The Irish standard., 1892-05-28
CHIMES y ]! ]! |. PIRATES.
New Methods Adopted by the
Monaghan Marauders.
Tho Introduction of Steam Has Com
PEELED Them to Resort to Trickery
In Order to Carry on Their
Nefarious Business.

i
I PEELED Them to Resort to Trickery
In Order to Garry on Their
Nefarious business.
The last year in China has been one
OF many piratical depredations. In for
mer years Chinese pirates were the
scourge of the eastern seas, and no mer-
chant vessel ever sailed for 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 Japan letter to
the New York Times, piracy was at it's
height, but since the introduction Of
steam the chances of a piratical junk
overtaking vessel have been reduced
to almost nothing, and hence the de-
cline. Much must also be attributed to
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 a decided
increase over recent years In the num-
Der of depredations committed by
pirates, and this species of outlawry
seems to be again reviVing. The recent
attacks on the British steamer Namoa
and on many smaller vessels warrant
this belief.
The junk being no longer able to
overhaul steamer, the pirates nave
taken a new method of getting posses
sion Of a vessel They now go on board
i'm large numbers as passengers, and
when well out from port make sudden
attack upon the officers and crew and
thus get possession of the vessel, often
only after putting the entire ships COM
pany to DEATH This has been the case
with several vessels leaving Hong Kong
for other ports, and was Of frequent oc-
c1,rrence on the various river steamers
plving between the Yang-tse-Kiang and
its tributaries.
So great die. this style of piracy be.
come on the Yang tse-Kiang during the
last summer that special vessels of war
were detailed to keep an espionage over
the passengers (Chinese) going on
board the steamers, and the various
consuls of the owners concerned adj
vised and urged that a guard Of soldiers
be taken on board each vessel for pro-
lection against the acts Of these des~
peradoes Several steamers were 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
ings at each port on the Yang-tse~hiang
every Chinese passenger is examined
thoroughly and his name taken before
being allowed to GO on board a steamer.
The effect of this precaution has been
to greatly check ali recent piratical at
tacl1s upon these vessels and TO turn
Ehe field Of action to another part OF
Chinsa--t}e southern coast.
The island OF Hainan has for many
wears been d gathering place fo1' various
bands of these outlaws, who would
from it's shores sally out and attack
such vessels as came within their reach
and then return tx, the security afforded
hv the mountain Businesses OF the isl
and. So great became the annoyance
70 shipping that the imperial govern
ment has just dispatched an expedition
against all pirates infesting this Sec
ton. MANY severe encounters have
taken place, the pirates knowing that
if captured they would be immediately
beheaded 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 be expected from them for
some time.
In one of the captured strongholds
was found a paper containing thirty
six articles for the ruling Of the bands,
which are all 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 rneat. which has always
heretofore been prone to believe that
the koioi Hui tinSurrectiOnary society,"
was the only one in China which had
a completely thorough organization. 1t
will prove to China that with an estab-
lished organization there will be very
quickly as strong a nest Of pirates again
infesting these coasts as those which
she has only just rooted out, and that
the sending Of expeditions spasmodical-
ly to attack them VIII have only tenn
pora,,v and never permanent checking
effects. That such a state Of things
should exist is disgrace to the empire.
which from many points of view has
claims to very creditable 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.
AN International Calamity.
An awful! thing recently happened in
New York. A celebrated creator of cos
tunes designed charming ball dress
for New York woman, and basely
made its counterpart for Partisan
resident, not thinking that the twins
1sro,,ld GUAR n, cot saus London EirarN