PIRACIES
Mat
(Contd.)
792
work.
An old photograph of a section of the condemned men, awaiting the fall of the sword, is reproduced here; the executions took place on the beach, in what was then territory under Chinese jurisdiction. The spot was approximately the area opposite the present Kowloon City police station.
Some old copies of the Illustrated London News came into my hands the other day, and hidden away in the inside pages, I discovered some interesting references to Hong Kong.
The first, appearing in the issue of October 4, 1851, tells the story of an attack on Chinese pirates by the boats of Her Majesty's ship, Cleopatra. Insofar as it all forms part of the history of pirate suppression, in which Hong Kong has played a notable part, it is well worth reproducing in full in these columns.
On the morning of June 24, 1851, Mr. Caldwell (Superintendent of Police), having received information from some fishermen, who had been attacked, plundered, and badly wounded near Mirs Bay, that some pirates were in the vicinity, waited on the senior naval officer to inform him of the circumstances of the case. Captain Massie thereupon ordered the Cleopatra's barge, pinnace, and cutter to be manned and armed for a pursuit. These boats started from the ship at 11:30 a.m. under the orders of Lieutenant Price, in the barge, accompanied by Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Copland (midshipmen). In the pinnace with Lieut. Porcher, was the Hon. Mr. C. Crofton; and a fisherman in each of the boats. In the cutter was Mr. Smith, Second-Master, and Assistant-Surgeon M'Kay. On meeting some boats outside Lyemoon Passage, they learnt that, on the previous day, a rice junk had been captured near Mirs Bay. Although the men had only their dinners with them, they determined to push on, but were compelled to anchor for the night under the island of Simoon. On the following morning, they learnt from the inhabitants of the small village, that the piratical fleet had been seen the day before in Bias Bay; whither, after filling their water-breakers, they immediately proceeded. On nearing the point of the bay, three junks were observed at anchor. On sighting the boats, they immediately weighed anchor and made all sail up the bay.
Chase was at once given, and, after several hours' exciting work, the boats succeeded in driving the three junks up to the head of the bay, where they ran them on shore. The crews jumped overboard and escaped over the hills, except two who were made prisoners. Other junks made their appearance from different parts of the bay, but succeeded in escaping during the time the others were being attacked. The vessels were all searched and burnt. The first junk mounted 17 guns, and carried above 80 men; the second mounted 15 guns and 2 gingalls, and above 70 men. The third junk ran up at the very end of the bay, and had time enough to land her guns and the most valuable part of her stores, but from the carriages left on board, she must have mounted 10 guns. The first two were well found in everything, particularly powder, shot, and stinkpots. The junks defended themselves during the greater part of the chase. Two in particular, frequently rounded to, and opened their broadsides on the pinnace and cutter with shot and grape; but, fortunately, without doing much harm. The pirates, which infest the entrance to the harbour, doubtless, have heretofore thought themselves pretty safe in committing depredations, unless when a steamer was here. This will have taught them that a distance of fifty or sixty miles from a pendant in their own stronghold gives them no security, even when a steamer is not available.
Four
It happened to be the very same place where the Fury attacked twenty-nine junks anchored in line, the whole of which were destroyed.
The following additional details of the incident appeared in the Friend of India: "The chase and running fight continued for five hours. At the expiration of that period, three of the largest junks came to anchor, and the crews, jumping overboard, fled over
PIRACIES
Mat
(Contd.)
792
work.
An old photograph of a section of the condemned men, awaiting the fall of the sword, is reproduced here the executions took place on the beach, in what was then territory under Chinese jurisdiction. The spot was approximately the area opposite the present Kowloon City police station.
Some old copies of the Illustrated London News came into my hands the other day, and hidden away in the inside pages, I discovered some interesting references to Hong Kong.
The first, appearing in the issue of October 4, 1851, tells the story of an attack on Chinese pirates by the boats of Her Majesty's ship, Cleopatra. Insofar as it all forms part of the history of pirate suppression, in which Hong Kong has played a notable part, it is well worth reproducing in full in these columns.
On the morning of June 24, 1851, Mr. Caldwell (Superintendent of Police), having received information from some fishermen, who had been attacked, plundered, and badly wounded near Mirs Bay, that some pirates were in the vicinity, waited on the senior naval officer to inform him of the circumstances of the case. Captain Massie thereupon ordered the Cleopatra's barge, pinnace, and cutter to be manned and armed for a pursuit. These boats started from the ship at 11.30 a.m. under the orders of Lieutenant Price, in the barge, accompanied by Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Copland (midship- men). In the pinnace with Lieut. Porcher, was the Hon. Mr. C. Crofton; and a fisherman in each of the boats. In the cutter was Mr. Smith, Second-Master, and Assistant-Surgeon M'Kay. On meeting some boats outside Lyemoon Passage, they learnt that, on the previous day, a rice junk had been captured near Mirs Bay. Although the men had only their dinners with them, they determined to push on, but were compelled to anchor for the night under the island of Simoon. On the following morning, they learnt from the inhabitants of the small village, that the piratical fleet had been seen the day before in Bias Bay; whither, after filling their water-beakers, they immediately proceeded. On nearing the point of the bay, three junks were observed at anchor. On sighting the boats, they immediately weighed anchor and made all sail up the bay.
Chase was at once given, and, after several hours exciting work, the boats succeeded in driving the three junks up to the head of the bay, where they ran them on shore. The crews jumped overboard and escaped over the hills, except two who were made prisoners. other junks made their appearance from different parts of the bay, but succeeded in escaping during the time the others were being attacked. The vessel were all searched and burnt. The first junk mounted 17 guns, and carried above 80 men; the second mounted 15 guns and 2 gingalls, and above 70 men. The third junk ran up at the very end of the bay, and had time enough to land her guns and the most valuable part of her stores, but from the carriages left on board, she must have mounted 10 guns. The first two were well found in everything, particularly powder, shot, and stinkpots. The junks defended themselves during the greater part of the chase. Two in particular, frequently rounded to, and opened their broadsides on the pinnace and cutter with shot and grape; but, fortunately without doing much harm. The pirates which infest the entrance to the harbour doubtless, have heretofore thought themselves pretty safe in committing depredations, unless when a steamer was here. This will have taught them that a distance of fifty or sixty miles from a pendant in their own stronghold gives them no security even when a steamer is not available.
Four
It happened to be the very same place where the Fury attacked twenty-nine junks anchored in line, the whoe of which were destroyed.
The following additional details of the incident appeared in the Friend of India: "The chase and running fight continued for five hours. At the expiration of that period, three of the largest junks came to anchor and the crews, jumping overboard, fled over
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