The sun., 1889-11-24
.nnn nronrEs OF TEE RREsEnr DA1.
u.,- Cersaa Pirates Capturea = BFItish
Steamer.

Steamer.
In the year 1859 British steamer called
cha Fairfax arrived at Shanghai in distress,
snd upon Investigation her damages were
toupd 10 bo so extensive that she was sold to q
.ornoration known as THE Golden Tea Com
nsnv." It was composed OF Ave British tea
housss and II had four coasting vessels In its
trade. This steamer was wanted TO establish
line to the Lioo-K Kioo Islands. in the Pacific
Ooean, but moro particularly to the island Of
Kiu.siu, whore the company intended to estab-
llSh branch headquarters.
The Fairfax was q side-wheeler OF about
600 tons burden. and noted as being very fast,
she was hanged about great deal in making
repairs, and when went aboard OF her as
vheelsman found several things to excite my
curiosity. The cabin had been done away with.
and in its place was an officers messroom aft
and q comfortable dining room for the mon
forward. The space between was used for
berths and storage. noticed that a great
deal OF the interior wood work was Gov
cred with heavy sheet iron, which had been
painted to resemble wood. The doors were
very heavy. and were further protected by
metal The engine room was entirely enclosed
and whom came to the wheelhouse / was
surprised to ind It 30 arranged that iron shut
ters hung on the inside could be closed to make
little fortress Of the place. Two rifles and
pair Of revolvers comprised the armament.
Whom came to ask questions Of the mate he
informed me that wo were going among law
less and desperate lot and were prepared for
any emergency. In addition to what 1 had
seen he showed me six-pound field piece on
tue promenade deck and score or more Of
rifles in room set apart for an armory.
The steamer made her first and second trips
without adventure. The crew In each instance
was composed almost entirely OF white men
English, American. German. and French
sailors, who had been picked pp in Shanghai.
Tho cook steward and stokers were natives,
and on each trip we carried quite q number Of
native passengers. On the third trip about
one-half OF the white crew had to be replaced
by natives. and when we left Shanghai We had
sixty native passengers. 1 remarked on the
singular fact that all were men and the mate
EXPLAINED matters by saying it was q religious
body on their way to o famous temple situated
10 me IKE a crafty, villainous lot. and my fel.
low wheelsman. who was an American named
with tbs@ 6eore The voyage was over Ne
all our weSpons were loaded, and we got e the
hang" Of the iron blinds so that we could shut
them quickly. One Of us would certainly be in
the wheolhouse, no matter ut what hour trouble
As the steamer only, had a, small load of
freight, and that was all in the hold. the party
natives were On t6e .boS Swer dec
10 ns0S RSosa e about two SsndPed ana 9
mofning, oe "a and averaged @ twelve miles per hour our
lS @ Ss !, SS SS sg Ss 81 eSs sSs h Sosd s
O'clock: 4 was then fairly dESiyliG6s M and The
ported that there was nothing new;
scSrc S EsRs S wSsn roso % He M uhss hs
out on the bows reported them to Iii: Graham.
shal cry of Murder @ followed By two pistol
irOaSio was a. hand I rang the bell Tor the the
and was mot too
lowed by Explanations of anger and dIsap-
warn the engineer, and he speedily Informed
mo that he had made himself close prisoner.
bdS Sn sF do%n WITH S6E
deck saw the dead bodies OF the mate and
lookout lying there and covered with blood
arose from tho lower ,decf. followed By PISTOL
Eretches ! U were s @urdering the White men as
fast as they could get to them. They left me
T CT ne hour %p Then den
Hne% Them S to be coreans. They % ealsd to me
sesson 81 tSe had fi Eed but
Of the crew, and that my life. would be spared
nicated with the engineer, found that he was
all right. and he added that the Captain and
some Of the crew were IN ths arm3Pry ,P and pre-;
the pirates that could not think OF surrender
and as they began battering at the door with a
out and Killed one and wounded another before
they could get out OF range.
that wi was W at o our backs. The two junEs were Se
coming down slowly. having to make frequent
taoks, and when about mile and half away
put-up job between the two parties. and all
the details were thoroughly understood. The
vent an exposion. % and asked him 10 hold last last
and give me show to carry ont plan which
they. got the signal. They had murdered the
chief. who was an, Engllshman, as also the
mace doors shut as they rushed up :, on
deck to Join in the murderops melee.
M Ve rs As soon as the en
nser understood, what ! wanted he started
ahead. and took the wheel and brought the
We were headed about north One Of the junEs
was headed southeast on her tack. the other
side on to me We went ahead at moderate
speed. as did not Eant 70 alarm arr them; The
natives on board gatnoroQ In the DOWS ana be-
gan waving cloths and hats as a warning to
the junke, The people on the latter must have
argued that the steamer was in the hands OF
their friends. for they fred their Iingals and
waved their cloths In reply.
Iheld for the Junk headed to the southeast,
and she at once lowered Der sail to wait for the
steamer to como up. When within quarter
Of mile OF her rang the bell for the engineer
to 60 aSsHd a: FIJI Spssd sRd the
most upon the junk before the people OWNED
long-drawn shout OF terror. held the steam
SsT for her broadside, and she divided that Junk
like tho two halves OF an apple falling away
from knife. exnected Grea: shoot; but
bad run down yGwl I believe she held at
least fifty men. 4 great cry went, ur as we
passed, and when had headed the steamer
around not more than half 2 dozen OF tho poor
ing to fragments OF the wreck and tossing
about. gave the engineer information Of how
We had succeeded and told him proposed TO
e2rve the other Junk tho same yay, Tho ma;
tfsos aboard the steamer seemed helpless and
terror stricken at frat, but when they realized
my plan they moved TO prevent It,. They ran
down and opened the furnace doors to lower the |
Ete9m, and gang OF six or eight attacked tho |