Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-16
THEIR HEARTS EATEN.
Chinese Villagers Wreak Vengeance
Upon Pirates.
TWO JUNKS' CREWS MASSACRED.
Only Two Escaped from the Ves-
sells Alive, and Their Hearts
Were Cut Out and, After Being
Cooked, Were Eaten by the
Relatives of Men Who Had
Murdered by Pirates.

SAN Francisco, March l5-The
steamship Rio De Janeiro arrived to-
day from Yokohama and Hong Kong.
A Yokohama paper prints the follow
ing account OF the extermination Of
band OF pirates In Chinese village last
January: On the 18th OF January, two
piratical crafts having ran into one OF
the numerous inlets In the vicinity OF
the city of Shehpu called at Fan Tu for
shelter. Some of the pirates landed, os-
tensibly for the purpose of making a
few purchases, but most likely 70 see
whether any "business" could be done
In their particular calling. Probably the
rufiians thought that they and their
junks were sufficiently disguised and so
thought that by merely Informing the
shops at which they called that they
were traders who had run In for tenn
porary shelter, they could allay suspi-
cions concerning their real calling.
But as Fan-Tu had suffered repeatedly
from depredations OF the numerous
sea pirates along the coast OF
Chekiang and had lost some OF
their number at the hands OF
the desperadoes IL so happened that
some OF the pirates who landed that day
were recognized by the INHABITANTS OF
the village, who however held their
tongues while the pirates we're In sight
No sooner had the men returned 10
their junks than the alarm was silently
given, and the principal men OF the
village called upon two brothers who
were officers belonging TO one OF the
regiments garrisoning Nlngpo.
At consultation held, the brothers
were asked to lead body OF their fellow
villagers who had determined to wreak
summary vengeance on their nnwelcome
and frequent visitors.
Accordingly, 800 well armed villagers
surprised the pirates during the raging
OF the storm In the early hours OF the
morning. The two pirate Junks were
surrounded. In another minute the
two iunks swarmed with the dark fig
ures OF the villagers, who amidst the
shouts OF their comrades on the shore
burst open the hatches and doors OF the
cat ms, and poured stream o$ lets
apon the fifty or sixty pirates whoVgre
huddied together for warmth on Ne,
lower decks OF the junks.
Thoroughly taken by surprise, hard
ly any resistance was made. all OF the
pirates but two being almost hacked In
TO mIncemeat by the exasperated VIII
layers who had suffered so often before
from pirates.
The two pirates who were not treated
this way, however, were TO be made
away with in different manner. IL
seemed that among the many villagers
who had been killed by the pirates
ON different occasions there happened
TO be one who was u son OF the patriarch
OF the village, and so at day
light the two pirates, escorted by
the whole community, were led 10 the
grave OF the young man, and after be-
ing secured 10 couple OF stakes, put
up for the purpose, two OF the nearest
relatives OF the dead man plunged their
knives into the breasts OF the unlucky
pirates, aud ripping open their bodies
extricated their hearts. which were
then put. smoking hot, on plate and
placed on the table, upon which we're
already lighted candles and an incense
burner.
While ali this was going on the To-
male relatives OF the deceased, dressed
In mourning colors Of white, were gath
cred by the side OF the grave crying and
calling out 10 the spirit OF the dead 70
receive the sacrifice that was being Of
fered, as vengeance had been taken on
his murderers. The offerings were left
at the grave at the end OF the ghastly
ceremonies, and the villagers proceeded
TO ransack the piratIcal junks after
having first thrown the bodies over
board into the sea.
The plunder from the iunks, gold,
silver. cash and silks. satlns and rice
was then equally divided among the
families who had ever suffered az the
hands OF the pirates previously, and 80
a finale OF the last act Of the tragedy the
iunks were towed into the stream and
set on fire aud burned 20 the waters
edge.
The bodies Of the two victims OF the
sacrifice were thrown into the sea, while
their hearts were Afterwards cooked
and eaten by the dead mans relatives
whoever desired 10 do so.