THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 15TH APRIL, 1865.
191
No. 65.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
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The following letter from the Coroner is published for general information, and the attention of Owners, Consignees and Masters of Vessels, as well as of all connected with the Shipping Interest, is particularly drawn to it.
The efforts of Her Majesty's Navy and of this Government for the suppression of Piracy are seriously thwarted, so long as encouragement, as in the case of the Georg Andreas is given to piratical enterprise by the culpable neglect of the most ordinary measures of precaution.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th April, 1865.
W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
CORONER'S OFFICE,
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 12th April, 1865.
SIR,-I have the honor to forward to you for the information of His Excellency the Acting Governor the depositions taken in the Coroner's Inquest held on the 1st, 3rd, and 8th April instant, upon view of the body of the Master of the Danish Brig Georg Andreas who was killed in a piratical attack on the said Brig, when outside the Ly-yu-moon, on the day of the departure of the vessel from Victoria Harbour, viz. the 30th March ultimo.
The special reason which leads me to submit this case to His Excellency's notice is the marked carelessness and neglect exhibited by the absence of provision of arms and ammunition and preparation to defend the ship, this neglect being the more markable and reprehensible considering the serious warnings afforded by the annually recurring instances of Piracy, (accompanied and saddened by the loss of life of Officers and Seamen,) upon Foreign Vessels of small Tonnage, in the waters Surrounding Hongkong, in most of which instances a similar want of precaution was observable, although not to the extent exhibited in the present case.
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The summary of the evidence bearing upon the subject of this letter is contained in the following extract from the position of the Second Mate, which evidence was entirely borne out by the Chief Mate and other witnesses. The Second Mate deposed: "The Arms on board consisted of twelve muskets without bayonets, which were in a rack in the aft cabin, but they were not loaded; we had no bullets for them, and the gunpowder was below; we had two small cannons, but these “were lashed amidships."
The crew of the Georg Andreas consisted of the Master, Chief Mate, Second Mate, and seven European Seamen, also a Chinese Supercargo, and a Chinese Steward, and it is painful to be compelled to believe, from the detailed account of the Piracy given by the several witnesses, that the life of the deceased man would in all probability have been saved, and the ship preserved from plunder, had there been reasonable means of defence on board.
It is desirable to note that the state of a ship with regard to arms, means of defence, and readiness to meet attack is well known to the Chinese trusted and employed, in various ways about a vessel before departure, and there is reason to believe that collusion exists between some of such Chinese and pirates, or that a piratical scheme is concocted to attack a particular ship, invited thereto by the apathy, false security and carelessness of the Master and others, interested in the vessel, which false security and carelessness ensure success without danger to the pirates.
I beg permission to express my opinion that although the Master of a ship is the person most responsible to the law for the conduct and well being of the ship, yet perhaps in a common sense view of the matter the Owner, Charterer, Agent or Consignee in this Colony, or at other Ports in China, is not altogether free from onus, especially when it is borne in recollec- tion that many Masters of vessels are strangers to the Coast of China, and probably ignorant of the peculiar dangers arising fum piracy, and the consequent necessity of taking precautionary measures.
It is not therefore too much to ask and expect that the persons referred to shall take an interest in the subject, by carrying sat an undeviating rule of observation with regard to the arms, ammunition, means, and readiness of defence on board ships eoning under their direction or management, and by giving advice or orders to the Master which may happily be the means preventing a similar catastrophe to that now brought to notice.-I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant,
C. MAY,
Coroner.
The Honorable
W. H. ALEXANDER, Esq.,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
No. 66.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
With reference to Government Notification No. 52 of 29th Ultimo, it having been represented by the Registrar General that much inconvenience has been entailed upon the Chinese Community by the change from 9 to 8 o'clock in the hour fixed after which Passes and lights are required to be carried, ilis Excellency the ACTING GOVERNOR is pleased to direct that Passes and lights shall not be required
until and after 9 P.M.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th April, 1865.
W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
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