Tuesday will probably occupy itself mainly with the question of

Some Other officers were later taken to restoring order.

nineteen Mesars. Lane, Crawford yesterday nagistrates and three mayors from the district near Canton are ex- morning and fitted out with new

pected to attend. flannel suits.

The Chief Officer and some of the others highly praised the action of the ladies of the Hong Kong Bene volent Soviety who came to them at Navy To The Rescue.

an early hour yesterday morning When it was soon that persons with clothes to wear. The Chief were jumping overboard, Lieut. Officer was wearing the suit they Halahan took his ship alongside let himi have when seen by our re- the steamer, and proceeded at once porter yesterday. He remarked to rescue, the

unfortunate in- that apart from his shirt and collar dividuals struggling in the water. they had given him everything, his One of the first men which the own clothes having been stripped submarine reached refused to be off him by the pirates in their rescued, and he had to be forcibly anger. hauled in by a rope. The deduc- tion that he was one of the pirates seems fairly obvious.

Captain Goes Back. It was the Captain of the Irene who, when the Submarine went alongside, boarded the burning vessel and himself dropped the an- chors, thus facilitating rescue work. He told our reporter that it was

wives dead at our feet than to go through such torture as was meted out by this gang of out-throats," said ten sturdy seamen in one voice. Compradore Died A Captive. The No. 1 compradore after having been put through a gruel ling questioning told the pirate that be could raise no more than $3,000 for his ransom. He was then lock- ed in a cabin and a robber placed When the ship outside his door. was on fire, everyone was out to save himself, and the poor com- pradore was left to perish. He was either burnt to death or drowned. Pride Comes Before A Fall. The saying that pride comes before a fall" came true in this

Time and again, the man dived case. The pirates were behaving at overboard to go to the assistance their worst, when the first blank of struggling men, remarkable shell-was-fired from the 4. This coolness and daring being display was the first inking that somethinged by all hands. was amiss, but to the prisoners

The L. rescued no less than 226 could have nothing

people and a further 12 were picked aweeter.

up by H.M.S. Delhi. As the official The robbers, realizing that every list gives 261 as the number on the thing was up, left the prisoners board the ship, it would appear alone and went out to fend for that only 14 persons remain an themselves. Life buoys and belts accounted for."" were torn out from every cabin The L then proceeded to Hong bears) one of these animals was Kong, leaving the burning ship to burnt to death in the ship, two were HMS Delhi Mugnolia and shot and the fourth, a cub, was Stormcloud, and the two latter ves seis mediately proceeded to pump brought Yaumati and salely water into her. The Naval Dock caged by its owner. yard tug Alliance was subsequently The 2nd Engineer saved his black despatched to the scene.

The Submarine Led had been in constant touch with the naval Lu thorities in Hong Kong by wireless, and H.M.8., Delhi, which had also been in the vicinity during the day made full speed to "the scene, H.M.S. Magnolia was sent out from Hong Kong, the Stormcloud leaving later on for the same spot. not possible for the Submarine to The work of rescue was meantime go alongside for sometime after the proceeding under, the guidance of ship started burning in view of the

wonderful rough se Lieut. Halahan, and efforts were carried out in the darkness.

sounded

and from the rails. Even doors of the various cabins were hammered down to be used as a raft.

The Casualties.

So far as could be ascertained only four members of the Irene's crew perished in this outrage. The No. 1 compradore, who was locked

―

ra

ARRIVES HERE, Crowded to the utmost capacity,

CARGO LOOTED.

The pirates looted the cargo and ships stores and spent most of the time during which the ship was un- der their control in feasting and gambling

ANIMAL PASSENGERS.

Among the passengers travelling showman who had with him four bears (known as honey

eat.

WAS +

THE SHIP AND OFFICERS.

in his cabin, one assistant sur the L arrived in harbour Friday

The ill-fated Irene was a three- unmed Wong, the third compradore morning at 3 o'clock. The police, and a freman, the latter was killed, who had been told of a that masted steel-screw steamer of 1,243 by the shell bursting through the had occurred, immediately took tona net, registered at Shanghai, engine-room.

charge of the survivors, who are But dead bodies numbering over now accommodated at the Central and running under the Chinese flag. twenty were seen by the survivors Polke Station. Medical aid was She was built in 1880 at Glasgow around the burning ship. These also in attendance, and the Chinese by Napier, "Shanks and Bell, and were mostly women and children who was shot through the chest and It was also believed that the three others with minor injuries was 219 feet long, 40 in. width, and majority of the pirates had reached wore removed to hospital the shore safely.

Police Take Charge: Seven Identined:

The women wore, removed to Po Among those taken to the Police Leung Kok and the men to police Station for examination and identi- headquarters. A number of the fication, seven had been identified crew were released, but the passen as pirates, but it is expected that gers were detained and an, iden-, after the passengers had got-over lacation parada takes place to-day. their nervousness, they would beThe seven prisoners are at the

Water Police Station. able to identify more.

12.5 in. depth.

Her officers weroi—

Captain, Mr. Johnsen Chief Officer, Mr. Iance. Chief Engineer, Mr. Hodge, Second Officer, Mr. Zaionsch

kovsky.

Becond Engineer, Mr. Hallvick Third Engineer, Mr-AM

Demee.

purpose.

k

MILITARY ITEMS.

Many of the Kwangsi mercen- aries who have been serving under General Wong Shiu Hung in their home districts by way of Kwangtung have been sent back to Wechow, during the last few days. The first contingent left Canton on the 18th of October.

