Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-01-14
A. Mariners Ga,s.
KsH,'S Ono Hundred Pirates susp"ndsa
simultaneously from the Yard-Arm'


simultaneously from tie Yard-Arfn'
eyes, suppose three at time is
quite affair hanging, remarked aretir-
ed old salt who had circumnavigated
the globe seven times, and whose home
had been on the briny sea for thirty
six years-"quite fair hlnging that
Is in a retail way-but il amt a cir.
cumstance to the Wholesale send-of !
witnessed once in China. A cigarf
Thanks-dont care il do" said the
ancient mariner, and lighting II ne
took q few pulls Mt the weed and ms
memory, and settled himself IN MS
chair 10 relate the following tale.
ut was along about 81 that !
shipped in the German bark La
Mona, bound from Bombay 70
Shanghai. We stopped on the way
at Hue, where we took on board q
party of twenty-three Chinese mer-
chants. They had been to Hue to
dispose of their goods, and were re-
turning to Hong Kong with their pro-
ceeds. All went well until of the Is.
| land OF Hainan, when we got becalmed
and lay floating around under the
tropical air without @ breath OF
! air.
"Along about 8 in the afternoon
| our lookout described O. sad, which
soon developed into fleet Of sixteen
Chinese hunks, whose decks, upon q
nearer approach, could be seen COW
cred with men, which told us without
need OF a flag that they were pirates.
Thinking ourselves lost, as We were
unarmed, but determined to hang on
to life as long as possible, we all made
for between decks and slowed our
selves away in the cargo. We soon
heard the trampling of feet overhead,
the nailingdown of the matches, dull,
grating noise, and all was still.
"Pregently we could hear therush OF
water. the pirates having sctittled. tho
bark by borins-wl!ich accounted Tor
the grating-intending to drown us
like rats in trap. We made a rnsh
for the hatch. but could not move 1t.
We succeeded, however. IN breaking
through the bulk-head that led TO the
forecastle, and reached the deck. The
pirates had taken the Chinese passen-
gers and all our boats except a leaky
one, which, after hasty patching, We
jumped into lowered away, and pulled
for the shore, only a mile of. There
we we're met by a bowling mob, who
caught, beat us, and stripping US o.
every stitch Of clothing, drove US out
of the village, go that we were Obliged
to tramp, with the rays OF the burn
; ing sun blistering our backs, about
e five miles to the Town OF Halnan, or
! the other side OF the island. We went
! directly to the house of the American
4 Consul, who received us kindly
] furnished us with clothing. listened K
our story, and sent for the captain Q
= the United States steamer Asheuiot
}, which was lying in the harbor.
"He took us on hoard, steamed NJ
q to Hong Kong, sent us to the hospital
I and in company with the United
2 States steamer Piscntagua went bacl
. to Hainan, raided the village 10 whlci
we had been so ill-treated, and whicl
V turned out to be the pirates strong
" hold, captured about 500 Chiname
IS ard brought them back to Hong konE
e sent them ashore. and had them fl
e past me and my mates for identified
y ton. We picked out ninety-three
!. them. who were taken back on boar
! the vessels.
y 1.-THE next morning while sitting o
l the hospital piazza, which overlooke
!, the harbor, We heard the sunrise gun
"a the shrill wistle of the boatswain, sa
the ensighs fly TO the peaks, and u
n next morning, as if by magic, from II
N yard arms OF the two men-of-war hur
lg the ninety-three hinamen. Thel
q they hung for half nm hour, swayir
Z: in the breeze, a terrible example
III evil-doers, when they were lowere
'e and the bodies given to their friend
~ "There amt any such hangings nov
ID a-days, concluded the old tar, ''bi
= / never want to see such n sight agai
Ae 1t makes my blood creep every tin
We | think of it, and shall never forg
az it till my diving dav."