The morning call., 1891-02-04
CHINA AND JAPAN.
Alarming Spread of Piracy in
Chinese Waters.
TroublOus Times in Japan Arrest of a Gang
OF Rufians-The Diet Bound to Reduce
the Estimates.

The steamship Gaelic arrived from China
and japan at al early hour last evening.
From Hong-Kong papers of January 10Th
and from Yokohama exchanges of January
20 h the following items are taken:
China.
The Seventh Prince, father of the En-
perol of China. died last week. He was on
the whole a liberal-minded man, said to be
supporter OF the progressive party, and his
death. after that Of the Marquis Tseng, is a
serious loss to China.
Port Arthur. as naval station, is said to
be failure, its only use being for docking
purposes.
An Imperial Naval College, under the
charge uf Europeans, has been opened at
Marking.
The Tartar-General, Lieutenant General
and Governor-Gentral for the past two
weeks have been reviewing the Manchu and
Chinese troops in Canton City. The soldiers
presented a fine appearance with their flags
and gittering arms.
In Canton City pound of powder with a
lighted fuse attached was found in the door
way of wealthy resident 1t was dis
covered in time to prevent the explosion.
Numerous robbPIies are reported from all
parts of the city. The people keep watch
every night on their own account
The railway between Taipeh Flu and kee-
lung has been completed and it was decided
to start the cars at the beginning Of winter.
Heavy storms, however, prevailed and hun
dreds Of feet of the track have been washed
away. The work of repairing the damage is
now going on with great activity. The pen
ing TO traffic will probably be delayed till
spring.
Ningpo correspondent Of the Shanghai Mer-
curry, on the 9th December, 1.-TWO war-junks
came upon a band of pirates. thirteen in
number, in a small boat, in the vicinity of
Shei-pOo Roads. The pirates mistook the
war-junkS for merchant boats, so they at
once opened fire. They soon discovered their
mistake, however, as the soldiers on board
the War-1unkS opened u brisk fire in retur II :;
the old matCh-lUcks of the pirates were soon
silenced by the rifles OF the soldiers and The
former now considering discretion the bet
ter part of Yalor tried to retire by jumping
into the water, but the mandarin with his
soldiers boarded the boat aud came to close
quarters. The result was that six were
seized, the rest making good their escape by
jumping INTO the water and making for the
shore. Four of the prisoners, being
mortally wounded, were decapitated, and
their heads, along with the other
wo prisoners, were brought into the
city here and handed over to the au III critics.
Shortly afterward the heads were taken out
and exposed in public places so that the evil
disposed on seeing them might take warn
iHg. A few days prior to the above date
esd a boat loaded with rice IHas boarded
3.
From the above il seems evident that piracy
IS still rampant along this part of the Chin
csc coast. AS our Nlngpo steamers carry
10 and fro a considerable amounted treasure
tue vigilance OF the Police has been greatly
increased since the NamOa incident. The
luggage of the native passengers is carefully
OveThanled and ali suspicious characters
well searched.
a native paper says: AS reported a few
days ago native boat laden with $1,000 in
copper cash was overturned in the river, OPP
posite the Kin-lee-yuen Wharf, Shanghai
last week. n native diver was employed to
recover the money, and was paid % cents for
every thousand cash lie brought up. He
went down several times, but failed to re-
cover single cash, so now il has been de-
cided TO call in foreigner and pay him 40
cents per thousand cash recovered.
The following ddtlonal particulars of the
burning Of the steamer Shanghai are taken
from the North China News of December
10Th: The Kianggu arrived on Saturday
from the Yangtze, having passed the Shang-
bai On Friday afternoon and anchored close
10 her. Some OF the ShanghaPs native
passengers and compradOre's staff went on
board and were brought back to Shanghai.
The wreck was still burning, bat the New
cllwang was alongside pumping on the fire
III the after part Of the steamer. AL that
remain above the iron deck OF the Shanghai
are the funnel, walking beam, rudder- post
and the paddle-boxes. Many bodies were
htti dlOuR lllt SuUlC WIN VI COl-
fms close to them. At Chinkiang it was re-
ported that when the Shanghai left that port
She had On board 4S0 passengers, among
them being a number of officials on their
way to Marking and number OF women
aud children, hone of whom appear to have
been saved.
1he Shenpao mentions the report thai
among The passengers on the Inflated
steamer Shanghai was Chinese theatrical
troupe on Its way to Kiukiang, and there
were also soma expectant taotais, projects,
ana district magistrates going to Marking
70 attend the funeral Of the late Viceroy
I'seng Kuo- chuan.
1t Is rumored that his Honor Chen, the
acting magistrate Of the Paoshan District,
was among the passengers of the steamer
Shanghai. he was last seen with his cloth
Ing ailame from head to foot. A later report
states that the Magistrate though injured