During the labour faction fights last Tuesday and Wednesday, crubs this accounts for the light casualty and bamboos were mainly used and There are, however, many list. sore heads and bruised limbs now in Canton, as both parties weilded their primitive weapons to some One of the reasons given for the recent arrest and (reported) execu- The Municipal Council has inion of Garrison Commissioner Hu structed the departments of public Chien of Waichow is that he has health, education, and safety to do been getting more than $130,000 a something for the 412 beggars re-month from the Canton Treasury gistered with the Police: Some 74 but paying out only some $30,000 a beggars are children under 15 years month to his men. The actual old. The fact that the Government force under his command is said can concern itself with such a de- to have been 3,700, but he always tail is, perhaps, a hopeful sigu.

maintained, so it is said, that the The Municipality is also planning number was in excess of that. to open a public park in Honam, in the south section of Canton the other side of the River. At pre- sent Canton's public parks, Yuch Shau Shan, Tai Yut Kung-Yuan, Tungahan, and Haichu are on the north aide.

The Library of the Sun Yat Sen University is being cariched by the addition of some 120,000 volumes mostly of ancient literature. Mr. Yang Chen Shing is the librarian.

The rumour that $15,000,000 has been remitted from Canton is said to be greatly exaggerated. There may have been some transfer of capital but nothing like the amount auggested.

The latest report is that General Hi Chien was not executed as a traitor, bat, according to official statement, be was shot by a guard when he attempted to escape from custody. However, the result is the same t

A school of aviation is being or- ganised in Canton with Captain Chang Wai Chiang as the director.. Captain Chang is a graduate of an American school of aviation and has been serving with the Cap- tonese Army for some time.

FROM THE DISTRICTS. Friends of Mr. Lee Kio Tuck are Public restaurants in Canton may still unable to get any information have music up to one o'clock in as to the present state of affairs the morning, but card playing and in Kaukong, the West River town | mak jongg must stop at midnight, where Mr. Lee is mayor. There according to the latest Police in a report that Mr. Lee has been wounded in a hight with bandits who have been terrorizing the town. Mr. Lum Tin. Kut, who was Formerly in business. in Hong Kong, has been appointed deputy com missioner for foreign affairs in Chinahan, the district adjacent to Macao

ordere.

Y

CHINESE CONTROL OF

MISSION SCHOOLS. ::

The Canton Union Middle School, which has been for more than thirty years under the management of the American Presbyterian Mission at Sheklung, a town along the Can- Christian Church control, following ton City, held a very successful Canton, is coming under Chinese ton-Kowloon Railroad, east of Can- the similar policy of the American sports day at the Chungshan Public lege, who recently transferred the Trustees of Canton Christian Col- Fark on Thursday and Friday.

[NATAL WIRELESS.]

property to board of Chinese ALL QUIET AT SWATOW. directora. Mr. Kwan Yan Cho, retiring Principal of the Schools, has been made Chairman of Direc tors, and the Rev. Tam Yuk Sum has become Principal of the School. Other Missionary institutions in Canton are also being handed over to Chinese management,

(Continued on next Column.)

SWATOW, Oct. 20th. The situation at Swatow normal, has left for an unknown destination. The Cantonese transport Ting An with about 1,000 troops on board.

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

Telephone C. 4578

NEW STOCK

GLYN & COS

44, OLD BOND ST, LONDON, W.

SOFT FELT HATS

New styles are now showing in the popular turn set brims down shapes, with the single edge also in Grey, Drab, Fawn, Stone, etc. Price: $12.50, $13.50.

Glyn's Hats are made from pure natural fur and will give every satisfaction in wear.

Sole Agents:

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

12 Des Voeux Road

"BORSALINO"

THE MOST POPULAR HAT

OF

LEADING STYLE — SUPREME QUALITY

AND

UNRIVALLED DURABILITY.

Obtainable at

THE WING ON CO., LTD.

-L

Columbia

New process RECORDS

This Month's Outstanding Records

Unique Series of Declamatory Record

Hlustrating TRAINING FOR SPEAKING ""

TRAINING FOR SPEAKING Baries

439 The Student a Dilemms (dson.)...Prof. Pave BEATON The Einda's Paradisenox.) MANGAXZY LATTLEYAIK Carles In the Air (S. U.

3

Wif).WIXSED GAIN 4305 Girls (Dorothy Turner BRONE B15

A You Like It Banalind's Spooch, ManGARET

Act III. Scene V (Shakespeare) LITTLEFAIR 4398 Twelfth Night-Gardon Scene. Wraze Car

Duologue, Olivia and Visla, end [(Olivia) Act II Scenel. Shaterpears) Brown Rats Richard II Speech of John of Gaunt, SMEY 0.

Act IL. Songs (Shakespeare). 4337 Tartufe-Desième Sceneda Hile. OLGA D'AVRI

Troisième Acts (Moliere)) QUET. Rod

Prof. PAUL BERTON

in French

ANDERSON MUSIC CO., ST. GEORGE'S RUILDING.

Ice House STRERT,

HARRIS

-LTD.

0.1322.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

ANNUAL · MOTOR CAR DRAW In Aid of the Funds of the Society for the Support of the Poor of Hong Kong.

a Four Seater SEDAN

ERSKINE SIX DE LUXE CAR, with all

the latest Refinements.

To be Drawn for on the Night of the SouUTY's 44TH ANNUAL AL FRESCO FETE 4TH DECEMBER, 1927. TICKETS ($8 each) on Sale at various Clubs, etc., and at the HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE MOTOR SHOWROOM, Queen's Road, where the CAR is On View,"

HELP HONG KONG'S POOR.