Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-10-11
HARD CITIZEN OF CHINA

One Of these incidents which are
never long absent from the lives oil
those whose business brings them IN
continuous contact with Chinese-incl.
dents that carry with them just that
amount of danger which makes theu,
enjoyable to those whom they affect.
Is reported 10 the Hongkong Press by
MIR. w. Harris of Woochow. a passen.
ger on the Sainam Captain DicksonI
a steamer which runs between Woo
chow and Canton.
The Sainam, as usual. numbered on
her last run a great many Chinese
amongst her passengers. but nothing
out OF the usual happened till Kun
chuk. situated between Woochow and
Canton. was reached. Here one of tho
Chinese wanted TO disembark, but re.
fused absolutely to allow the ships
compradore to go through the formal
ity of searching his box. However. he
at last yielded anu handed over a key,
which. on bei,g applied to the lock oi
the box. was found not to fit. The
man had no other key, or professei
not to have. and as the AFFAIR looked
suspicious search was instituted
amongst the other passengers. and TIL,
| discovery was made that the CHM
man In question had substituted an.
other box, similar In every detail. Tor
that OF one OF the other passengers,
also a ChinamaI. The substituted
box contained worthless assortment
of odds and ends whilst the one stolen
had rather valuable contents. The
would.be thief had two accompliCes,
but these mixed with the crowd Of
Chinese on board and could not tn
picked out. Captain Dickson turned
his attention to the prisoner. and cr
dered him to put his hands behind his
back. In order 20 have them pinionc |.
lnis he declined to do. and instead
calmly folded his arms across his
chest. A well.plarted blow brought
him to his senses--and the deck--ar
/ he was secured He was fastened by
the queue to a post, and his han is
were tied behind his back. Deeming
him quite secure. anu the incident hav.
ing apparently ended. no more attcn.
tion was paid 10 the ChiIaman, WIN
was Juggling at his cords. Presently
he wriggled free, and made a dan
past man on guard. one of the crew,
who was armed with revolver. This
man always stands AT the nead of 10
stairs leading from the Chinese quas.
tiers, and carries loaded revolver to
keep any chance desperadoes from
rushing the deck. The escaping pris.
oner ran down the companlonway
leading to the lower deck. and, jump.
ing onto the ships rail. threw himself
into the sea. The steamer was then
about two miles from Canton. The
guard fired his revolver. but aimed
wide, and did no harm. The vessel
was stopped. Captain Dickson ordered
a boat to be lowered. and ran below
for his revolver. A sampan was hail.
ed, and one or two of the crew tum.
bled into II, whilst the guard got int
the ships boat. IN the meantime a
dug.out containing two men, probably
confederates, vas making rapidly for
the swimmer, and seeing that he was
likely to lose his prisoner. Captain
Dickson fired The range was long
one, but the shot was good. the ball
striking the water few yards from
the dug-out and richOCheting. breaking
one Of the oars. This stopped the dug.
outs progress. and seeing capture i'm.
minent the two men sprang into the
water and swan down stream. being
picked up by another dug-out hover.
Ing near. The escaping Chlnaman MAS
overtaken. dragged into the ships boat
and carried back 70 the .ainam. where
he was fastened beyond all possibility
OF escape. At Canton. Captain Dick.
son handed him over to the Britisa
Consul. who preferred a charge against
the man and turned him over to the
Chinese authorities. The whole nj.
fair points conclusively to the exist.
ence OF an elaborate confederacy Of
law-breakers who are constant mon.
ace to the public safety.