PIRACIES
(Contd.)
i 194
I was startled by the Chinese pilot exclaiming: 'Captain one pirate come; suppose he come on board, he kill.'
"The next thing I heard was the Captain calling to the steward to hand up a rifle (one of the old flintlocks). These were ranged round the mizen mast. The steward passed the rifle through the skylight, and Captain Douglas let fly at the pirate. As the ball passed through his mainsail, the pirate immediately turned and ran away from us. (Arrant cowards, they rarely attacked if they lost the advantage of surprise.) He was only two hundred yards off; it was a moonlight night, and I saw all that happened.
"Our pilot supposed there would be about two hundred pirates on board, and had they boarded us and set fire to the ship, great damage would have been done. You can imagine the explosion, as we were loaded with shot and shell for the Government.
"As soon as we arrived in Hong Kong we reported the case, and the Government sent out a steam gunboat in pursuit. When she came back the authorities told us that twenty-two pirates would be hanged from the bough of a tree, not more than four hundred yards from where we lay at anchor.
"Sure enough, next day when all the ship's bells were ringing noon, up went the first pirate ('Oh, hurroo, and up she rises!), and as fast as they could be lowered down, the noose was put round the neck of the next till the whole lot were hanged."
Capt. Shewan adds that never a year passed, but several cases of piracy, attempted or accomplished, were recorded in Chinese waters.
The story of the Cumana piracy is one of the most interesting in the history of the China coast. According to Captain Shewan, the Cumana left Hong Kong late one day in 1863. When seven or eight miles outside Lyeemoon Pass, she anchored for the night. With perhaps only one man keeping watch, she was suddenly boarded by a gang of ruffians, the crew killed, and the ship plundered, fired and sunk.
For over a year the fate of the Cumana remained a mystery. Then she was posted as missing, and still later "Lost with all hands."
Eighteen months after the Cumana left Hong Kong, a certain shipmaster was prowling about the shady shops in Endicott Lane, where ship's stores were often to be had cheap, and no questions asked. He purchased a chronometer, but as it was not in working order, he took it to Falconer's, the only chronometer men in Hong Kong. A day or two later, Falconer sent for the purchaser and requested to know how he came by it. This was revealed and the reason for such an enquiry asked.
"Well," said Falconer, "this watch was overhauled by me and put on board the Cumana, which was never heard of."
The police were put on the track and the shopkeeper's premises searched, resulting in other articles being found, which could be traced to the Cumana. A number of arrests were made, and the fate of the Cumana at last revealed in Court.
"I forget how many were executed for this affair," says Capt. Shewan, "but to be sure it was a goodly number for the sake of example."
Many romantic characters have been associated with the China coast in the last hundred years. Some of them have built immense fortunes from legitimate trading, some have followed honourable professions and some have found a place in the sun by notoriety,
PIRACIES
(Contd.)
i 194
I was startled by the Chinese pilot exclaiming: 'Captain one pirate come; suppose he come on board, he kill. ↑
"The next thing I heard was the Catain calling to the steward to hand up a rifle (one of the old flintlocks). These were ringed round the mizen mast. The steward passed the rifle through the skylight, and Captain Douglas let fly at the pirate. As the ball passed through his mainsail, the pirate immediately turned and ran away from us. (Arrant cowards, they rarely attacked if they lost the advantage of surprise.) He was only two hundrad yards off; it was a moonlight night, and I saw all that happened.
"Our pilot suppoesed there would be about two hundred pirates on board, and had they boarded us and set fire to the ship, great damage would have been done, You can imagine the explosion, as we were loaded with shot and shell for the Government.
"As soon as we arrived in Pong Kong we reported the case, and the Government sent out a steam gunboat in pursuit. When she came back the authorities told us that twenty-two pirates would be hanged from the bough of a tree, not more than four hundred yards from where we lay at anchor.
"Sure enough, next day when all the ship' bells were ringing noon, up went the first pirate ('Oh, hurroo, and up she rises!), and as fast as they could be lowered down, the noose was put round the neck of the next till the whole lot were hanged."
Capt. Shewn adds that never a year passed, but several cases of piracy, attempted or accomplished, were recorded in Chinese waters.
*
The story of the Cumana piracy is one of the most interesting in the history of the China coast. According to Captain Shewan, the Cumana left Hong Kong late one day in 1863. When seven or eight miles outside Lyeemoon Pass, she anchored for the night. with perhaps only one man keeping watch, she was suddenly boarded by a gang of ruffians, the crew killed, and the ship plundered, fired and sunk.
For over a year the fate of the Cumana remained a mystery. Then she was posted as missing, and still later "Lost with all hands."
Eighteen months after the Cumana left Hong Kong, a certain shipmaster was prowling about the shady shops in Endicott Lane, where ship's stores were often to be had cheap, and no questions asked. He purchased a chronometer, but as it was not in working order, he took it to Falconer's the only chronometer men in Hong Kong. A day or two later, Falçoner sent for the purchased and requested to know how he came by it. This was revealed and the reason for such an enquiry asked.
"Well," said Falconer, "this watch was overhauled by me and put on board the Cumana, which was never heard of."
The police were put on the track and the shopleeper's premises searched, resulting in other articles being found. which could be traced to the Cumana. A number of arrests were made, and the fate of the Cumuna at last revealed in Court.
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"I forget how many were executed for this affair, says Capt. Shewan, "but to be sure it was a goodly number for the sake of example."
Many romantic characters have been associated with the China
coast in the last hundred years. Some of them have built immense fortunes from legitimate trading, some have followed honourable professions and some have found a place in the sun by notoriety,
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