Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-04-06
fFrom the Canton Press.l
TERRIBLE sCcNESIN CtiINA-TwO HUN.
DRED BANDITS BEHEADED
TOOCUOw. Nov. %. IL


The entire community here, native and
foreign, has been thrown into state OF great
excitement du.ing the last few days, the
cause and progress OF which shall try to
give you as briefly os cao.
You are aware that for some years past a
fued hos existed between Cantonese and
ChincAepite sailors and lorchameu. This
broke ont afresh during June of this current
year, aud in n more formidable foru, than it
ha0 previously assumed.
by willy policy the warlike lorchas, num.
bering some twenty three. were enticed to
Leave this river. AS soon as this was mana
ged, the local authorities determined hereaf.
.er to coafne all Canton torches and West
Coast boats to the anchorage at Quantow,
about ten or twelve miles below the Pagoda
! Station. To carry out his resolution a large
body Of native militia and marines we're col.
lectrd, chiefly from Quemoy and Annoy,
several war juuks and armed pullaway boats
were fitted up, and the entire force was put
under command Of Commodore Woo, brave
fierce fellow, dreaded by hs Own class as
man of war, and hated by cantonese as a saw.
age villain.
Commodore Woo had been on the watch
fully anticipating the move that this outside
foe would make to bolt past his station and
ascend the river in collected body. They
found their match in the commodore. There
sailed past his guard post three, some say
ten, Canton lorchas and tymoons others
hanging on outside in case this detachment
succeeded. They were attacked by tbs
mandarin force: three we're burnt, two ran
up to take refuge at the Psgoda anchorage.
and the rest made out to sea Gs fast as they
could. The remainder Of that day was occu.
pied iu pursuing and capturing the fugitive
pirates who had escaped OF shore. Next
morning, The Goth, the Mandarin armed
boats were in pursuit OF the two boats that
had escaped up the river. They came up
With them about noon. lying in shore at the
Pagoda. There they were attacked, their
crews dashed into the stream to swim ashore
aud while q )a;ing 90 the water some forty or
fifty were speared and shot fne sight to
be seen for foreign seanen and residents !!
t Early in the morning OF the 2lst, il was
t evident, from the packed throngs On the
Q great bridge aud the hubbub around, that
e something strange aud novel and exciting
, had occurred.
e About 9 o'clock, soma Of the Mandarin
l. war boats had come up with two prizes and
2 two hundred captured pirates. The latter
they commenced to land each man nnder
If guard OF at least four marines, bearing drawn
:. swords, spears, matchlocks, or sporting gay
Gags. The cnptives we're in a terrible plig bit
:. stripped and naked, hands tied with awful
'f tightness behind their backs, and feet
's scarcely able TO walk, while they were driven
.. along with the most barbarous savageness
n Eight or ten had beer bsheaded 90 their way
f. up the river and two or three Just as they
we're showed on shore, for showing fight and
1t reluctance to move on. The beads Of these
n unfortunates were sluug on poles, aud swung
y before the eyes OF the remainder as a toket
ie OF what awaited them very shortly. Wher
D. all had been landed. they were marched
et across the bridge to :he nortern end, and OF
,e the way, as il to crafty the public gaze. thu
OF heads Of four were deliberately chopped of
e. and their corpsss flung into the river below
IN But we were surprised 10 seeing, when il
n was supposed that oil had crossed the bridge
20 large band Of captives returning pothaste
I'd They were slowed away again on board thes
a war junks, bound and tied with double fury
ly several hands tied together. No mercy wa
shown to any. A boy Of ten was pushed il
with naked sword over bis head. An age,
wretch failed to creep back to his boat, au
n. was flung on board to expire as best b
he could. Almost oil had their wrists so tightl
tied that the flesh was, eaten into, and th
~ spectacle brought vividly to mind the tol
'@' tufes inflicted on our countrymen .in th
or North, over whose cruel fate there is no on
,rt that does not mourn. These armed boat
with acsrgo OF 10 Chinese pirates, shove
=, off to go back to Qusntow, to have ,beI
Ne decapitated there the remaining t5irt
de having been carried on TO tas North Got
execution grounds.
Upon this announcement the thick crowt
moved away. and the thronged streets an
ed bridges we're cleared. But that Mandari
we move ' 5 found. after all, to be q dodge
he At OF iock ,he crowds had been thickepn
rs and II began to be apprehended that ii
Ihe large Canton population here might rise er
led attempt the rescue OF their countrymen, wi
ion we're treated, before their very eyes, so me
sh' cilessiy aud brutaly. The mannuvre su
the ceedsd 10 thlnning the streets, and at
hat signal the boats we're moved back TO tbs
pie position ss in the morning. The unfortuna
ept victims were at once landed, and. with d
Yes same guard, they were FASTENED along
street OF two miles in length at double qui
nee time, to the parade ground outside the Sou
pie, gate.
, is Here some OF the principal officials we
, it seated al 3 O'Clock. at a tribunal, whis
/ 10 without trial or mercy, was 10 hurry NC
Zee. than $50 Of their fellows into eternity. 7
nly work was short; one after the other {
sul. whole lot was behesded. and in half an be
old the judges, troops. aod staring mob W.
, 10 dispersed Among the csptives there W,
han two youths OF 10 and IL; for one OF th,
Ibis seven merchants advs'r-d their gnsrsnt
cod be was s,vsd ir. '"f died onheet