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PIRATES UP THE LOWER
HOW
EST RIVERS
AO DA THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
troops which exist do not give them timely warn- | ing of any movement to be made against them; also, whether the smaller mandarins do not par. take of their spoil. The position of Saichiu, com manding as it does the whole of the rich river trade passing up and down the North and West Rivers ie, the whole of the foreign trade with rivers and the native trade between the rich the regions beyond the confluence of these two delta lands and the whole of Southern China lying to the west, north, and south, with the exception of the valleys of the West Coast, and even they can by distant rids be made to pay
toll-further marks it down as an
WITH THEMELA DEL
181 | [CONTA(BUTED.] DEALSSON, DA It is already well known in Hongkong that brigandago is so rife in Kwangtung and especi
West River that the Chinese traders pountry have had to, by degrees, hasiness and hoard their capital. arded wealth is not now safe, for it is known who are the men of means are marked down by the pirate leaders, portunity offers, seised and held for or where bodies of capitalists have to calt with, they are called upon to pay hey to secure exemption from attack, as the case with the silk-dealers. district of Saichiu is the one in which the bands have waxed boldest and where they defy the authorities; though the adjoin district, Namboi, is almost equally overrun them, for they seem to meet with little op. osition when they issue forth in gangs to raid the rick villages and towns which he in that portion of the delta between Saichin and Canton, nstitutes the Numboi district, Nor do cense there, for the whole country, roially the rich delta towns mud river Teorive more or less of their attention, the hes, and boats which they seize and on when they land and disperse-giving them ample facility of movement from place to
ideal piratical base of operations. This posi tion gives the key, likewise, as to the proper keep a m-n-of-war, well supplied with boats and mode of dealing with the evil, which is to launches, stained in the river, near the south bank, at the confluence of the North and West Rivers. This is the first and most important step to be taken, as it will restrict the move. ments of the robber gangs from and to their stronghold It may not stop them altogether. but it will hamper their operations materially The man of war will of course have a staff of reliable interpreters attached to it to go out with launch and boat parties. A small vessel will be required at Suihing and another at Kumchuk (this place commands all the creeks in the lower delta as Samshui, at the junction of the North and West Rivers, commands the creeks in the upper delta); the smaller vessels, likewise to have a good supply of boats and a steam-launch attached to them. Another small vessel, similarly supplied with boats, stationed near Kongmoou would complete the river guard-necessary for the checking and eventual The suppresion of the piracy so rampant. that in the Saichinofcers detailed for the duty should be judici- do the brigands. Thief stronghold, the Ons sent to,
elen fight and then to ously selected and then given large discretion the robber bands basied themselves ary powers in dealing with the pirates in their the slaughter of nas thonsauds of harm-
section or villages hurbouring them. less villagers, including large numbers of women and children, and have so far made uo attempt to put down the brig indage, leads one to infer that the Chinese authorities either cannot or will not
hot attempt to restore order where they are likely to most serious resistance. Their action, too, in promoting the disturbances in the "New Territory while pretending to attempt to check it points to the suicidal policy, they are following.
One would think
d think that the provincial author ties would make some attempt to restrain and press them, but although there is a pretence
2
The consideration of the above facta em. necessity for, the British authori. take notion themselves in the matter, as | als to and faith in a real attempt of line-e Government to restore order in the the are likely to tend to increase the trouble
diminish it.
Lited the correofness of these premises, knowledge of where to look for the bri- "ho to mark down “ the leaders and ith them, may not, at present, be
hree most notorious of the brigand each of whom controls his own follow ing, are Ngan. Kung-chew. Fu Chan-hoi, and pan 8in. If the gangs which there three doubtable lenders direct are destroyed the
**try will quickly disappear. caichin, the head quarters, of these men, is that district which lies along the cou
course of the West River between Suihing and Samshai but on the opposite shore to those two places, i.c., on the south shore, and extending some distance down
The Chinese Government will, of course, be the south could be impounded for that purpose, called upon to pay the bill and the revenues of all native Customs stations on the rivers and creeks being abolished and foreign Customs established in their place where advisable; the policing of the river being a first charge on
revenue raised.
late made Hokshan district their head quarters Considerable numbers of briganda hare of
and the scene of their operations.
DARING ESCAPE OF A PRIJONER.
RIGHT FROM UNDER HIS WORSHIP'S NOSE.
Among the prisoners who wers placed in the dock at the Magistracy on Tuesday was a China. man who was charged with stealing articles to the value of $67. When his case was called there was no response, and on an examination being made it was found that two or three of the spikes at the bottom of the dock where he had been sitting had been removed, thus en- abling the prisoner to creep out. Of course, he could hardly do this without being noticed by some of the spectators in Court, but they all held their peace, and the man made good his escape right from under His Worship's nose.
THE SAD ACCIDENT TO A MIDSHIPMAN.
