San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-01-16
A CAPTURED SHIP.

In the year 1860 a British steamer
called the Fairfax arrived at Shanghai
in distress, and upon investigation her
damages were found to be SO extensive
that she was sold to corporation known
as "The Golden Tea company" 1t was
composed of five British tea houses, and
it had four coasting vessels in its trade.
This steamer was wanted to establish q
line to the Lioo-Kioo islands in the Pa
cific ocean, but more particularly to the
island of Kiu-Siu, where the company
intended to establish branch headquar-
ters.
The Fairfax was side wheeler of
about 600 tons burden, and noted as being
very fast She was changed about a
great deal in making repairs, and when
went aboard of her as q wheelsman
found several things to excite my Curl
osity. The cabin had been done away
with, and in its place was an officers
messroom aft and comfortable dining
room for the men forward. The space
between was used for berths and storage.
| noticed that great deal of the interior
woodwork was covered 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 inclosed, and
when l came to the wheelhouse was
surprised to find it so arranged that iron
shutters hung on the inside could be
closed to make q little fortress of the
place. Two rifles and pair of revolvers
comprised the armament. When came
to ask questions of the mate he informed
me that we were going among lawlcss
and desperate lot, and were prepared for
any emergency. In addition to what |
had seen he showed me a six pound field
piece ON the promenade deck and n 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 en-
tirely of white men-English, American.
German and French sailors, who had
been picked up in Shanghai. The cook,
steward and stokcr5 were natives, and
ON each trip we carried quite n 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 VIC had sixty native pas
sengers. / remarked ON the singular
fact that all were men, and the mate
explained matters by saying it was a re-
ligious body on their way 10 a famous
temple situated on tho island we were
bound for. They looked b me like a
crafty, vi,lain0us lot, and my fellow
whcclsIuar, who vas an American
named White, predicted that We should
have trouble with them before the voy-
age was over. We had scarcely LEFT
port before We saw o. Is that all our uca- .
pous were loaded, and we got ''thclgng- ]
of the iron blind 81 that We could shut .
them quickly. One e o. wouh clr- .
taiulv Dc iu tho y.heaiiou=e. M matter .
al what hour trouble might come.
As the steamer only had small lad
Of freight, and that was an in the holi. .
the PARTY Il native uere quarterel on .
The lower deck. The weather was very .
mzd arl they diI r1t Deel covering. .
TIE distance from -llal-i-i o. KIu-siI .
! af.8st - mias IS ue left pat at g .
5-cl1ck on the morning. ami arersred
twelve ufIes rlT llllr unfil tlle Lert
lsoruing. us were Frsity fairly aerl=s
the t5- lay or STRAITS created night there
d. tfe lrF & tle co.'s and the locafiou