New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-02
TRUE LOVEIN THE FAR EAST.
AN ELoPEMENr WHICH MAY END IN WAR.

IRON OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
BANGKOK, Siam, June 1.-There is speck Of war
on the horizon just nova threat of a disturbance
of the harmonious relations between Siam and Eng
land The philosopher who averred that there was
no event. great or small. In which lovely women
did not have hand, would contemplate the war
speck to which have alluded with feelings Of sat
isfacton. There is a woman In the case. and she is
young and pretty.
About thirty years ago there came to Siam
young officer of the English Army. He had been
for several wears India in the service of the East
India Company, and determined one day to seek his
fortune In the land of the White Elephant where
he became drll-master of the Royal troops aud was
in favor with the old King and the high officers Of
the Royal court. Through the influence of friends
at home he was appointed to represent the British
Government Consular Agent at Bangkok, and from
this position he gradually to his present high
Office of Consul-General of Her Britannia Majesty
for the Kingdom of Slam. His name is Thomas
George Knox. aud he comes of one of the old fami
lies in the North Of Ireland, where the of Knox
is said to be very common.
During the time of his service with the King and
before he dreamed Of the honors to come to HIN in
later years, Mr.. Knox contracted alliance with
Siamese woman, after the manner prevalent among
foreigners who como to the East for a sojourn of
union and though the marriage had a spice of IT.
regularity about it, the children were scknowl-
edged by the father, and properly cared for and
educated. Miss Fanny. who is the cause of the
present war speck, is a pretty and accomplished
Brunette and received her education in England.
where her dOtng father paid end of bills for her
proper training and finishing She returned here
about three years ago. with wardrobe that made
her the envy of the other women, and with piano
on which she played with grace and skill. Admir-
ers were not wanting the fair Fanny was half
Siamese and half English in blood, and she spoke
the languages of Siam and of England to perfection.
1t was therefore quite natural that her admirers
should be of the two nationalities, and natural
consequence that, for love of her. Engishmen and
Siamese should be at each Others ears. It was tho
ambition of Mr.. Knox to marry his daughter to an
Englishman and whenever she manifested an in
clnatIon to smile on Siamese lover, the Consul
General of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire
land was observed TO frOwn.
About three months ago Miss Fanny determined
to remain no longer single, and planted her affec-
tons on one Phra Peecha, an influential and dis
tinguished nobleman of Siam, and member of one
of the hi CHEST families. As the paternal Knox re-
fused the paterna sanction, the daughter followed
the custom of civilized lands and elOped with her
lover thereby causing much scandal in Siam and
throughout the British Colonies in the far East.
Gosspng tongues wagged without ceaslng and the
elopement was a fruitful topic of conversation In
many a foreign household for several weeks. To
say that Her Majesty's COnsul-General was angry
would only convey a faint idea of his state of mind;
a bear with sore head was a nursing lamb to him.
The King and the Council of State likewise
indignant but in far less degree than the father,
as they had no personal interest in the matter.
-Four or five weeks after the elopement PhTa Pcecha
was arrested by order OF the King on "A charge of
high crimes and misdemeanors; he was tried by
the Council Of State and found guilty The penalty
for his crime is death, and the convicted nobleman
has been sentenced to be beheaded The
there is serious hitch in the affair, The
runaway daughter Of the Britt sh Consul
General is aveTse to the execution of her
Samese husband, and intcrceded most earnestly
with her father TO stay the action of the law of the
eiopcd with his child MT Knox is reluctant to have
n case of capital punishment IN the FAMILY IN adj
dtion to the other complications, ana tG G
demanded the release of Phra Peecha. The Samese
Government refused Knox then Threatened them
with a British gunboat, and not only threatened,
but sent to Singapore for ono. The gunboat FOX
bound came and then the demand was renewed.
The King was firm as a rock. and notified the Con
sul-General that under no circumstances would the
condemned prisoner be surrendered Knox now
tened TO bring the whole force of British ships
I'm Eastern waters To lombard bangkok and lay the
Kings uglace IL ashes. Inc hing mas EOodlF
force of soldiers under arms at the palace ana there
Is a strong guard over the prison OF fhra feecha.
The Samese blood M, and If the British marines
from the FOxhound attempt to land to rescue tho
husband Of the Consul-Gencrgps daughter, there will
be bloodshed. The gunbOat hes IN the tepld waters
of the Meenam, and holds no COMMUNICATION WIN
the shore other than with the British Consular
Office The other consuls side with the King and
condemn the action Of their Engush colleague
under the treaty he has no rlght whatever 10 IN
terfere with the execution of Samese law upon
Siamese subjects, and Phra Peecha is subject OF
the King and has never iDtimated desire to be
anything else. However night he NAV nave Deen
sentimeutally Mr.. Knox clearly wrong IN MS
action when we consider its legal bearings. Ii ls
understood that the King would not be ayerSe To
the release of tho unfortunate ouehueri ProS.utu
there was no demand for IT, but ne VIII not DO
forced 10 liberate Phra Peocha under threat OF
bOmbaTdment or other violence. Inc young Ming
has a very clear head, and readily understands that
if he submits to dictaton in the present instance II
will be made a precedent for future BRUSH acton'
IL is the English policy TO handle these Eastern
countries as though they had no rights tlat west
ern nation Is bound to respect ana siam nus Deen
no exception to the rule The present hlhg ms
shown a determination to stand up Tor the rght7 OF
his country and 40 obnoxious has bis action Deen
TO the British COnsulGeneral that the latter mas Gu
deavored to secure his deposition. Three years ago
there a plot which came near VacatlnR tno
throne and the King has good reason 10 believe that
the representative OF Her Majesty Government was
a prime mover in the affair. Consequently, q ere Is
no love to boast Of between the king ana Mr. h1In
and the former is very much OF the opinion thaJ nc
will do what he pleases, without regard 10 tue la'
teTs threats.
The Government has not rested with a simple re-
fusal to release Phra Peecha and determination 10
resist foreign interference in its local affairs. The
King has sent his private secretary To England TO
Law the matter before the Foreign Office and TO ask
for the recall of Mr.. Knox. All the correspondence
will be handed to Lord Salisbury and the secretary
who is an accomplished English scholar, has such
complete knowledge Of the affair that he can en-
tighten His EXcellency Oh ITS most minute point
That the sovereign rights of Siam have been ylo-
lated there can be no doubt and the action OF Down
inn Street IL llN 81
community OF Bangkok.
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ALLEGED fraudulent SALE OF BONDS