The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-04
Pirates OF the Chinese Coast.

Of all the dangers that beset the mar
iner, whether it be from storm, fire, or
the hidden reef, none have such terror
for vessels trading in the Pacific Ocean
as the pirates that infest the Chinese
coast. With ordinary skill and vigil
lance the former dangers may be guard
ed against, and it is seldom that some
one does not survive to tell the tale, but
an attack by these pirates Is conducted
with much cunning, treachery and skill,
that if it is successful, il leaves Il mys-
terv far harder to bear than Il 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." How
many of these are captured and destroy
ed on the China coast can never be
known: their asSailants show no mercy,
and the ocean "tells no tales"
The quaint junks that leave the Chi
nese ports at night-fall are TO all ap-
pearance the peaceful traders that they
profess to be; but if an unprotected YES
sci 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
ouslv REINFORCED by men who have been
hidden below, and the former lazy coast
ers glide swiftly along, propelled not
only by their sails but by long and pow
erful oars.
The doomed vessel is quickly sur
rounded by the pirates, and cannonade
soon brings her masts and yards crash
inc 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
''iingalS'' that leave an unquenchable
fire and Supplying smell wherever
they fall: the defense grows more feeble,
and now. running alongside, the pirates
board. and Slav all of the crew that may
survive. BY the busy hands of the plum
dererS the cargo is soon removed, hole
Is bored under 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
The pirate coasters repair their dam
ages, send the guns below, divide the
booty and dispense. If the battle has
been heard by cruiser, she hastenS in
its direction and meets with two OF three
easy-going traders who are apparently
unconscious of any such thing Us piracy
near them. If any sign Of the conflict
remains about them, and an explanation
is required, some plausible story is al
ways ready in which they are represent
ed as the real sufferers. Complaints
against all robbers are intermiXed with
cunningly invented directions to the
man-of-war, which is soon in hot chase
of an imaginary foe.
/ If caught, these pirates meet with
prompt punishment, which. Is always
/ death. knowing this, they will fight
/ fiercely, if discovered by Il man-of-war
while attacking Il vessel, and many IN
stances are recorded where all the MEM
bers of a pirate crew have destroyed
/ themselves in preference to an ignomini-
Gus death which they knew they would
meet if captured.
/ A vovager on the waters of the East
often finds it difficult, when he sees the
/ Chinese trading vessels sailing peaceful
/ " around him, with their gay streamers
and picturesque sails, and their gongs
sounding a salute as his vessel passes
them, to imagine that many of them are
pirates, and that if a suitable opportunity
were offered them to make an attack,
the vessel he is on would never see port
again But if he should happen to I'M
agine such thing, his fears would prob
ably be well founded, for the records OF
the Chinese coast service are filled with
accounts of vessels which have been at
tackled and destroyed by pirates that
were cruising about in the guise Of just
such Misunderstanding traders as he sees
about him.-,St. Nicholas for September.