Smyrna times., 1900-11-14
CHEE- -NING-SU, MANDARIN !
BY Nj. QUAD.
COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY C. B. LEWIS.


Beginning at Shangtung, in the Yel-
low sea, the coast line of China is dot
ted with islands clear down to Hong
kong. a distance of over 1000 miles. |
If the islands could be counted, | be- |
leve they would number 10000. great |
and small. While some are uninhabit- |
ed there is not an honest community |
on one of them. The people are wreck
ers and pirates to Il 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 1868 this
mandarin was one CheeWing-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 we'll 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 bribe the custom officials. AS
Shanghai was to be supplied from
Yang-tse- -Kiang l was sent up to ar
range matters with Chee-Wing-Su.
There was no beating around the bush.
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 I also
warned them that he would not hest.
tate to play any sort Of game for his
own benefit. He gave us a 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 Wing-Su mus
have heard of the tragedies. he passed
them by without a word.
We had run three cargoes when thu
old fellow prepared a surprise part!
for us. He sent for our captain an,
changed the place of landing to an is
land about 10 miles farther south. II
claimed that the officials at Shangha
had got on to our business and had sc
watch, and, though the captain di
not believe the story, he agreed I
make the landing on the next voyage
We made the bay at night as we r'
turned, but the guns were double shO
ted, the muskets and pistols loaded
and every man was at his post. Th
first thing we knew we were SURROUND
ed by five junks, and then a fight b.
gan which lasted 40 minutes. We sun
four of the junks and drove the fift
ashore, with the loss of but three me
on our side. Next day Chez Wings
appeared on board and pretended
be very excited and indignant that W
had been molested against his order
In the fight we had exterminated
least 100 of the vermin. but had ca
tured unhurt and were holding t
others. To try to smooth things Ov
with us the willy old scoundrel had Il
ten brought before us, read them le
son on morality and then had the
heads struck off by his own exec
tioner.
Our landing was to be Yang-tse-E L
ang again. and Chee-Wing-Su put
another job. To restore our confiden
in him again he offered to put $40
into our next venture and draw 0
only a fair per cent. This seemed II
a fair thing. and it was accepted.
handed over the money with prom
ness, and we sailed away. but wh
our captain had had time to turn
matter over in his mind he began
wonder ana theorize. Old Chee-Wil
Su would never have put in his mon
without some stronger motive than
per cent profit. Few Chinese e'
trust a European a snilling's wor
and a man Of his class must hf
handed over his little fortune to thr
dust in our eyes. A good deal of ii
was given to the puzzle, but just w
his scheme was could not be satisf
torily solved. We could only wa
and wait and be prepared for whate
might happen.
On our return we always made
at night When we had displayed
agreed signal, sampans came of to
and unloaded and took away the cal