June 20, 1895.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
461
has for a good many years past been en- shots and the rest was a walk_over, Taipeh-fu the law and order of the place. Thereupon the demic so near to the colony as Pakhoi it being in possession of the Japanese on the guard of British marines, 30 in number, who would not be surprising if occasional 7th inst. Kelang was taken on the morning of were landed at Tamsui about a month ago, and cases had been introduced into the colony the 4th, and the Republican soldiers fled to Tai- who wore under the command of Captain Shu- peh-fa, where they commenced looting and burn-brick, of the Centurion, were withdrawn and before the painful experience of last yearing, the Governor's yamen being amongst the taken aboard the Rainbow. In addition to these made us so familiar with the disease. But houses destroyed. A great panic prevailed men about a dozen blue jackets under a lieu- whatever may have been the nature of the amongst the natives, and those who could fled, tenant from th Redbreast were relieved at the spotted fever" cases of 1890 there is no The foreigners were also much alarmed, but British Consulate by a Japanese guard, and an doubt that the plague was present in suffered no active molestation. They were, how armed launch which had been patrolling the Hongkong last year a long time before the ever, greatly relieved when the Japinese arrived river for some time past was also withdrawn. fact was officially known. No better proof and took possession. The Chinese soldiers who This peaceful settlement having been easily than this could have been given of the reached Taipeh-fu from Kelung brought with arrived at a party from the Rainbow landed them one or two Japanese heads, which were in the town of Tamsui, and witnessed the necessity of a system of correctly re-
stuck on poles and gloated over while the rioting abject surrender to the Japanese of about gistering the causes of all deaths
was in progress.
fifty Chinese soldiers, who came straggling occurring in the colony. The Medical Com-
I appears that President Tang put it about up, having presumably been left behind. Ă mittes have recommended that a trial be that Chang Chih-tung. Viceroy of the Liang score of German sailors were also relieved, and made of Mr. MCCALLUM's scheme, and it is Kiang, and the Viceroy of Canton woull supply the Japanese officials issued a proclamation that to be hoped there will be no unnecessary de- munitions of war and funds to enable his Govern any armed Chinaman seen on the band would lay-in giving effect to the recommendation. ment to resist the Japanese, and it was this that be fired upon. The Committee consider it highly desirable brought together the following he possessed. sistance whatever; they meekly exhibited little that a Government dispensary should be And as a matter of fact munitions of war, white flags from their windows. The officers on and we believe funds also, were sent over the Rainbow were told that the day before their established at Kowloon, which district is at from the quarters named Tang took a good arrival a German gunboat fired upon the fort present without either a qualified private deal of treasure back with him in the Arthur three times and killed thirteen men and disabled medical practitioner or a dispensary for the to Amoy.
a gun. These shells were fired because the forts sale of European drugs; and, if the experi-
Captain Mahon, of the Kwang Mo, had an un-fired upon a passenger steamer, which was steam- ment proves successful there, they recom-pleasant half-hour while at Tamsni on the evening away, and which the Chinese thought was mend the general extension of the scheme to
carrying away the ex-President. This incident, of course, relates to the German gunboat Iltis and the colony. In addition to his duties in the
the steamer Arthur, After the Japanese had dispensery the Committee consider that the
taken possession Tamsui the Rainbow left for Chinese dispenser should be required to
Auping, but the Spartan was there, and the make himself acquainted with and give early
Rainbow returned to Hongkong. information of the existence of any epidemic disease and to enquire into the causes of any suspicious deaths for the information of the Registrar-General. The experiment may not prove a success, but it is well worth a trial.
THE CRISIS IN FORMOSA.
ing of the 2nd June. A launch was leaving the steamer Hailoong with some cargo boats in tow shortly after dark and Captain Mahon took a passage in the launch. As the soldiers had orders not to allow any boats or launches to come in or go out of the harbour after dark they opened fire, with the result that a cargo boatman was wounded, but Captain Mahon got safely through.
With the exception of the firing on the Arthur there seems to have been no serious disturbance at Tamsui, and at the date of last advices the soldiers were harrying away as rapidly as possible in anticipation of the arrival of the Japanese. On the other hand, Chinese merchants who had been contemplating leaving, or sending their families away, in anticipation of outrages by the native soldiery, changed their intention when it was seen that the Japanese were at hand.
But the Chinese offered no re-
The steamer Formosa arrived in port on the 13th inst. She has been running between Tamsui and Amoy during the past month, and therefore her officers have had many oppor- tanities of watching the progress of events in Formosa. On the 20th May they heard that the Chinese were going to declare the island a republic and at noon a flag with a blue ground and a white tiger upon it was hoisted at the fort. At that time three Japanese meu-of-war were anchored off the bar, and as soon as the flag was hoisted the Chinese fired a salute, but no notice was taken of it by the war ships, two of which The Chinese cruiser Nanshin, which had been soon afterwards left. Subsequently the Japan- stationed at Kelung, arrived at Amoy on the ese boarded the Formosa and endeavoured to 31st May with a large number of braves. These, obtain information of what was being done on we believe, were General Sung's men, who. re-shore, but the officers on the Formosa could
The German steamer Arthur (late Cass) ar- rived at Amoy on the 7th inst. from Tamsui, which port she left on the morning of the 6th. She would have left earlier, but her departure was delayed by the rebels. She had on board the ex-President Tang, Toheng Ki-tong, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the short-lived Government of the Republic, and other officials belonging to the Cabinet. Mr. Waters, the in-fused to join the rebels and left the island. structor, and his assistant Mr. Chester were also among the passengers, and there were some 2,500 runaway soldiers: A rush was made for the Arthur by these braves," and the vessel was soon overcowded, some of them having to lie on the awning for want of space on deck. The robels who remained under arms fired on the sampans taking the runaways off and ultimately the steamer herself was fired upon from one of the forts, three shots taking effect. One struck the cargo port; another came through the awning, struck the skylight on the upper deck and burst, killing six men ou the spot and sending two others overboard; while the third fell into the saloon, cut through the body of a mandarin, and struck the opposite side of the saloon, but fortunately the shell did not burst. A good many rifle bullets fell on deck, but no one else was fatally wounded.
