The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-09-05
PIRATES OF THE CHINESE COAST.

Of all the dangers that besot the mar.
iner, whether 1t be from storm, fire, OF
the hidden reef, none have such terrors
for the vessels trading in the Pacific
Ocean as the pirates that infest the Chi.
nese coast. With ordinary skill and
vigilance the former dangers may be
guarded against. and il is seldom that
some one does not survive to tell the
tale, but an attack by these pirates is
conducted with such cunning, treachery
and skill, that if it is successful, it leaves
a mystery far harder to bear than any
known misfortune, for those who wait
and watch for the ship that never comes
back to port. Every year adds to the
list of stately vessels and gallant crews
that leave port forever, and are event.
ually placed among the missing. :"
How many of these are captured and
destroyed on the China coast can never
be known; their assailants show no
mercy, and the ocean "tells no tale."
The quaint junks that leave the Chi
nese ports at night-fall are to all appear
ances the peaceful traders that they pro-
Tess 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 marvel
ously re-enforced by men who have
been hidden below, and the former 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 outnumbcred fifty to one.
Nearer close the pirates, who throw
rockets and 'jingals" that leave an un-
quenchable fire and Supplying smell
wherever they fall; the defense grows
more feeble; and now, running along
side, the pirates board, and slay all of
the crew that may survive. by the |
busy hands of the plunderers the cargo |
is soon removed, hole is bored under |
the water-line OF the captured ship, ami
as the pirates sail away the scuttled ves-
sci slowly sinks from view, and after
weary months of waiting her name is
placed on the list of "missing."
The pirate coasters repair their dam
ages, send tho guns below, divide the
booty and disperse. If the battle has
been heard by cruiser, she hastens in
It's direction and meets with two or
Lhree easy-going traders who are appar-
entity unconscious of any such thing as
piracy near them. If any sign of the
conflict remains about them, and an ex-
Dlanation is required, some plausible
story is always ready in which they are
'cpresented as the real sufferers. Com
)laints of all robbers are intermixed
With cunningly invented directions to
he man-of-war, which is soon in hot
'hase of an imaginary foe.
If caught, these pirates meet with
prompt punishment, which is always
ieath. Knowing this, they will fight
ier1ely, If discovered by a man-of-war
While attacking a vessel, and many in
tances are recorded where all the mem
,ers of a pirate crew have destroyed
themselves in preference to an ignomip-
Gus death which they knew they would
meet if captured.
.ften finds it difficult, when he sees the
Jhincse trading vessels sailing peace.
uliy around him, with their gay
treamers and picturesque sails, and
heir ,gongs sounding salute as his
'essel passes them, to imagine that ma
~ of them arc pirates, and that if a
uitablc opportunity were offered them
o make an attack, the vessel he is on
would never see port again. But if he
hould happen to imagine such thing,
lis fears would probably be we'll found.
ID, for the records of the Chinese
'oast service are filled with accounts of
,essels which have been attacked and
destroyed by pirates that were cruising
bout in the guise of just such harmless
ooking traders as he sees about him.
ST. Nicholas.