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306
The fact is, that the rebels do not concert together, having no supreme leader. Their chief object is to obtain foot, and from all that, can be learnt, they differ from the Triads in having no anti-dynastic hatred.
THE RECENT TRAGEDY AT
CANTON.
Following is the text of the finding of the Board of Enquiry, formed to investigate the drowning of a ship's compradore who was thrown into a creek by, it was alleged. American sailors :-
CANTON, 17th October.
We. the undersigned, Wen Tsung-yao and Kao Erh-kien, Directors of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs; Shen Chuan-yi, Prefect of Kwang Chow Fu; Fu Yu-mai. Nam Hoi Magistrate; and F. D. Cheshire, United States Consul-General, Canton, after carefully weigh- ing and considering the testimony adduced at the Court of Enquiry into the cause of death of the third compradore of the 8.8. Kansuh, o0 the 26th day of September, 1904, have arrived at the following conclusions.
1. That the said compradore came to his death by drowning on the 26th of September 1904, by being thrown into the creek from the Western bridge of Shameen..
2. That a great deal of the evidence is con. flicting and merely hearsay, and we have not considered it of any value owing to its extrinsic weakness and its incompetency to satisfy the Court is to facts.
3. That the most direct and conclusive evidence is that of the soldiers and guards on duty at the bridge, who testified that they saw the act, and it shows that the deed was com mitted by sailors in American uniform. This direct evidence must not be overlooked, and the veracity of the witnesses is presumed in the absence of proof to the contrary.
4. That there is no proof of the identity of the actual person or persons who committed the deed,
5. That in our opinion continued efforts should be made to ascertain if possible the real culprits, who, in the event of their being found, and their guilt established. should be dealt with as provided by the laws of their country.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS. AND
the West River, and on this occasion rifles and ammunition were taken in case of further assault.
Captain Lewington, of the West River boat Hoi Ho. reports that his vessel also was fired upon at the same place shortly after nine o'clock; on Monday night. None of the shots took effect, though several were heard singing over the decks. According to the Customs officials this neighbourhood is infested with pirates. and it is supposed that these attacks upon the Hongkong boats were made because the Chinese pilots had failed to make their regular payments of blackmail to these blackguards.
It would be well if the Chinese Government sent a guuboat or two to patrol those parts of the river in which these outrages have occurred.
THE
"BARON GORDON
ABANDONED.
The Douglas 8.8. Hailoong, Capt. Charles Andrew Mutton, returned from Bombay Shoal; on the 17th inst. She was, it will be remembered, chartered by a syndicate, headed by Sir Paul Chat r, to act as salvage ship for Mr. J. W. Jameson, the wrecker, who undertook the task of attempting to refloat the steame s Agincourt and Baron Gordon. Bringing the Agincourt safely to Hongkong was a splendid stroke of business. On this occasion, however, Mr. Jameson's journey was fruitless.
till the 10th inst.
Was
The Hailoong left Hongkong on the morning of the 6th inst., and arrived abreast of Lincoln Owing to the strong Island on the 8th inst. N.E. monsoon and heary swell the ship was here brought to an anchor; and so remained On the 11th inst. Capt. Mutton brought his ship as close as was prudent to the shoal, and a boat, containing Capt. J. E. Watson (he salvage captain). Mr. J. G. Watson (the savage mate), and Mr. Buchanan (the salvage chief engineer) put off into When about half a mile from the surf. the Baron Gordon a huge roller capsized the little craft. Luckily those in her were ble to swim, and had plenty of strength They hung on to the life lines propelling the boat along, after each successive roller by kicking out with their feet. They were very much fatigued on at last reaching the 6. That in view of the sad circumstances wreck. Luckily there was a rope's end hanging
over the side; the men's strength surrounding this case, and the many precedents taxed to the utmost when they had to climb up of indemnity having been paid by the Chinese Government for loss of life of foreigners, this. Capt. Watson cheered them up and led
the recommend American citizens includ d. we
Once on board a signal was made to that steps be taken to properly indemnify the the Hailoong to let their comrades know that all as far as their lives were family of the deceased through representation was well-that was by the United States Consul-General at Canton concerned: the boat was smashed to pieces. The to the United States Minister at Peking for salvage operations went off in bots next day
other men who went down to assist in the the bots being manned by Chinese sailors. Mr. Archibald Watson (the salvage second engineer), Capt. Crocker (late of the Baron Gordon). Mr. Boyd (late chief engineer of the Baron Gordon), and Mr. J. W. Jameson got off all right, but Mr. William Waters (the dynamite very bad time. According expert) had a hours making little or no headway. Finally another boat armed with stimulants was sent to their assistance. The salvage men were comparatively comfortable. as they had good cook, and there were plenty of stores on board. The Hailoong went to herold anchorage at Lincoln Island.
the consideration of his Government.
WEN TSUNG-YAO, Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs.
KAO ERH-KIEN, Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs.
SHEN CHUEN-YI. Prefect of Kwang Chow Fu. FU YU-MAI, Nam Hoi Magistrate. F. D. CHESHIRE, American Consul-General.
PIRATICAL ATTACK ON WEST
RIVER STEAMERS.
