The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-06-15
Chinese Pirates.

Sea and the Philippine islands. j. S.
Sewall relates several thrilling
stories OF the Chinese vikings crimes
and their punishment in the salt
water century the September num-
Der:
Some OF the exploits OF these red
rovers are curiously interesting. II
any OF my readers have sailed up the
Canton river they will recall the
Chinese fortress OF the Boca Tigris
at its mouth, on the starboard side
as you enter Down by the water
side long white parapet stretches
along the shore; at each end wall
OF masonry reaches up the hill, aud
disappears oyer the crest Whether
there is fourth wall out Of sight
Joining the two aud completing the
square, do not now remember; but
certain British tars could tell YOU
If they have lasted from 1912 till this
present year OF grace.
During the opium war the fort
ress was attacked; but the storming
party pulled quietly around the
hesdland, and. forming on the beach,
clambered up over the hill, and the
first thing the Celestials knew their
foe was rushing down upon them
from the rear, aud within the
inclosure. There was nothing to do
for it but 20 surrender, which they
did, bristling with wrath at such a
breach OF military manners. Hiyab!
Why you no come front side9 More
better fight when We makee ready
for you!
But this is a depression. What
we are after is the pirates. 1t was
an earlier commandant Of this same
fortress who met with equally bad
luck. One of the fleets appeared in
bis neighborhood and he sailed out
to attack it. The pirates surround
ed him, and after a furious engage
ment, which lasted all day, and with
such havoc as may be left to the
Imagination, captured him and what
ever fragments Of his fleet we're still
aloat. This disaster was partly
avenged the next year, when the
Chinese admiral, with hundred
junks, attacked another fleet on the
same cruising ground.
Great numbers of the pirates were
destroyed, and some 200 taken pri.
soners. Those who are familiar with
Chinese methods can judge how
long these 200 were kept from joining
their bloody comrades in the shades
below. In another encounter, not
far from the same place, before the
combatants could close upon one
another, it fell dead calm, where
upon crowds OF the pirates leaped
into the sea like savages, swan to
the enemy with their knives in their
teeth, and attacked them so fiereely
that they could not be beaten off,
and actually cut out several junks
from the imperial feet.
The fortunes OF war varied. With
provoking impartiality; and appar.
emily with no ethical preference,
victory would perch on the standard
OF the pirate quite as often as on
the banners OF the righteous defend
ers OF their country's commerce. We
read OF whole fleets engaged, fight
ing all day and night, 2 days, even 3
day. at time, 200 or 300 junks on a
side, and drawn game at the end.
No child's play this. At one. time
the admiral is lying quietly at an
Choir among the island, when sud.
denly 200 pirate craft slip around
the headland, and pounce upon him
with an onset 80 furious that, in
spite Of vigorous defence, 25 OF his
fleet are gone with their captors be-
fore he can get up anchors and chase
them. These encounters we're not
confined to the sen. There were
frequent raids on the villages that
lined the harbors.