The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-16

SAN FRANclsco, March 10, - The
steamship City OF Rio DeJaneiro ar
rived to-day from Yokohama and Hong
Kong.
A Yokohama paper prints tho follow
ing account OF the determination OF a
band Of pirates in Chinese village last
January. On the 10Th OF January last
two piratical crafts, having run into
one Of tho numerous inlets in the vicin-
ity OF the city OF shehpu, called at Fan
Tu for shelter Some Of tbs pirates
landed ostensibly. for the purpose OF
making few purchases, but most like
ly to SEQ whether any "busIness"
could be done in the particular
calling. Probably the rutIians thought
that they and their iunks were sutll-
ciently disguised, and 10 thought that,
by merely Informing the shops ut which
they called that they were traders who
had run in for temporary shelter, they
could allay suspicious concerning their
real calling. But as Fan-ru had suffered
repeatedly from depredotlons OF the
numerous sea pirates along the coast OF
Chekiang, and had lost some OF their
number at the hands OF the despera-
does, it so happened that some OF the
pirates who landed that day were rec.
ognized by the inhabitants OF the vii
lage, who, however, held their tongues
while the pirates we're in sight.
No sooner had the men returned to
their junks than the alarm was silently
given and tho principal mon OF they'll
lage called upon two brothers who were
officers belonging to ono OF the regi-
ments garrisoning Ningpo At con.
sultation held the brothers were asked
TO lead body OF their fellow villagers,
who had determined to wreak summary
vengeance on their unwelcome and ire.
quent visitors.
Accordingly, 800 well-armcd villagers
SURPRISED the pirates during tho raging
of the storm in the early hours Of the
morning. The two pirate junks werc
surrounded. In another minute the
Two junks swarmed with the dark fig
ures OF tho villagers, who, amidst tho
shouts of their comrades on the shore,
burst open the matches and doors OF the
cabins and poured u stream OF bullets
upon the fifty or sixty pirates who were
huddled together for warmth on the
lower decks Of the iunks. Thoroughly
taken by surprise, hardly any resistance
was made, all OF the pirates but two be.
ing almost hacked into mincemeat by
the exasperated villagers who had suf-
iered 80 often before from pirates.
The two pirates who were not treated
this way, however, were to bo made
away with in different manner. 1t
seemed that among the many Villagers
who had been killed by the pirates on
different occasions there happened to
be one who was son OF the patriarch
OF tho village, and go, at daylight, the
two pirates, escorted by the whole
community, we're led to the grave OF
the young man, and after being secured
to a couple Of stakes put up for the pur.
pose, two OF the nearest relatives of the
dead man plunged their knives into the
breasts Of tho unlucky pirates, and rip.
ping open their bodies extricated their
hearts, which were then put, smoking
hot, upon a plate and placed on the
table, upon which were lighted candles
and an incense burner, While all this
wRs going on the female relatives of the
deceased, dressed in mourning colors OF
white, were gathered at tho sido OF tho
grave crying and calling out to
the spirit OF the doad to receive
the sacrifice that was being offered,
as vengeance had boon taken on
his murderers. Tho offerings were loft
Mt the grave at the end OF tho ghastiy
ceremonies and tho villagers proceeded
to ransaCk tho piratical iunks after hay.
ing first thrown tho bodies overheard
into the sea- The plumber from tho
junks-gold, silver, cash, silks, satins
and rice, was thom equally divided
among tho families who had had ever
suffered at the hands OF the pirates pre-.
viously, and as u finale of tho last act OF
the tragedy tho junks were towOd into
the stream aud set on fire and burnt to
the waters Odgo.
Tho bodies OF tho two victims OF tho
sacrifice wore also thrown into tho sea-
viii 10 their hearts we're ntterwa rds
cooked and eaten by tho dead mans re-.
lRtivOs, and whoever desired TO do so.