The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-09-11
A Singular Fight In China-Eng'ish-
men Firing on their Countrymen.
From the Loudcn (Eng.) Times.

An English steamer, the Carisbrooke
cleared from Singapore III June last
with passengers and cargo for Uajnian
ana Hong Kong. The vessel was vaiu.
able, being worth $4,000, and almost
her entire trade was with the port of
her destination, Hong Kong. accord.
Ing TO the statement ma Ie by her cap
tain, the whole passenger fare and
freight TO 1laiman amounted TO not
more than 81 800; and this fact is dwell
upon as showing that there could have
been no evil intent in what was done.
There is q port In IIaimap to which
foreigners are adni ted by treaty, so
thai intercourse with the island Is not
prohibited, but this port, Kiung.chow.
Is on the north coast of lIaiman, and
out Of the track for Hong Kong. The
Sarisorooke accordingly anchored some
~ miles of the treaty port. on the cas-
side of the island, for the benefit of her
Cnlnese passengers, who. it appears,
We're bound for the treaty port of
kiung' chow itself. The spot where
the Carisbrooke anchored was at the
mouth OF river called Chinlan, and
some distance up this river there is
io"n called WepchaDg. Junks were
TO come out and take off the passengers
10 their destination. ltisadmittrd that
the steamer did not communj cate with the
shore, and that there was no real using
or this town of Wenchang as port,
fjnt while the Carisbrooke was at an.
chor the Chinese guDboat Pen.choa. hal
came down upon her and arr ested her
on the charge of having violated the
treaty by trading with non.treaty
port. The Ilaiman passengers were al
lowed to land after having had their
luggage searched; the chief officer and
the thiee quartermasters of the Chinese
Eunooat were sent on board the Caris-
brooke, and the two vessels sta ted to-
gether, the captain of the Carisbrooke
having promised, as ordered. to take
his vessel to Whsmpoa,
The curious thing about this Chinese
gunooat is that the principal persons on
hoard were Englislimen. There was
Mr.. Brown, Deputy Commissioner of
Customs at Canton, specially in charge
OF the cruiser; there was Capt. Palmer.
who commanded the vessel, and Mr..
Collins, the chief Officer, who was sent
on board the CarisbrOpke. 1t appears
that Capt. Scott of the Carjsbrooke,
after promising to proceed to Whamt
poa. reconsidered the matter. He had
desired to obtain from the Englishmen
in the Chinese service on board the
gunpoat certificate that he did not
take this coprse of bis own free will;
falling in this. and Mr.. Collins, the
chief officer Of the gunboat, telling him
that If he resisted force would be used,
he captain of the Carisbrooke seems to
nave made Up bis mind to yield only
to compulsioh: According to his own
account, knowing that the Caris-
prooke was innocent Of any illegal trad
ing,and If there was any fault, it was in
the passengers. l made up mind to pro-
ceed direct 10 Hong Kong, and this
told Capt. Palmer shortly 'afterward. 4"
The commander Of the Peng,chao-h hal,
perceiving this, fred four shots at the
Carlsbrooke, smashing her rpdder and
piercing her hull. some OF the crew of
the gunboat were then put on board tile
Carisbrooke and took that vessel to
Canton. Here the matter was lnvesti-
gated pg court, of which the British
pppsul and the Chinese Commissioner
OF Customs are members. The court
was held with closed doors, and 1t was
agreed that the ship was seized within
three miles Of the coast of Haiman per.
forming acts unauthorized by the trea-
ty. The Chinese authority demanded
hat the ship and cargo should be con
iiscated; 70 this her Majesty's Consul
would not agree, and accordingly the
matter will be "reterred to the high
authorities of both nations at Pekin fol
decision, and, pending this, the Carts.