give them no particulars, and after searching the ship they left. The next thing the officers heard was that the Japanese were going to attack Kelung, which they did on the 3rd inst. It is said that the Chinese made a very fair stand until they were deserted by their officers, and the army had then to retreat. The fugitives fled to Taipeh-fn. When it was found, on the 4th, that the President had left the rage of the soldiers vented itself in looting and burning all the official establishments. How the Presi dent escaped is a mystery, but it is said he bribed his body guard to the extent of $50,000. At all events he got safely on board the Arthur and took a good deal of treasure with him. Early on the morning of the 5th the powder magazine, rather more than a mile from the town, blew up, killing a number of people. As the establishment was being looted at the time it is probable the explosion was caused by con- cussion of a falling shell or some similar incident. With the town in the hands of the mob matters looked unpleasant for the foreign residents and great alarm was felt. Three gentlemen, Messrs. Davison, Thompson, and Ohly, set out to inform the Japanese of the position of affairs. About ten miles from Taipeh-fu they met the Japanese advance guard and five hundred men were sent back with them This force entered the city at daylight next morning and order was at once established. An estimate of the property looted places the amount
FURTHER PARTICULARS. H.M.8. Rainbow, which left Hongkong for Tamsni on the 6th inst. returned on the 13th. She left by command of Commodore Boyes for the purpose of protecting British residents in Formosa during the recent struggle, and on her return the Daily Press representative was able to glean many interesting particulars concerning the capture of Tamsai by the Japanese, and the exceedingly weak resistance offered by the Chi- nese. When the Rainbow reached Tamsui the Chinese flag was flying on shore, and the Japa. nese Bag-ship was chasing a Chinese armed launch, as it was supposed that President Tang was endeavoaring to escape. The launch was quickly overtaken and searched, but no Pre- and the disappointed Japanese had to return sident of any description was found upon her, with the information that Tang had already made good his escape. The Chinese soldiers on hearing that the Japanese were bearing down проп them made active preparations to leave Tamsui. First of all they blew up the maga- zine and forts, and burnt the encampments to the ground. The fires extended about a mile along the coast, and it was pretty evident that the Chinese were determined not to leave any. thing but charred canvas and wrecked forts for the Japanese. The Chinese, after completing this work of destruction, left by an English | steamer for Amoy. On the following day the Japanese forces marched into the town from Ke-at over a million dollars. Inng, and three men-of-war and a transport were also outside the harbour in command of the On the 8th inst. Messrs. Malcampo's steamer Rear-Admiral. From one man-of-war Kwong Mo arrived at Amoy, bringing over lauded numerous officials, the Chinese flag was from Tamsui three hundred soldiers, some of torn down, and the Japanese flag hoisted. The whom were wounded Most of the men were
next day the Japanese gave notice to the officers well provided with dollars and shoes of silver
of the Rainbow that it was their intention to syone, being the proceeds of their looting at blow up the torpedo mines, and the Rainbow Taipeh-fu. Mr. Pebbles, one of the foreigners and the Redbreast, which የህጻ also at in Chinese employ, also arrived by the Kwong Tamsui, went further out to Baa. The The only resistance worth speaking of that counter mining was successfully accomplished, the harbour was cleared of all obstruc- was offered to the Japanese was at Palm Island.tions, and Admiral Kabayama topk possession Kelang surrendered after the exchange of a few of the town, and declared himself responsible for
In response to the Arthur's signal for assist. ance the commander of the German gunboat Illis despatched two boats to take away the Euro- paans, but, to the latter's dismay, the soldiers on board threatened to shoot the first foreigner who should attempt to leave the vessel, so that they had no alternative but to remain on board, Thereupon the Iltis fired a warning shot on the fort, and as no notice was taken of it a second was fired, the shell bursting right amongst the men at the guns, causing great havoc, and a third shot completely silenced the fort. The Arthur effected her escape as speedily as possible. taking with her the bodies of those who had been killed on board, for interment at Amoy.
Mo.
were
On the 11th inst. the Formosa started for Hongkong with 355 Chinese soldiers, who were bound for Canton, on board. Before leaving. Tamsui they were disarmed and their luggage was searched by the Japanese.
The officers on the Formosa saw the German man-of-war Iltis fire upon the fort at Lamsui, and the following is the explanation they give of the occurrence. The Arthur was loaded with Chi- nese soldiers bound for Amoy, but as soon as her anchor was heaved she was fired upon several times by the Nor h fort. It was thereupon de- cided to bribe the officials at the North fort, as many of the passengers were mandarins and
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