The Placer herald., 1857-03-21

had just got under way on her voyage to
Canton, when the Captain left the upper
deck, with a Manila man Sucunny at the
wheel, and proceeded towards the engine
room hatchway, where he was in the act of
STOPPING forward looking down when an as
sassin stabbed him from behind. The first
engineer, Mr.. Abraham an American, was
on the otherside of the hatchway at the time
and was similarly assaied; two Manila-men
Sucunnies were working below and shared
the same fate: one man got into one of the
coal bunkers, and there, unable to oct out
when the vessel was set on fire, was burned
to death; Portuguese gentleman, his SER
want, and sick artillery man, who was ly-
ing down forward, were also murdered,
The mate, Peterson, succeeded in getting
into the cabin and fired several shots at the
wretches as they attempted to get hold of
him, buc was at last driven overheard and
was drowned. The Manlaman at the
wheel was killed from behind, and thus
eleven persons were disposed Of The Chi
nese boys escaped by jumping overheard.
The wood work of the steamer was then
burned and the brass work taken away.
At an inquest subsequently held upon the
bodies, it transpired that the assassins, after
finishing their bloody work, displayed the
uniform of the Che Yeong, "Wise Braves"
a militia under the control of the Ming Ling
Tong, the society at Canton that has always
been foremost in display Of hatred to the
barbarians"
CHINESE ATTEMPT TO RETAKE THE FORTS.
The Hongkong Gazette says: The Corom-
ande was lying with the Niger and Encoun
ter off the Factory ruins, Canton, when, at
twenty minutes past one p. NJ. on Sunday
last, (4th january boat arrived from the
Macao Passage Fort, advising the Admiral
of the approach below the Fort of large
number of Chinese war junks. Steam was
got up Immediately, and with all the avail
able boats in company, the Coromandel
proceeded to a reconnaissance: the Encoun-
ter being directed to follow as soon as pos
sible. BY the time the Coromandel got
down to the Fort, the Chinese had arranged
that portion Of their squadron, some sixty
vessels that had come down the Fashion
creek, in line between Marines Island and
Barrows' Island about midway between the
Macao Passage (Teatotum) Fort and the
stations of the Hornet and Comus, off the
Barrier. But Just as the Encounter was un-
der way, some twenty or thirty vessels were
seen coming into Startling Reach and in
stead of proceeding directly, it was deem
ed best to send few shot into them.
The Encounter then attempted to get
down the Macao passage, but unfortunately
grounded somewhere off Birds Nest Fort,
an was unable to get to the assistance of
the others engaged. The accident being
observed from the Coromandel, Sir Michael
Seymour did not deem it prudent to do more
with the Coromandel than stand on the de
fensive, and accordingly droped back with
the tide still firing from the bow gun, and
sent the boats crew into the fort The Chi
nese, of course construed the movement to
irresolution, and came on bravely to within
four hundred yards of the FORT when from
the ninies of the marines and small arm
men, till then under cover, they repeated
volleys, which must have committed fright
tul execution. 1t was about four, or a little
after, that the Chinese, finding that they
had again met more than their match, and
knowing that as the tide made they could
not show fight minute, gave signs Of an
intention to return.
Six men were wounded in the boats, and
one boy Of the first class severly burnt on
board the Coromandel whilst in the act of
screwing in rocket staff, which had acct
dentaly ignted either from the friction of
screwng, or the back fire of previous
discharge. 1t is supposed that not less than
seven thousand Chinese, in altogether some
hundred and fifty boats, were engaged in
this most plucky action on their part that
has ever been Witnessed by the English ma
val officers"