286
THE BRITISH TROOPS IN SHANGHAI.
COLONEL THE OʻGORMAN PRESENT AT THE PARADE.
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THE HÖNGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND support which its position as one of the chief industrial institutions of the colony entitled it to. (Applause.)
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This concluded the ceremony, which lasted about an hour. -
THEATRE RÖYAL.
THE RUNAWAY GIRL.""
[April 6, 1901.
He says that he has been to many places, none of which have given him such a tranquil resi- dence as Yeong Kao; and the villagers there screen and protet him from arrest by the Im- perial troops. His income derived from black- mailing is from sixty to seventy thousand taels a year, but he is very fond of gambling at fan. tan, and of spending his money liberally; so whenever any of his friends or acquaintances ask him for a loan he never denies them,
HOW AO SUN BECAME CHIEF. It was said that Fu Chan Hỏi used tɔ be the most notorious brigand in Sai Chiu, and had collected a large number of thieves, and formed a society which went by the name of the Lüp Yee Tong (ie., United Patriotic Society). But as soon as Ao Sun appeared and made himself notorious by his extraordinary exploits in Kwangtung, Fu Chan Hoi had to give way to him and let him take precedence as the chief of brigands.
OTHER BEIGANDS-s
Besides Ao Sun and Fu Chan Hoi there are
other brigands not so notorious as the two described above. Such are Luk Kin, Luk Hin, Wan Kow, Ao Pin, and Lee Chiu. The latter could not agree with Ao Sun, so in 1899 he enlisted in the Imperial army and fought against Ao Suu. Wan Kow was shot dead by the Imperial troops, while Fu Chan Hoi, Luk Kin and Lin Hin, who had surrendered, were him-employed by Li Hung-chang, the late Viceroy of Canton, as generals. Ao Pin is living with Ao Sun in Shun Tak.
Quite a large number of the general public turned ont on the Race Course at Shanghai on the 26th ult. on the occasion of BirTM Alfred Gaselee's visit to the Settlement, when the Brit- ish troops were reviewed. Colonel the O'Gorman, In the production of The Runaway Girl
He is a good shot and has very sharp eye- now on a visit to Shanghai, and Admiral Bruce upon our local boards by the Dallas Company sight. The Chinese report that even in the com were present at the Parade. The proceed another great success has been achieved. Theplete darkness of night he can see -objects at a ings lasted the whole morning and were main thread of the perfectly reasonable plot distance of about a mile, and about a hundred a pronounced success. Shortly before nine upon which the authors, Messrs. Hicks and feet off can distinguish male from female. o'clock the Sikhs, Rajputs, and the Ghurkas ar- Nicholls, have based their amusing play, are rived from Yangtszepoo, and a little later the Ar- kept in view throughout, and apart from the tillery, Cavalry, Madras Pioneers, and Baluchis. variety exhibited in the piece there is a much On the Polo Ground the Artillery with their 18 more steady adoption of the healthier methods guns drow up and round the Grand Stand were of operetta than perhaps has been shown in the infantry, the different units taking up their the other musical plays included in the com- positions so as to admit of the customary in-panys' repertoire. An English heiress, Winifred spection. The General rode on the ground Grey, has been brought up at a Corsican convent shor.ly before ten o'clock, and at once in from which she escapes under the escort of a spected the troops in open order. The lay brother, and becomes a member of a band of saluting point was in front of the Golf wandering musicans. The necessary element Club, and in about the enclosure were of English society is provided by the advent of the élite of the Settlement as well as the of her guardian and friends, among them naval and military representatives of the the eligible bridegroom, to avoid whom she has various European_powers. The General and run away. Of course the two predestined for staff, including General Creagh, V.C., who one another fall in love, and the young man is commands the Brigade of the China Ex- easily persuaded to join the troups, whose mem- peditionary Force, having taken up their bers begin to assume the threatening duties of positions, the march past was very well a band of brigands The lovers, together with done. The guns were the first in line, followed little jockey who has been persuaded by the Bombay Cavalry, and Madras Pioneers. to act as courier to the Eng'ish tourists, Heading the infantry were the Rajputs, Sikhs, and has managed to compromise Baluchis, and Ghurkas. The evolutions which self with the supposed brigands, escape followed were done in true soldierly style, the to Venice, where, naturally, all the rest of the men being thoroughly equipped as if for active characters join them in time to take part in a service. General Gas-lee expressed his apprecia- water fete, which allows the whole company to tion of the smart turn-out of the troops, and appear in fancy dresses. The music of the gave them a cheery word or two before they piece is by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, were dismissed.
and was admirably reproduced throughout all the three acts, especially in the solo sud chorus, "Beautiful Venice," in which the choral parts are gradually introduced with most refined effect. Mr. Henry Dallas as "Flipper," the ex-jockey, from his first entrance when he is brought in by two gendarmes to his last appearance in a coon song, was excruciat has regained its strength, made a good "Guy ingly funny. Mr. Hugh Metcalfe, whose voice Stanley," Lord Coodle's nephew: his Lordship being Mr. J. B. Ferrell. Miss Hattie Peel was one of the hits of the evening, her song, "The Soldiers in the Park," being thrice encored. Indeed each member of the cast sustained his or her part in their usual masterly manner, and the whole performance well deserved the intense enthusiasm with which it was received. The fancy dresses in the Venetian scene are brilliant as can be, and all the three scenes as through which the plot passes are picturesque. On Wednesday and Thursday nights the day being moreover a benefit performance for Company revived The Belle of New York, Thurs. Mr. and Mrs. Dallas. To-uight San Toy forms the concluding entertainment of the Dallas Co.'s
On Wednesday night Colonel The O'Gorman was present at the drill on the Bund of A and B Companies of the S.V.C.
