New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-08
AN AMERICAN STEAMER TAKEN BY
CHINESE PIRATES.

The particulars Of the sad news Of the probable loss
Of Mr. Thomas Colt, the second son Of Che Rev. DIR.
Colt, Of St. Johns Church, Bridgeport Conn, are
given in the following extract, The Hongkong DAILY
Press of April 25 publishes the following from tho
Hongkong Shipping List:
The Wilawete brings the sad news from Canton Of
the American steamer Melee on her way down last
evening, about eight O'clock having been taken pos
session Of by her Cbnese passengers near tie Second
Bar run ashore, and plundered. II appears she bad
board full cargo and quantity of treasury, and
that she took on board one-baf Der passengers at
Canton, and the other half at Whampoa. Mr.. Colt,
the purser was in his cabin and seems TO have been
the frat attacked, having received mortal wound
about the breast or shoulder. He managed however,
TO chamber on deck. when Captain Ricsby made a
rush below for his arms, and either jumped or whs
knocked overheard, and probably drowned The cargo
tfansshipped into junk, that was in waiting for
signal from the geamer, after which she was desert
ed by the pirates, and as the TIDE lose and
Hoated her off, taken back 70 Canton by her Chi
crew. The vessel is In charge Of the u. s.
Consul, and the CHm-Ea had been sent in search of
information; gun-boat would probably follow. There
lie little or no hope Of the Captain being found alive
for bis China boy, assisted bya boats crew from
Dutch vessel had made digant search for him along
both banks of the river.
The London and China Telegraph of june 14th
an English paper, gives the annexed account of the
matter:
frightful tragedy has occurred on board the Nee
Lee (Am while on her way from Canton with q cargo
of tea. The following Is another account taken from
the Friend Of China. The American steamer Nee
Lee Capt. Ricaby, which left her anchorage of the
CustomH House ut p m on the 23d Of April, bound to
Hong Kong, returned little after a. on the oath.
The steersman, engineer, compradoF steward and pas
sengers al Chinese reporting the following catastro
phe. Four Chinese came on board at Canton, one az
Shatow lof the Allied Landingpiace), aud three at
Whsmpoa all Of whom prove 70 have been In league.
Oh second bar, about halfpast eight the purser Mr..
Coit was leaning the rail outside the cabin door,
when he was struck the nspe OF the neck with
sharp chopper, producing huge profusion of blood,
DsIewn on the rail and on the side OF the companion
addercase, up which the unfortunate young man sp-
pears to have run 10 tell the Captain whom he would
have passed on the way from the wheel-bouse which
he LETT telling the Chinese steersman that he should 20
below to see what the noise was about. The steers-
says that he believes the Captain on meeting tho
armed pirates, Jumped overheard hom the portSusr-
ter and that il he could swim the half a.mile which
they then were from shore it would be possiple for
him 10 reach il. And of Mr. Colt he thinks the same
the mark Of bis fingers stamped in blood being yisbe
on the deck-tesm IA be would have dropped on the
deck, abaft the wiatass from which II is presumed he
sprang overheard. Mersof the vessel the desperadoes
then told the steersman TO proceed In shore toward
Min-fa+han, which he did until they struck the mud
They then rang the bell until square-ster mat
sai boat came alongside, manned 10y their dialect ap
parentlyl with Nam-tow-men. The engineer compra-
DOR and non IEatcl passeLgeIs DaL sdoEssj