The San Francisco call., 1898-03-20
Pirates Rout the People of a Village in
 TOnquin.
Russia Backing China in De- nandS to Be Made
 Upon Japan.
Sultan of Johore Badly Wounded by a Cartridge Explosion While
 Hunting.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 
 TACOMA, March 19-The Northern Pacific steamship Victoria arrived this afternoon, bringing Hongkong advices to February 23 and Yokohama advices to March 5.
 An encounter recently took place at Vanhai, in Tonquin, between gang of pirates and the inhabitants of that place. The citizens made a sturdy de- fense, but as they were surprised and poorly armed they soon retreated, leav- ing the pirates in control. They made one brave dash, and succeeded in res cuing number of the towns most prominent citizens, whom the pirates had captured and intended to hold for ransom. Four lives were lost and a large number wounded. A mandarin of the district was killed while leading the villagers against their assailants.
 A sensation has been created at Shanghai by proof that native detect ives there are in the habit of torturing their prisoners to obtain confessions, and thereby demonstrate their proWess Recently some prisoners submitted to being burned with hot irons before they would confess to having stolen a miss ing launch, of which theft they were innocent. On being released they made
 
 resulting in the arrest of five of the Sleuths, three of whom have been sen- fenced to from two to three years inn priSOnment.
 A serious explosion occurred in the coal mines at Kebao, China Fourteen native miners were killed and a large number injured Several members of a European mining staff were in an- other portion of the mine, but escaped
 Thomas Gay of the American ship Luzon has been found guilty of arson in the first degree at Shanghai and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor by Consul General Goodnow. He attempted to fire his own ship.
 Picking dispatches printed in the late Japanese papers state that the Chi nese Government, backed by Russia, is preparing to use part of the money just raised in England in paying off the balance of the Japanese war indemnity China will then demand that Japan va cate Weihaiwei. It is doubtful if Ja- pan will consent to leave at this june ture. If she does it is expected Eng land will succeed her in occupying Wei haiwei. Singly or together they in tend to keep a footing on the northern Chinese mainland so long as Russia occupies Port Arthur. Russia is ac- credited with making nine out of every ten points in the political chess game now being played at Picking. It is Russia in reality that wants the Ja panese and English out of Northern China.
 The Chinese Minister in America Is reported to have some time ago sent dispatch to the Viceroy of Canton, ask ing that the exporting of rice to Amer ica be allowed, because most of the Chinese in this country are Canton people and are in the habit of eating rice. The Viceroy is willing that the rice shall be exported under the cir cumstances named; but native chari- table associations oppose 1t for the req son that the rice crop in that section is very short and they fear their con- tributions will be lessened if the rice supply is diminished.
 Last month the people of Shik Loong, a suburb of Canton, rose up and de- stroyed a rice ship which persisted 1n exporting rice to foreign countries. Its proprietors had stored large quan- tity for export and refused to offer 1t for sale when the townspeople so de- nanded food riot ensued, in which he killed one of the villagers. The pop ulace then broke in, carried away every pound of rice and destroyed everything the proprietor owned. Dur ing the struggle two men were tram pied to death
 All Canton was greatly frightened on February IS by black clouds which rolled over the city from the ocean. The people believed the taflless dragon was coming to do evil, and scores of small boats sought places of safety. Gongs and drums were beaten by the people on land and guns fired from the gunboats in the hope of soaring the dragon away. That night the clouds passed away and the people experienced great joy.
 The inhabitants of Shantung prov ince are still wrought up against for- eigners, particularly missionaries. The Governor of the province is kept in hot water to restrain them, knowing his own head will pay the penalty of any violence. He asked the Canton Government for 1000 picked soldiers, which were hurried forward last month. The black flag general has hired 5000 soldiers to re-enforce the garrisons in the various forts of Tiger Pass.
 The Sultan of Johore, while hunting, attempted to extract a cartridge from his gun. The charge exploded, blow ing the brass butt of the shell deeply into his left cheek. He stood the in- tense pain heroically for hours before reaching medical attendance. He may l lose the sight of his left eye. Vladivostok advices state that the | Siberian railroad has been completed 1 from the coast to KhabaroVsk, several | hundred miles inland.
 The total losses by the recent great fire at Manila reached S2,000000, with | S700 900 insurance.