Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-15
CAPTURED BY CHINESE PIRATES.

The Story Of the Pirat1cal Outrage
on the Canton River-An Euglisn-
mans Account of His Struggle
and SuRerlngs.
From the Liverpool Daily Post.l
Mr.. Walter William Mundy, who was
the only English passenger on board the
Spark, sends the following interesting
account of the piraticsl outrage on the
Canton river:
embarked on board the Spark on the
22d of August to proceed on business to
Macao. We left Canton at half-past
seven in the morning, and were due at
Macao at between four and FIVE the same
afternoon. The lower deck was confined
exclusively to Chinese passengers, and a
winding staircase near the stern led to
the quarter deck, which was for Euro
peans.
There were great many native pas
sengers, but | had the misfortune to be
the only European. The crew consisted
of about twenty men-Chinese and Por.
tuguese half-castes. The captain, poor
Brady, was an American, and, although
an utter stranger to him previous to our
Journey, it has seldom been my good
fortune to have a nicer or more amiable
companion. Shortly after leaving Can
ton he gave one trait Of his genial dis
position. The purser came and told
him that there was a man below who
could not pay his passage, and asked
what was he to do. Brady asked him
what sort of fellow he was. When, on
being told he was coolie, with no
money at all about him, he said, "Oh,
let the fellow go.
We had capital run to Whampoa.
After leaving here, about nine o'clock,
we breakfasted. The river here, where
the outrage was perpetrated, is about
one mile across.
So far the trip had been most delight
ful-nothing had occurred TO waken any
suspicion. / was still as welded to the
humdrum existence and safety Of Eng
lish life as If / were but taking trip in
the British Channel, and so little think.
ing Of any peril that l dozed over my
cigar and book under the awning for
ward.
must have slept here some time, asll
certainly awoke with a start; it may
have been a noise, it may have been in
stinct of danger which aroused me. |
Immediately perceived a man rushing
up the gangway toward me with knife
in his hand and cash across his fore
head. Surprised and only half awake,
my first thought was that he was q mad
man, and / rushed out to procure helpto
seize him. In attempting to do so was,
however, met by two other men, who at
tackled me with knives. Quickly seeing
uy mistake, rushed past them and ran
on in search of a weapon, endeavoring
to find out what it all meant and to see
whether any resistance was being made.
now strove to reach the passengers
gangwayeto see what the Chinese we're
doing. In attempting this had to gun
the gauntlet Of several Of the pirates,
who wounded me in many places. Two
of them here seized me, tearing my
watch of, and we're going to cut my Hn- |
gers eff for my rings, when by desper- |
ate effort | managed to break loose from |
them.
l was now almost insensible, and lean
ed against the window / mentioned in
nv description of the ship. On looking
dowu into the captains cabin saw poor
Brady lyinR stretched out on the floor, |
with his little dog staring him mourn
fully in the face. fhis sign OF fidelity |
eonsoled me even then somevhss, end, |
indeed, lay sole wish now centered In 1
the hope Of being able to last long enough |
to get Rome chance of revenge by the
arrival Of assistance. After leaning
here for ten or hftesa minutes l fell on
the deck from exhaustion cpd loss
of blood. A few minutes after this tue
pirates, who had been pluudering the
ship, retained TO the deck, battened
down the hatcaERys, and proceeded to
count their booty olose - me. They /
continually passed over me, stepping on /
and kicking me.
1t wss then that / saw the Chinese pas
sengers sittag below. boxing as uncon-
cerned as possible. / then rushed 10 the /
stern, where saw the poor passeF hold |
ing on by bis hands to the side Of the
ship. preparing TO jump overheard, aud
pirate cutting at him. Here also the
chief mate was battling most courage
onsly with one arm, while with the ether