The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-07-22
[ESE PIRATES.
New Methods Adopted by the
MOngOlian Marauders.
The Introduction Of steam Has Conn
p.!Ied Them t. Resort to TriCkcry
In Order to Garry ON Their
NcfariOu~ business.

The last year in China has been one
of many piraticaa depredntions- In for
mer years Chinese pirates We're the
scourgc Of the eastern seas, and no mcr-
chant vessel ever sailed Tor this section
of the globe unless carrying a supply OF
firearms and CutlaSseS for defense
against such attacks. In the days of
sailing vessels, says a Japan letter To
the New York Times, piracy was at ITS
height but since the Introduction OF
steam the chances Of piratical junk
overtdking a vessel have been reduced
to almost nothing. and hence the dt-
cline Much must also bc attribute 70
the many captures and severe punish
ments meted out by the various foreign
gunboats cruising in search OF them.
But the last year has shown decided
increase over recent years in the num-
Der of deprcdationS committed by
pirates. and this species Of outlavry
seems to bC again r"vivlng. The recent
attacks on the British steamer Namoa
and on many smaller vessels warrant
this belief
The Junk being no longer able to
overhaul a steamer, the pirates have
taken "A new method Of getting possess
sion of a vessel They now go on board
when well ont from port make a sudden
attack upon the officers and crew and
thus ret possession of the vessel. often
only after putting the entire ships COM
panv to death. This has been the case
with several vessels leaving Hong Kong
for other ports. and was of frequent oc-
currence on the various river steamers
PLYING between the Iang-tsc-kiang and
its tributaries.
80 great did this style of piracy be
come ON the Yaur-tsc- Kiang during the
last summer that special vessels of war
were detailed to keep an espionage over
the pa~Scn'rrrs Chinese going on
board the steamers. and the various
cOnSuls Of the owners concerned adj
viscd and urged that guard Of soldiers
be taken ON board each vessel for pro-
lection against the acts of these dcS-
pcradocS Several steamers We're run
aground and some set on fire through
the efforts Of these men. and So bold
and frequent became their attacks that
extraordinary measures were taken to
check them. Now at the customs land
ingO at each port on the Nang-tSc-klorg
every Chinese passenger is cNamlreI
thoroughly and his name taken before
being allowed To- 60 ON board a steamer
The effect of this prccaution has been
to greatly check all recent pjratical at
tackS upon these vessels and to turu
the field of action 10 another part OF
China-thc southern coast.
The island of IEainan has for many
years been Il gathering place for various
bands of these outlaws who would
from its shores sally out and attack
such vessels as came within theirreIch
and then return To the security afforded
10y the mountain faStnes-cs Of the isl
and. 50 great became the annoyance
to shipping that the imperial govern
ment has Just dispatched an expedition
against all pirates iufcsting this sec
ton. Many severe encounters have
taken place the pirates Knowing that
if captured they would be Immediately
bcheadcd, and several hundred lives
are reported as lost on both sides. The
pirates are thought to have been very
thoroughly rooted out and no serious
trouble may bc expected from them for
some time.
In one Of the captured strongholds
was found 4 paper containing thirty
six articles for the ruling of the bands.
which are an under one main leader,
and giving the names of each member
belonging to the various bands, The
discovery was quite surprise to the
general govern ment. which has always
heretofore been prone 10 believe that
the EoIoi Hui Gnsurrectionary society
was the only one in China which had
a completely thorough organization. 1t
viii prove to China that with an eStab-
lished organization there viii be very
c;;,ss;;G1rlz35, a. stronga nest of pirates again
infcstiug these coasts as those which
she ha, only just rooted out. and that
the sending of expeditions spasmodical-
ly 10 attack them win have only tenn
porary and never permanent checking
effects That such a state Of things
should exist i a disgrace to the empire,
which from many points of view has
claims to very crcditable degree of
civilization, and whose statesmen are
ever ready To speak Of China as on an
equality with or even superior to the
civilization of western nations.