Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 210

PIRACIES

(Contd.)

209

786

Perhaps the name of William Fenton smacks little of the piratical flavour, but what has one to say to a name like Eli Boggs?

This delightful name was borne by an American, who was a notorious leader of Chinese pirates in these waters. On July 4, 1857, he stood his trial for piracy and murder. He was allowed to have as advocate for the defence the then American Consul, and the Hong Kong jury proved again merciful, finding Boggs guilty only of piracy. He was sentenced to transportation for life and was incarcerated in the local gaol. However, we read that even in those days the Hong Kong prisons were overcrowded, and the buildings inadequate, and the Public Works Department of the time was urged to devote its next expenditure to building a better prison. (How history repeats itself!) No doubt owing to these conditions, Eli Boggs was released in April of 1860, broken down in health, and was sent home to America. It is recorded that the master of one ship on which he was to have sailed declined the pleasure of his company, but accommodation was found for this ex-pirate and he passed out of local history.

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That British and American pirates were still flourishing out here, however, is disclosed some years later, for we read that in 1863 criminals of those nationalities served as "hands" aboard some of the pirate junks, with a sphere of operations embracing the China coast and Formosa Channel.

At the end of 1863 the Danish brig Chico was attacked in Lyemoon passage, just outside Hong Kong harbour, some of her crew being murdered.

A reward of $1,000 was then being offered for the apprehension of any of the white freebooters, but it is not recorded that further outstanding personalities among them were captured, and the business appears gradually to have passed exclusively into the hands of the Chinese, doubtless through the more active suppressive measures of the warships, in these waters.

The Namoa piracy was perhaps the most notorious of a series that went into the early records. The Namoa pirates were captured, tried, and sentenced to beheading. Wholesale execution took place on the beach at Kowloon City in April 1891, witnessed by a number of European visitors from Hong Kong, when nineteen pirates, thirteen of them from the Namoa case, were decapitated.

Undoubtedly in the history of piracy in China waters is material enough for several books.

"W":

With further reference to piracies on the China Coast in the old days, Bias Bay was evidently just as popular a venue for piracies as in recent years.

In 1858, it was reported by the master of a lorcha that he had observed a schooner attacked off Bias Bay by four pirate junks. This subsequently turned out to be the Sea Serpent from San Francisco, which was pirated and the passengers robbed of some $20,000 worth of gold dust. It was stated by passengers on the pirated ship that four Europeans were on board the pirate junk, directing the operations.

A week later, one of the foreigners, an American, engaged in the robbery of the passengers on the vessel Sea Serpent was apprehended in Macao by Sergeant Silva of the Hong Kong Police, and a small quantity of the gold dust recovered.

The report adds, however, that the notorious Eli Boggs, the other American, was still at liberty.

"Eighties": Concerning the Portuguese gunboat Adamastor mentioned in "Old Hong Kong" (23-6-33), I believe it was this particular vessel which subsequently struck a rock off the western end of Cheung Chau Island, and foundered. A light was erected on the rock which is known as the Adamastor Light. I am rather hazy concerning the year; can you enlighten me?

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