Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-13
TIE CHINESE PIRATES.
Betaiis OF the Daring Seizure of ihe British
Steamer Gre, hound.

~ - N1tfA' ~ - 80 - %~H~'
Details OF the Daring Seizure of she British
Steamer Gre, hound.
San Francisco Chronicle, Move mber GOTH
The British steamer Greyhound, OF
London, was captured by Chinese
pirates on October 18th when seventy
miles from Hong Kong and about thirty
miles from the Ladrone Islands, the
historical hunting grounds Of the Kwang-
tung pirates. She sailed for HOikow
with general cargo, 100 Chinese pas
sengers, and a crew Of 30. The fol-
lowing account is condensed from the
China Mail
While the Chinese crew were at din
ner in the forecastle and the passengers
were between decks a number Of Chi
nese who had been disguised a. pas
sengers suddenly came on deck and
began firing at the white officers. The
latter ran toward the saloon amidshipS,
where their weapons were stored. As
they raj forward they were fired at by
several Of the men, and the second Off
Ger received no less than seven bullet
wounds, and the chief engineer two be-
fore he reached the fore hold, where
they took refuge.
The chief officer succeeded in reach
ing the cabin below, where ne obtained
revolver. The captain was less for
tunate. Before he could reach the
chart-room. where his revolver was,
his assailants poured yolley into him.
lie was pinned against the chart-room
by one of the pirates, while another
drove a long knife into his breast.
They then lifted him up and threw him
overheard, and fred at him even after he
was in the water. The second engineer
was forced to come out his room andrun
the engines, a guard standing over him
with a cooked pistol. Four shots were
fired at the Chinese purser, but he
made his peace with the pirates by
handing over a valuable jadestOne
bracelet. The chief officer was re-
quested to give up the keys of the trea-
sure chest or he would be murdered. The
officer acceded to this request, and he
was put in the forehold with the other
passengers.
The pirates were now in full posses
sion of the ship. Two men with re-
volvers kept the bridge and compelled
the regular quartermasters to turn the
ship about and steer in the direction oil
Hong-Koug. With the greatest non
chalance they now and then scanned
the horizon with the Captains binocu-
lars, and once when they saw apasslng
steamer and some junks they ordered
the Grey hound to be steered away from
them. Sometimes, also, although they
did not seem to understand the use of
the telegraph" they would order
the engines to be stopped, to
20 halfspeed and so on, appar-
entity for sheer deyilment. While
these two were thus employed
on the bridge the other members Of the
band, which is estimated to have num-
bsred between thirty and forty, were
ransackiDg the captains and officers
cabins, the saloon, and chart-room,
taking everything Of value and easily
portable. Money and jewelry were
the most favored articles. The drawers
that were locked were pried open.
The treasure, amounting to $4,000,
was carried off, and they also had the
audacity to take away the watches,
bangles, and earrings from the passen-
gers, and even rifle them. The only
part of the cargo taken was a box Of
opium. Altogether the property and
money taken is valued at 10000.
All these articles were collected to-
gether for transhipment, and about
dusk, when the steamer had made her
way back to within forty miles Of Hong
Kong, and was quite near Man-san, one
ofthe LadrOnes, three junks came along
side in answer to the pirates signals.
The plumber was transferred to the
iuDks. During the time the booty was
being transferred some Of the lead
ing spirits, after having ordered
the engines to be stopped, went
down into the engine-room, or
dered all the steam to be blown off,
compelled the fremen to draw the fires,
and then removed some Of the most
necessary parts of the engine, render
ing the ship utterly helpless. Among
other things they took away the lever
Of the feed-pump and a number of the
brasses and threw them overheard.
They also stove in all the four boats, SO
that no one could leave the ship.
To complete their work one Of them
proposed that they should set fire to
the ship. Another, rore merciful, ap-
parently, suggested that as they had
got good deal Of plumber and the ship
was helpless, they should give the
many unfortunate people chance Of
being picked up by some passing steamer
Ii was noticeable that the pirates took
care not to call each other by their pro-
per names. Nearly all could speak q
little English, and one Of the men, who
was apparently leader, spoke English
Portuguese, and Chinese. Two Of thu
pirates, injured by the promiscuou'
shooting, were taken off by their com
rades.
All three junks were two-mastei snt
| resembled strongly the ordinary typ
Of salt smugglers. The two with tn