NARROW ESCAPE OF A CAPTAIN,
to
way.
our informant they
were
several
&
after a very careful survey of the ship's hull, had reluctantly come to the conclusion that the task was hopeless.
On the morning of the 18th instant, when the s.s. Pak Kong (Captain A.N. Patrick) was coming down the West River to Hongkonging to find Mr. Waters' dynamite doing good Two days later Capt. Mutton returned, hop- she was fired upon from the bank on the farther
work on the coral. Mr. Jameson, however, 20 and 30 side, of Kongmoon. Between shots were discharged at the vessel, and seeing that at that part of the river she has to keep very close in to the left shore from which the firing came it is wonderful that more shots did not take effect than did. As it was only one shot, so far as has been discovered, came aboard. It struck the pantry on the upper deck close beside Captain Patrick's quarters, penetrated the door of one locker, pierced an- other, and ultimately found a lodging-place in a wooden bulkhead inside. Captain Patrick was near by where the shot struck. and he had a most providential.escape. That the firing was from the shore is almost certain, as the river channel at the point is very narrow and no junks or boats were to be seen about. Last night the Pak Kong made the journey again to
It was impossible for the men to put off to the Hailoong that day, there being insufficient water on the reef, so Capt. Mutton again bid them au revoir. Next day the tide rose sufficiently, for them to get away; and the Hailoong made a departure for Hongkong, with all safely on board, in the afternoon. She arrived here yesterday afternoon.
Mr. A. Gelewsky, chief clerk of the German Consulate at Shanghai, has been appointed, secretary to the German (onsulate at Chefoo, and left by the H.A.L. str. Forwarts for that port to take up his new post.
[October 22, 1904.
BOXERISM' AGAIN.
The Peking Times seems to think there is something in the new Boxer scare. In part, it says: It is well to discuss and think out the Chinese situation without illusions and without romance. Not one of us but would like to father our reflections with the happy conceit that China was taught a lesson in 1900 which she is not likely to forget; and the assertion that this was indeed so is often heard on the lips of those who should be in a position to know and to give us the benefit of their knowledge and experience. But we venture to assert that the lesson which we in our great superiority of enlightenment essayed to teach her was as meaningless and futile as the music of a sweet song placed in the hands of a blind mute. If we want proof, let us glance at the Government circle. We find Na Tung still at the head of affairs; Chang Pei-hsi, who was refused by England as Minister to London; Pu Shan,[P'u Ku, Chang Li, Shik Shu, Hsu Hui-li, and many others of the same ilk, all disciples of the old Conservative school, together with Lu Chuan-lin, Ch'en Pang-jui, Tai Hung-tze. Hsn Fu and others intro- duced in 1901 specially to inaugurate reformed government, but who have achieved noth- ing and may be counted as almost greater enemies to real advancement inasmuch as, if
ever actuated they were
by progressive aims, they must long since have joined the ranks of the men who "lost hope." Anyway these men representing the Government collec- tively do not justify the idea or the hope that China has "learnt her lesson." The Wai WuPu is the Taungli Yamen by another name, the same old evil-smelling canker, no new-budding rose; the Board of Punishments is still persecuting. reformers; the modern Board of Commerce is devoting itself to heading off all Western enterprise and the real development of China; the Board of Education, started with a great fanfare of reform trumpets, is defunct; the Board of Revenue since Jung Lu's death has been run by his henchman Ch'ung Li we believe; and the Lien Ping Chu, the great new Board created to reform the army of the Empire, is engrossed in a deadly struggle against time, hoarding rifles, guns and silver- for what? For what, if not to prove that the rast conglomeration of ages, the colossal accumu- lation of an almost sublime egotism, was not even grazed, let alone destroyed, by the "two rebellion of China's over-sea
months'
vassals."
26
COOLIE TRANSPORT ASHORE.
NEARLY 3,000 COOLIES MAROONED. accident to the coolie-ship Swanley of London, Details are now to hand regarding the
which went ashore on the Natunas Islands.
According to the Singapore Free Press. the Swanley, a vessel of 2.900 tons, arrived at Singapore on the 11th inst., leaking badly and with her pumps going. The Sicanley left Ching Wang Tao on September 24 and touche i
at West Island, and all went well till the seventh
of the present month, when she suddenly an ground on an uncharted reef in the Natu as islands, rather to the south of the group. Every effort was made to get the ship off, but they were unavailing, and it was then decided to land the coolies. Of these there were 2,260 on board, and after the inevitable bother of
?
Provisions getting the Chinese coolie to do what he is wanted to they were all got off safely. and supplies sufficient for a month were then sent ashore, and every-
maroonment 85 easy 88 possible. There thing possible was done to make the enforced was one European lady and three children on board, and these the Captain decided to bring on. Two doctors, the coolie overseer, and the third officer of the Swanley were task they will probably find far from enviable left on the island to look after the coolies, a It was then found that probably owing to this extensive lightening of the ship, together with the influence of a high tide, the ship was com ing off, and eventually on the 10th the ship was got off, being considerably damaged. So bad in fact was her condition that the Captain presumably did not deem it safe to tring the passengers, and the coolies were left behind with the before-mentioned European officers.
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