Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-02-20

aIter tne usual trouble in scraping "A
ships company together, and then drill
ing them into something like working
order, was ready for~sea.
"The Chinese authorities had consid-
cred that 1t would be as well to make the
trial trip pay expenses, IL possible, by ex-
tending the tests SO as to ascertain what
the ginboat was good for in action. At
that time the mouth Of Pearl river was
infested by piratical junks, which found
shelter and easy means Of escape in the
numerous small islands and estuaries into
which the delta of that stream Ii divided.
The pirates usually confined their atten-
tions TO the craft Of their own country
men. but occasionally when the grist was
very short or the opportunity very tempt
ing, they would attack some small foreign
merchantmen; and, in these cases, they
made IL rule to kill every soul ON board,
as the simplest way Of preventing those
awkward foreign protests which were
sure TO stir the mandarins mp to serious
crusade against them.
You, of course, understand that nj
racy in China is not regarded as helm
ous crime. The Mongolian view of the
business Is pretty much that which all
the western nations held in the Sixteenth
and Seventeenth centuries; only there is
less romance and more practicability
about the pigtails. Very respectable
Chinese business men interest themselves
in piracy along the Kwangtung coast,
just rs staid old English merchants used
to interest themselves in smuggling a
hundred years ago, and nobody thinks
the worse of q man for having been
pirate, provided he has been lucky at
1t. As to the taking Of life, there is
SO much superfiuous humanity in China,
and life there is so little worth living for
the majority, that public opinion is quite
Indifferent on the subject.
while had been drumming up my
crew in Canton had fallen in with an
American skipper who had for some time
been sailing good sized coaster for
wealthy Chinese house. He had his wife
with him, and they We're both very pleas
ant people He was Cape Cod man, not
pretty 10 look at, for he had the leanest
frame and the biggest hands and feet /
ever saw. His hands. especially, would
have attracted attention anywhere. not
only for their size, but for the look OF
the latent muscular power in them. He
was not one of those disagreeable big
fisted men who think it good joke to
crush your fingers in shaking hands
with you, but when he did shake hands
with restrained, friendly grip you felt
the possibilities of his squeeze plainly
enough. You win see later on why /
dwell upon this physical popularity OF
Capt. Winsur, for that was his name.
His wife, fancy, must have come from
the south. At all events she had n
southern eomplexion-a clear pallor--
with black eyes and hair and a southern
snppleness and grace of bearing. She
WAS not exactly pretty woman, but
decidedly pleasing. and her composure
and quiet, gentle manners won upon
you steadily. Both of them spoke Chi
nese auentlyt and they gave favorable
account Of the people.
'sThey had special pet in q Chinese
steward named Tin-Ling. burly. round
faced fellow, who would have passed
muster anywhere for an honest man but
for his eyes. They struck me as treach-
erous from the first. He never looked
anybody squarely in the face, or en-
countered steady glance without
sqnirtning. | concluded. however, that
his employers understood him. and, any
how. iI was no affair of mine. My ac-
qnaintance with the Winsars lasted
until the captains vessel, u small bark
named the So kiang, was ready 10 sail
on one of her regular coasting cruises.
She would he away some three months,
and would visit number of little ports
| expected to get away about forty-eight
hours after her, and the evening before
she left took supper aboard her with
the skipper and we drank a farewell
glass. As was going away happened
to see Tin-Ling leaning over the side
talking in a low tone to some rough
looking men in sampan alongside, and
in q half joking way | said:
'Winsar, don't you think yon trust
that fellow too tluch? II were in your
place. with nobody about me but Chi
nese, | should keep pretty sharp eye
upon fellow with eyes as shifty as his. ;
.'The captain laughed carelessly, and
merely said something about Tin-Ling
being all right, and so we parted.
.'ln due time | got away on my gun
boat, and down the river we went, the
machinery working smoothly and the
boat answering her helm smartly. We
were armed with two Armstrong guns
of small caliber and couple of Gatlipgs
for close quarters, besides the usual small
arms. rockets, etc.--qnite enough to keep
of any number of Chinese pirates. or TO
give a good account of them in square
eet-to. 1t was my intention TO begin by
exploring the hooks and crannies of the
Pearl river delta, and | had taken a
pilot ian old piratel who knew tl.ose in
tricate waters thoroughly.
I'VE reached the mouth of the river,
anchored for the night, and next morn
ing at daybreak hove up and began TO
thread the creeks and estuaries of that
region, OF course with due caution and
the lead always going. The first day
brought no grist to my mill. and that
evening brought up between two islets,
and, being doubtful of the neighborhood,
! kept a boats crew rowing guard AL
night. for 1t was 10 dark In there that
the pirates might have surrounded Us
without being seen. provided they were
quiet enough. However. we were not
disturbed, and the second day opened
without much prospect of excit ement.
Probably the pirates had rot wind Of
our expedition and had made themselves
scarce In any e.tse there was nothing
DO do but to 10 on. and on we went