The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-03
singular Fight In China EnRIishmen Firing
ON Their Countrymen.

An English steamer, the Carisbrooke,
cleared from Singapore IN June last, with pas
scngers and cargo for Hainan and Hong Kong.
The vessel was valuable, being worth $4,000,
and almost her entire trade was with the port OF
her destination, Hong Kong. According to the
senger fare and freight to Hainan amounted to
not more than tl.JOO; and this fact s dwelt up
on as showing that there could have been no
evil intent in what was done. There is port in
Hainan to which foreigners are admitted by
treaty. so that intercourse with the island If not
prohibited; but this port, Kiung-chow. Is on
the north coast OF IIanan, and out OF the track
for Hong Kong. The Carisbrooke accordingly
the east side Of tho island for the benefit Of her
Chinese passengers who. u appears, were bound
for the treaty port OF kiung-chow itself The
spot where the CarisbrOoke anchored was at
the mouth OF a river called ChinlaD. and some
distance up this river there IL a town called
Wenchang. Jlnks were To come out and take
OF the passengers to their destination. IL Ia
admitted that the steamer did not communi-
cate with the shore. and that there was no real
using Of this town Of Wenchang as a port. But
while the Carishrooke was at anchor the Chm
csc gunbOat Peng-chao.hai came down upon
violated the treaty by trading with a non-treaty
port. The Hnlnan passengers were allowed to
land after having had their luggage searched ;
the chief oficer and the three quartermasters OF
the Chinese gunboat were sent on board the
Carisbrooke, and the two vessels started to-
eether, the captain OF the Caristrooke having
promised, as ordered, TO take his vessel to
WhampOa.
The curious thing about this Chinese gum
were Englishmen. There was Mr. Brown, Dep
uty Commissioner OF Customs at Canton. speci-
Ally in charge OF the cruiser; there was Capt.
Palmer, who commanded the vessel and MIR.
Collins, the chief ofncer. who was sent on board
the Carisbrooke. II appears that Capt. Scott of
the Carisbrooke, after promising to proceed to
Nhampoa, reconsidered the matter. He had
desired to obtain from the Englishmen In the
Chinese service on board the gunDoa. certia-
cate that he did not take this course OF his own
free will failing In this. and Mr. Collins, the
chief oflcer of the gunboat, telling him that II
the Cartsbrooke seems to have made up his
mind to yield only to compusion. According
70 bis own account, "knowing that the Carts
brooke was innocent Of any Illegal trading, and
that II there was any fault Il was In the passen-
gers, made up my mind to proceed direct TO
Hong Kong, and this told Capt. Palmer short
ly afterward." The commander OF the PenR-
chao-hai, perceiving this, fred four shots at the
Carsbrooke, smashing her rudder and piercing
her hull. Some Of the crew Of the Cunboat
were then nut on board the Carisbrooke and
took that vessel TO Canton. Here the matter
was Investigated 10y court, Of which the
British Consul and the Chinese Commissioner
OF Customs ATE members. The court was held
with closed doors, and II agreed that the
ship was seized within three miles Of the coast
OF liainan performing acts Unauthorized by the
treaty. The Chinese authority demanded that
the snip and cargo should be cOnhscated; to
this her NJ liesty's Consul would not agree, and
accordingly the matter will be " referred To the
high authorities Of both nations At Pekin for de.
cision, and, pending this, the Carlsbrooke Will
be released on bond