The San Francisco call., 1899-03-26
AMERICAN
SHIPS TAKEN
BY FILIPINOS
Mutinous Seamen Said to
Have Seized Five
Vessels.
STORIES OF MURDER
Captain and Mate Slain and Other
Members of Crews Are
Missing,
Special Dispatch to The Call.

VICTORIA, B. c., March 25.-The
steamer Tacoma, which arrived here
this afternoon, brought news that a
robbery and murder were committed
under peculiar circumstances on the
steamer Kwonghoi, Captain Machen-
zie, which arrived in Manila on the 18th
ult. from Calbayog, in the island Of
Samar.
The mate of the Kwonghoi was in
vited ashore to a native fiesta, from
which he returned late. at night. AS ne
climbed up the Jacobs ladder on the
ships deck he saw three of the natlFe
crew lodging down on their knees be-
hind a hatch. This led him to inspect
the deck and then he made the dlscoN-
ery that six of the Filipino crew car
ried hv the steamer were breaking into
the vessels treasure room, IN "hlcn
was a large amount of money TO pc USED
in the purchase of hemp. Upon being
discovered the natives attacked the
mate and beat him over the heao with
clubs. While he was in an lnSenslple
condition they threw him into a poat
alongside. They then abStracted two
cases of $4,000 each from the treasure
room and made for the shore IN the
ships boat Since then nothing was
heard of the men. The body OF the un-
fortunate mate was found with the
throat cut and horribly mutilated near
a native village.
Captain Mackenzie thinks the sailors
had plotted the robbery on previous
as the steamer frequently takes large
sums of money to the agencies OF It's
owners along the coast.
The Manila Times of February Is has
another story of Filipino treachery- 1t
says that a report has reached Manila
of the seizure by the insurgents OF five
American steamers-the Saturnus, San
JOAQUIN. Don Jose, Gloria and San Pc
dro. The captain of the latter was
murdered All were. seized primarily
by the Filipino members of their crews,
for all steamers freighting in those
waters carry a large number OF Fill
pinOs. In every case these mutln1ed,
where the insurgents were still in
power and turned the steamers over to
them.
The San Joaquin left Manila for Gov
ayan. Currimar and Aparri on Janu-
airy q, and was four days out OF port
when the master was jumped on from
behind, trussed and made a prisoner
in his own cabin. The vessel was
bea@hed and turned over to the rebels
and the captain, together with Scotch
engineer, the only two white men on
the boat were released. They made
their way to Manila after an arduous
trip in a small sloop given them by
the natives and reported the loss Of
their ship.
The saturnus left for San Fernando,
Cavayan, Currimar, Aparri and San
Domingo on February l. She is re-
ported to have been seized after n1u-
tiny between the first two ports, but
no details were learned.
The Gloria also left on February /.
She was bound to Cavayan, Currimar
and Aparri Beyond the report of her
seizure nothing could be learned of her.
The San Pedro was bound to Aparr1
and the two usual way ports. She left
On February Z and on the 10th her crew
mutinied The captain put on a bold
front and with revolver in hand en-
deavored to drive the mutinous Fill
pipns into the forecastle. Suddenly he
wa, felled by blow from a big knife,
thlalwn by a Filipino at his back. AS
he Sell the natives rushed at him and
bert him to death with Delaying pins.
A A1ate and two engineers are missing.
I'll the steamships mentioned were
IorE overdue when the news of their
seizure reached Manila. Nothing can
be Learned of the Gloria, but vague re-
ports have arrived of her seizure.