The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-27
a.O.e.oa.ON.1.aOe. cOA.O.a.O.a.O.a.O.s
/ CHEZ N|NG-SU, MANDARIN
BY M. QUAD.
COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY Q. 3. LEWIS.

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Beginning at Shangtung, In the Vel
low sea, the coast line Of China is dot
ted with islands clear down to Hong
kong, distance of over 1000 miles.
If the islands could be counted, l be-
lieve they would number 10000, great
and small. While some are uninhabit-
on one Of them. The people are wreck
ers and pirates to a man, and woe be-
tide the ship which meets with disas-
ter on any of the island shores. From
Yang-tse-Kiang to the entrance of the
straits of Formosa the islands are un-
der the Jurisdiction Of a mandarin at
the above port. In the year 1853 this
mandarin was one Chee-Wing-Su, who
had held Office for years, and his repu-
tatiOn was that of devil. There was
no question but that he encouraged
piracy and got his divide, and his or
ders all along the coast line were to
kill every white person who might fall
into the hands of his subjects. The
fellow was subordinate to the govern
or of Shanghai, but whenever he was
brought up on the complaint of Euro
pean consul he managed to get the
best of it. He was fairly well educat-
ed, finished liar and hypocrite. and
there was no catching him.
In the year l have mentioned above
certain Americans in Hongkong decid-
ed to fit out an opium clipper to supply
the port of Shanghai Opium SNUG
Cling was against the law, of course,
and any person found engaged in the
trade was beheaded at once, but you
might as well try to keep rice as opium
out of China. The profits in smuggling
have always been enormous, and it
has always been part of the business
to bride the custom officials. AS
Shanghai was to be supplied from
Yang-tse- Kiang l was sent up to ar
range matters with Chewing u.
There was no beating around the bush.
l told him what we wanted, and he
lost no time in giving me his figures.
For such a per cent he would guaran-
tee us safety. He was smooth and
suave, but under the polish | saw the
hypocrite and tiger. / accepted his
terms for the company, but l also
warned them that he would. not hest.
tate to play any sort of game for his
own benefit. He gave us flag to pro-
tect us from piratical junks, but we
did not trust to it. The clipper was
fitted out with four guns and well pro-
vided with small arms, and the crew
of IS was made up entirely of Euro
peans. On our very first voyage, de-
spite the old scoundrel's flag, we were
twice attacked by junks which he
probably sent out We sent both of
them to the bottom with their crews,
and, although CheeWing-Su must
have heard of the tragedies, he passed
them by without word.
We had run three cargoes when the
old fellow prepared surprise party
for us. He sent for our captain and
changed the place of landing to an is
land about Is miles farther south. He
claimed that the officials at Shanghai
had got on to our business and had set
watch, and, though the captain did
not believe the story, he agreed to
make the landing on the next voyage.
| We made the bay at night as we re-
turned, but the guns were double shot
ted, the muskets and pistols loaded.
and every man was at his post. The
first thing we knew we were surround
ed by five junks, and then a fight be-
gan which lasted 40 minutes. We sunk
i four of the junks and drove the fifth
ashore, with the loss of but three men
on our side. Next day Chez Wing-Su
appeared on board and pretended to
be very excited and indignant that we
had been molested against his orders.
In the fight we had exterminated at
least 100 of the vermin, but had cap
tured unhurt and were holding ten
others. To try to smooth things over
with us the willy old scoundrel had the
ten brought before US, read them les
son on morality and then had their
heads struck off by his own execu-
toner.
Our landing was to be Yang -tse-K XII
ang again, and Chez Wing-Su put up
another job. To restore our confidence
III dSdlA liz OllVlCO " pun P-sVOO
into our next venture and draw out
only fair per cent. This seemed like
a fair thing, and it was accepted. He
handed over the money with prompt
ness, and we sailed away. but when
our captain had had time to turn the
matter over in his mind he began to
wonder and theorize. Old Chez Wing
| Aox In, to-
without some stronger motive than a
per cent profit Few Chinese ever
trust a European snillings worth,
and a man of his class must have
handed over his little fortune to throw
dust in our eyes. A good deal of time
was given to the puzzle. but just what
his scheme was could not be satisfac-
torily solved. We could only watch
and wait and be prepared for whatever
might happen.
On our return we always made port
at night. When we had displayed an
agreed signal. sampans came off to us
and unicaded and took away the cargo,
and an agent was at hand TO pay for
1t. Chez Wing-Sufs agent was ais
there to collect his blackmail. Their
would be 80 Cinnamon aboard Of u
when discharging cargo; but, though
they were a villainous lot, we felt N
fear of them and did not keep the crew
even under arms. We were within
days sail of port on our return whel
the captain was struck by an IDEA
Chee-Wing-Su knew that our carg
would be a heavy one. Suppose b
should have planned to cut the clippe
out In harbor? All he had to do wa
to put men enough aboard, and whel
he had exterminated the crew and tax
en- possession who was to betray him
He had men who could sail the craft
and by giving her a new coat of paint
a new name and making some change
in her rig she could not be recognized
Even if she were, what would her OWL
ers dare do about it? To have set up
claim would have been to convict them
selves of smuggling. AS for wipin
out a score of Europeans, he woul
consider that as a sort of duty unde
any circumstances.
Before we made harbor everythin
was prepared and every man Instruct
ed. In response to our signal doze
sampans appeared, and the first ma
on our decks was the rascally oil
Chez Wing Su. He was ELUSIVE, goo
, natured and slick as grease. He sal
, there was cause for haste in unloading
ms the custom officials had suddenl
become. active, and he was permitte
to order about so men on board
break out cargo, AS soon as our al
Choir was down all but two or three Q
our crew disappeared, and the capital
and agents sat down to a luncheon !
: the cabin. Not a box had yet gon