Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-28
Pirates OF the Chinese Coast.
OF al the dangers tina. bose. the

Pirates OF the Chinese Coast.
OF alIthe dangers that beset the
mariner, whether it be from storm
ire or the hidden reef, mono have
such terrors for vessels trading in
The Pacific Osean as the pirates
tina, iafest the Chinese coast. With
ordinary skill and vigilance the for
mer dangers may be guarded
against, and it is seldom that some
one does not survive TO tall the tale.
but an attack by these pirates is
conducted with such CUNNING.
treachery and skill, that if it il suc-
cessful, 1T leaves q mystery tar hard
er 10 bear than known misfor-
tune, for those who watch and wait
tor the ship that never returns 10
port. Every year adds to the list
of stately vessels and gallant crews
that leave port forever, and are
eventually placed among the "mis.
sing" How many of these are cap
tured and destroyed on the China
coast can never be known; their
assaiIants show no mercy, and the
ocean "tells no tale"
The quaint junks that leave the
Chinese ports at night fall are to all
appearances the peaceful traders
that they profess to be; but If an
unprotected vessel comes in view.
the scene changes as if by magic
deck loads of merchandise are
thrown into the holds, and cannon
take their place; the crews are
marvelously re.epforeed by men
who have been hidden below. and
tbs former lazy coasters glide swift.
ly along. prop, He'd not only by
their sails but by long and power
fol oars.
The doomed vessel is quickly
surrounded by the pirates, and q
cannona1e 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 rock
cts and '.jingals" that leave an un-
quenohable fire and q Supplying
sm'll wherever they fall; the de-
Tense grows more feeble. and now.
running alongside, the pirates board,
and slay all OF the crew that may
survive. By The busy bands of the
plundercrs the cargo is soon re-
moved, q hole is bored under the
water line of the captured ship, and
as he pirates sail away, the scut.
tied vessel slowly sinks from view,
and after weary months of waiting
her name lie placed on the list OF
missing"
Tho pirate coasters repair their
damages. send the guns below, di-
vide the booty and dispense. II
the battle has been heard by q cruis.
er, che hastens in its direction and
meets with Two or three asy-going
traders who are apparently uncon.
scious of any snch thing as piracy
near them, 1t any sign of the con-
filct remains about them, and an ex-
PLANTATION is required, some plausi-
BILE story is always ready in which
they are represented as the real suf-
ferers. Complaints against ell rob-
bers are iutermixed with cunningly
invented directions to the man ,of-
war, which is soon in hot chase of
an imaginary foe.
1t caught, these pirates meet
with prompt punishment, which is
always death. Knowing this, they
will fight fiercely, if discovered by
a man-ofw while attacking
vessel, and many instances are re-
corded where all the members OF
pirate crew have destroyed them.
selves in preference to an ignomin-
ious death which they know they
would meet il captured.
A voyager on the waters OF the
East often finds it difficult, when he
sees the Chinese trading vessels
sailing peacefully around him, with
their gay streamers and picturesque
sails, and their gongs sounding a
salute as bis vessel passes them, 10
imagine that many of them are pi.
rates, and that if "a suitable oppor.
tunity 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
thing, his fears would probably be
we'll founded, for the records of the
Chinese coast service are filled with
accounts OF vessels which have been
attacked aud destroyed by pirates
that were cruising about in the
guise of Just such harmless looking
traders as be sees about him.-Sf.
Nicholas for September.