The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-08-07
Piratical Plot to Seize a Mail steame

What there is every reason to believe would
have been. had it come to perfection. one OF the
most terrible tragedies OF modern times, was, n
one may believe circumstantial evidence, prevent
ed by the shearest luck on board a steamer trad,
ing to this port. The steamer BOUen. which az
rived on June IL at Hongkong, makes "A report
which takes ones breath away. and gives every
Que connected with shipping trade in the East u
solemn warning as to how Chinese passengers. who
have been well described as a volcano which may
break ont at any moment. are TO be regarded. Tiis
steamer took on board at Singapore ONE AZ pas
sengers. There were on board before that, 3lS
passengers from Australia. There had been a Fu-
NOR of some attempt being premeditated TO attack
this particular steamer. and the Chinese ageat of
the company, whose duty it is to interest himrelf
in all Chinese rumors floating about concern iur
the company. informed the head OF the firm Of the
agents. A telegram was dispatched TO Singap0rp.
intended to convey to the captain Of the BoUce b
warning. requesting him to be careful as 10 what
class of Chinese be took on board there bat tiat
telegram seems TO have mi Used its mark some way
or other. and was meaningless or uuintelligiblu or
was not regarded as seriously special by the cap
tain. No precautions. therefore,, were taken 10
test who or what the Chinese passengers were who
came on board at Singapore. Some AZ. as We
have said, took passage. The BOoen, from this
point. can best tell her own story. This is tbs
official report published in the China Mail. On
the 9Th inst, at l.30 p. M latitude 1900 N. long
itude lll.20 E.. Chang Sioy. the Chinese inteFp re-
ter, reported that the Singapore passengers CA
in number) were pirates. and intended setting fire
W $500 bAo&NNA0 oNEPN o1 WV hHA Y HN
heard talking to that effect. An examination W.s
then made below. but the Singapore Chinese pas
sengers were so scattered amongst the 3I3 Oh ,aese
passengers that they could not be readily iden.i
fed. The interpreter was then ordered TO picE
them out and muster them and their effects or tte
poOp-hoase. He FIRST brought up eight or ten chop
pers. a house breaking tool and a box. for oil ID
which no owners could be found. On openiDg The
box 1t was found to contain rs packages of pow
der. about l 10 weight each. all with fuse attach
ed. As the matter then seemed serious, all hands
were mustered. and armed. and the Sing pore
Chinese brought up and secured. A further
search disclosed another box containing eleven
loaded revOlvers Of different sorts and size, alsO
ammunition to fit same. a bundle Of touch paper,
and a Chinese ships compass. On examining toe
Singapore Chinese. IL gave satisfactory account OF
themselves, but Is who could not do SO, and had
neither money nor luggage, were put into place o
safety, with an armed gnard over them night and
cay antil arrival, when they were handed over t.
the authorities. The hatch OF &c Cinnamon con
ceraed were a~rraigned at the Hongkong Poles
Court. on the lIth June, on a charge Of having
c~onspired together to practically rob the Britisl
steamer Boscen, on a passage between SingaEcr
and Hongkong, on or about THE 7h inst. af
evidence taken, when the prisoners were q
remanded.