PRESENTATION TO MR. CALDWELL.
An interesting presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday night, at six o'clock, at the offices of the Dock Company, when Mr. G. A. Caldwell, accountant, who is shortly leaving for home though ill-health, was made the re- cipient of a valuable diamond scarf-pin and stud, and Mrs. Caldwell of a massive silver salver. A large party of friends were present, and presided over by Mr. D. Gillies, chief
manager.
Mr. HoILE, book-keeper, who made the pre- rentation on behalf of the staff, alluded to the more than friendly relations that had existed between the staff and Mr. Caldwell since the time he joined the Company as accountant six teen years ago. He regretted sincerely the cause which had made it absolutely necessary for Mr. Caldwell to go home, and he trusted that health and strength would be completely restored and Mr Caldwell thus enabled to return to Hongkong to his duties-duties he had ever faithfully and conscientiously dis- charged. (Applause)
Mr. CALDWELL feelingly replied, and ex- pressed gratification that his efforts to merit the appreciation of his superiors in the carry. ing out of his duties had met with the reward he sought.
The health of Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell and | family having been toasted, Mr. GILLIES, in a short speech, paid a high tribute to the work done by Mr. Caldwell in the interests of the Dock Company.
season.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 1st April.
A CELEBRated briGAND.
of
The redoubtable brigand chief Ao Sun, uick, named “the Red-banded San" (from the head- dress which he wears), is a - native Sai Chiu, who exercises his terrorism all over Nam Hoi, Sun Tak, and the North and West Rivers. He is so crafty and often so successful in his tricks as to baffle all the efforts of the Mr. CALDWELL responded by proposing the officials attempting his capture. But he is health of Mr. Gillies, a toast which was en patriotio, aud on account of his patriotism thusiastically received by the company. Mr. people from near and far flocked to enlist them- Caldwell referred to Mr. Gillies' coming re-selves under his banner. Tired of predatory signation of his position as chief manager life last autumn he vanished, to escape for some of the Dock Company, a position he had time from public notoriety. Consequently there held for thirty-five years. He wished Mr. were rumours spread by his associates that Es Gillies every prosperity at home, and trusted had gone to Singapore; that he had surrendered he would be long spared to enjoy the retire himself to the Imperial army, and had been ment he had so richly earned. (Applause.) made a general; and that somehow or other he Mr. GILLIES briefly replied, and concluded by had been shot. But in reality he lives in re referring to Bock Company, which he hoped tirement, while his associates go about levying would prosper in the future as in the past, and blackmail to keep him. His residence is in the receive from Government that measure of Yeong Kao village in the dimrict of Shun Tak,
There is another brigand named Lao Fuk, a native of Sai Chiu, who is not so celebrated as those described above. For a few months he and his associates have been levying black- mail on junks, cargo-boats and merchant vessels along the North and West River. Through the machinations of two former friends he has been arrested by Commander Kat Sin, of the sin Hing garrison, brought to Canton the other day, and lodged in the gaol of the Nam- hoi Magistrate awaiting trial.
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Tientsin, 18th March.
A PAUSE IN EVENTS.
is as arid and dry as ever; there is absolutely The atmosphere of the high political world nothing to chronicle; and if one may read by immediate future. petty signs, nothing is expected in the very saw the able and distin. guished correspondent of the Times passing through Tientsin two days ago on his way to deduction to make that he does not expect any Shanghai for a brief holiday, and it is a "fair intelligence of serious import for a week or two. His place is pro tem. taken by Mr. Valentine Chirrol, the "Eastera" editor of the "Thunderer" in Printing House Square, who is out here on one of his occasional trips.
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THE DEPARTURE OF THE AUSTRALIANS. In Tientsin there are no signs whatever of a big move; our sole change is the inipending departure of the fine Australian Contingent for home. Their heavy baggage is already coming forward from Peking, and as soon as the Royal Welsh arrive for their relief, off they will go, to the great regret of everyone who has “in any way been associated with them. I heir services in the North have been invaluable, though chiefly in the prosaic form of police: their one regret is that they have not yet been able to show their fighting mettle. It is just possible that they may yet at the very last moment have a chance, for we are in a state of very high excitement just now, and the folly of say Captain Bobadil, British, French, or Russian, might evoke a row of the first magni- tudo in the mutual intolerance due to national
antipathies. THE BAILWAY - CRISIS:
The British took over the Railway in i entire length from Peking to Shanhaikwan on the 22nd ult, and their engineers at once net about providing additional siding. modation in the neighbourhood of Tientsin
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