1899
pistol lying on the ground. No one lifted the body up for two or three minnt Th was breathing freely when the witness went up to him. He could not say who picked up the pistol. After the nocident it was clear of the body. Mr. Lloyd was sitting next to the de- ceased. Mr. Lloyd was not at present in the
Apear. colony, He was Chief Officer of the drafoon
The inquest was further adjourned, so that Mr. Lloyd can be called when he comes into port.
THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE
ROBBED.
KEEP YOUR WINDOWS SHUT.
of
believe exist in Hongkong are no respecters
The gang of thieves which there is reason to persons, for on Monday afternoon they paid a visit to Belvedere, the Peak, the residence o the Acting Chief Justics (the Hon. W. Moigh Goodman), which one would have thought they would have given a wide berth. Hia Lord- ship was in his chambers at the Supreme Court in the afternoon, and Mis. Goodman hnd gone out to make a few calls, but the servants were on the premises. Before leaving Mrs. Goodman left a silver card case on a blackwood table in the dining-room and there were also four small silver flower vases on the dining-room table. At about half past three someone rang the bell, and on going into the dining-room shortly afterwards the boy no food that three of the silver vases a d the card ouse were miss- ing. He asked the nurse if she knew anything about them, and on her saying no he returned to th dining-room and looked round. He then found that a omple of other articles were gone, and coutinuing his aar u came soroza the glasses from the vases still containing the flowers-hidden in the earth in n plant pot which was on the verandal. It was evident that access had been obtained by means of a window which had been left o en. The window, the thief or thieves must have had some difficulty however, is some distance from the ground, and in reaching it. The ringing of the bell evidently disturbed them and prevented them from laking more than they did." As it was they went away. with silver articles amounting in value to about $70. The police were informed of the occur- to the conclusion that a lanitiane and been rence, and after examinin¿ the promises ame
gained through the open win low. We under- stand that two or three other residents in the same locality have lost articles litely,
THE ADJOURNED ENQUIRY, river below Sainshui. This district
The adjourned enquiry into the circumstances iral advantages for the making of it the attending the death of Evelyn Govett, a inid. point of sush piratical people. It is shipman on board 1.M.S. Orlando, who was and is backed by other mountain. killed by accidentally shooting himself with a to the south, west, and north noross revolver when on a shooting expedition at the river – mountains of Saichiu, Hokṛhan toastle Peak on Sunday week, was held at the the south west, and the district direct to the Magistracy on Tuesday afternoon: cen
est Saichiu (I do not know, the name aud have
Arthur Hudson Silverthorne, an assistant in no one with the necessary knowledge at haud as
the office of Messrs. Holliday, Wise and Co., led, in large areas densely said they were all sitting down on the roadside "ding many places of safe at the time of the accident. The witness The country is productive, was sitting 4 or 6 ft. from the deceased and on amber of rich valleys, which the opposite side of the road and could see Rica, and other food-stuff all the others. The deceased had the pistol seizing in his hand while he was sitting down in Xup or down the river.
a bent position a few minutes before the acci- levelsdelt lauds lie open to dent. The deceased was not firing at anything. no troops to resist their The party heard a revolver shot, and on the of disbanded soldiers witness noticing that the deceased had fallen on of these pirate ganga. over he exclaimed, “ My God, he has shot him- and whether, their confederates amongst the few | self.". "He went up to the body, and noticed the ⋅
th
by
|
UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT TO
MB. T. F. 11-UGH,
Among the passengers, who arrived by the- Empress of Japan on Tuesday was Mr. T. F. Hough, auctioneers and brokers), who was re- Hough (of the firm of Messrs. Hughes and turning home after a few weeks holiday. Mr, Hongh wax, however, unable to leave the ship on account of a lamentable accident which be nearing Hongkong. He was op sing a battle fell him early in the morning as tha vossal: was
of tansan when the bottle burst and cut him very severely about the thigh, cansing him to lose a great quantity of blood. The main artery only just escaped. Dr. Lowson attended to him during the day, and we are pleased to say that Mr. Hongh is as well as could be expected.
AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
[FROM OUE CORRESPONDENT ] 325
- Manila, 5th September.
LABOUR DAY IS MANILA, Manila's deserted streets with their closed and barred windows led many a rasi:leat to enquire yesterday the reason of so nusmul a sosne. Since the American occupation the old flostas, reorsa- tion days, and public celebrations that help to make life in Spanish countries so gay, have l
been done away with and almost forgotten in the continual grind and rush of energetic-money hunters, who are rapidly stripping the old town, and or unusual a thing as the suspension of business naturally created comment.
Yesterday was Labour Day and ■ legal holi- day. In America there are usually some, formal exercises and parades by the trade unions, but in Manila this class of organisation, ins evidence as yet. It is a day sot apa sumably for the meeting and creation
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