The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-09-25
Pirates Of the Chinese Coast.


iner, whether it be from storm, fire, or
the hidden reef. none have such terrors
for vessels trading in the Pacific Ocean
as the pirates that infest the Chinese
coast With ordinary skill and vigil
lance the former dan9efs may be guard
ed against, and it is se3dom that some
one does not survive to tell the tale,
but an attack by these pirates is con-
Quoted with such cunning, treachery
and skill, that If it il successful, it leaves
mystery far harder to bear than q
known misfortune, for those who watch
and wait for the ship that never returns
to port. Every year adds to the list of
stately vessels and gallant crews that
leave port forever, and are eventually
placed among the missing.n How
many of these are captured and de-
stroyed on the China coast can never
be known; their assailants show no
mercy, and the ocean tells no tall"
The quaint junks that leave the Chi
nese ports at night-fall are to all ap-
pearances the peaceful traders they
profess ito be; but if an unprotected
vessel comes in view, the scene changes
as if by magic; deck loads of merchan-
disc are thrown into the holds. and can
uOlf b6hC buCik bu0 CkOW6 6L0
lharvelously reinforced by men who
have been hidden below. and the for
mer lazy coasters glide swiftly along,
propelled not only by their sails but by
long and powerful oars.
The doomed vessel is quickly sur
rounded by the pirates, and a cannon
ade soon brings her masts and yards
crashing to the deck. Her crew may
defend themselves as well as they can,
but they are outnumbered fifty to one.
Nearer close the pirates, who throw
rockets and 'jingals' that leave an
unquenchable fire and stupefying
smell wherever they fall; the defense
alongside, the pirates board, and slay
all the crew that may survive. By the
busy hands of the plunderers the cargo
the water-line of the captured ship, and
as the pirates sail away, the scuttled
vessel slowly sinks from view, and after
weary months of waiting her name is
placed on the list of " missing" a.a
The pirate coasters repair their dam
ages, send the guns below, divide the
booty and disperse. If the battle has
been heard by q cruiser, she hastops in
easy-going traders who are apparently
unconscious OF any such thing as piracy
near them. If any sign of the conflict
remains about them, and an explana-
ten is required, some plausible story
is always ready, in which they are rep
reseRted as the real sufferers. Com
plants against all robbers are inter-
mixed with cunningly invented direc-
80 La 81 .ok
in hot chase of an imaginary foe. .t,
If caught, these pirates meet with
prompt punishment. which is always
death. Knowing this, they will fight
if discovered by q man-of-war
while attacking q vessel, and many in-i
stances are recorded where all the
members of pirate crew have destroy
ed themselves in preference to an igno-
minious death which they knew they
would meet if captured.
A voyager on the waters of the East
often finds it difficult, when he sees the
Chinese trading vessels sailing peace
fully around him, with their gay stream-
ers and picturesque sails, and their
gongs sounding q salute as his vessel
passes them, to imagine that many Of
them are pirates, and that il suitable
were offered them to make
an attack, the vessel he is on would
never see port again. But If he should
happen To- imagine such q thing. his
fears would probably be well founded.
for the records of the Chinese coast
service are filled with accounts of ves-
sells which have been attacked and de-
stroyed by pirates that were cruising
about in the guise of just such harm.
less-looking traders as he sees about
him.-&. Nicholas. for Septem6er
THE horns of our cows seem to be
neither ornamental nor useful. As q
means of warfare they can only have
consideration. but warfarek and goring
is precisely what We dee to keep
away from the barp-yArd. English
farmers, where herds are probably
more precious an11kcloser confined than
in Amerier, haYe6 htroduced the prac-
tice of unhornidk cattle by clipping the
small projections in calves when half
an inch long, using simply a strong
pair of shears. 1t is true it hurts the
calves somewhst, There. will be lit
tie bleeding. but that will stop in an
hour or two, and aAe calves win soon
TnsA j Frieddles. Girls as