The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-15
SEAS Full
Of PIRATES
Majority of Chinese Inhabi-
tantS Murder and Plumber.
BLOOD SOCIETIES EXIS
Another Phase of Heather
Chinese Criminal Code,

Piracy is just as prevalent nowadays
on the southern coast OF China as il ever
was in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen
turtles, when the first Portuguese and
Dutch traders landed at that distant
country. If one no longer hears Of Ell
ropean and American merchantmen be-
ing plundered at sea. as was not infre-
QUentiy the case up TO the middle Of the
last century, it is not due to any de-
crease in the number of sea rovers, but
simply 10 the Introduction of steam pow
CT, which has done away with thhe sail
ing vessel and makes il Impossible for
q Chinese junk 10 oyertake the slowest
cargo boat.
Although we have all read tales of the
awful atrocities committed by Chinese
pirates after the capture OF some be-
Gained vessel. the rare survivors have
never been able TO give any information
beyond describing the cruelties practiced
BY their captoTs and the way in which
they are attacked. Having no interpre-
tiers on board. no knowledge of the Ian
guage and their only intercourse with
the natives being confined to visiting
few peaceful merchant while in port,
what could they have known Of Chinese
pirates. Of their organization. OF their
tactics? Absolutely nothing.
il is only within the last seven years.
since the four leading European powers
have obtained a foothold in China and
have had under their direct administra-
ton small portions OF Chinese territory
that the methods pursued by the pirates
have been Thoroughly known.
Nowhere else do conditions as favorable
70 piracy exist as on the coast Of the
province Of Canton. from Long Hing. on
the northern boundary Of Tonkin. to Lapa
within a few miles Of Macao and Hong
Kong. All along the coast line. about
seven hundred miles in length, the water
Is so shallow that steamers cannot ap-
proach within eight or nine miles Of the
shore, and there are not more than four
or five ports where vessels drawing above
ten feet can enter.
A string Of islets extending from Hong
Kong 10 the Straits Of Hai-nan hides
completely the mainland and affords an
excellent shelter where Chinese junks can
easily keep out Of sight and out of reach
OF cruisers and gunboats This country.
being generally sterile and overpopulat-
&c, cannot support its inhabitants. Con-
sequently the majority take TO seafaring,
and the fishermen. who are nearly all
pirates or At least connected with them
BY family ties and always ready TO help
them greatly outnumber the peasants and
land owners, who. with the merchants,
constitute the most peaceful element
Chiefs Of clans or of families, often
pirate chiefs themselves. are the onlys
persons having any authority over the
people. and as there is no organized po-
lice force the country is almost in
state of anarchy. Outside of the large
cities. like Kow-Chow. Lue-Chow and
Lin-Chow. where troops are garrisoned,
the government officials having absolutely
no control over the population.
Every four or FIVE years. when the Vice
rov Of Canton. hard pressed by the num-
erous complaints of the Chinese mer-
chants. decides TO take action against
the pirates. a general is sent out to put
things in order.
This military officer makes his head
quarters in one Of the above mentioned
large cities, and spends about month
collecting large force. drawn from the
different garrisons. During that time bills
bearing his official seal, are posted in all
the villages and market places, announc-
ing that the great General So and So
IS coming. TO wipe out the pirates.
When he thinks he has given sufficient
warning he starts out with an army of
three or four thousand men. all banners
streaming. and begins a triumphant
-. cclR
footing and molestiny the peaceful peas
ants who have stayed in their homes and
the general extortng large sums from the
rich land owners for having allowed the
rirates 10 enter their villages without
government protection they could not pre-
vent.
When the general thinks that there
IS nothing more TO he got out Of the in
habtants he marches back TO headquar-
tiers with a score of prisoners-mostly peo-
PIE having committed minor offenses and
very seldom real criminals-and mUsters
out his force. after proclaiming that the
pirates have been thoroughly routed and
disperSed The results Of such military
operations can he easily imagined The
reaceful inhabitants. being the only suf-
Ter are often driven by despair To Join
the ranks Of the pirates. while these
bandits amply warned have either taken
70 SEA or sir,rlv hidden ont Of the way.
waiting until the troops go back to head
quarters and give them another respite
Of four or five years 70 resume their
pillag ing.
The Cantonese pirates owe their excel
lent organization u thu existence OF the
Triad secret organization. Of which they
nre ali members. This secret society,
whose Chinese name i sam Tien-''three
poirrs--had originally at its head men
OF very marked ability
The object was the re-esta bliShment
q the Chinese dynasty Of the Mings and
tn expulsion Of the present Manchu rub
ers But from q political body Il has
6eeeneratel into an association Of thieves
end robbers. Nearly one-half Of the cesst
population OF Canton belongs 10 the Sam
TEN. ] Go not mean TO imply that they
are all evildoers- far from IL the great
majority ~ the members are peaceful
and honest merchants. tradesmen and
land owners. who. having no government
protection. have been compelled 20 join
They know absolutely nothing about
the tcings 81 the society. and by paying
q certain sum every year are left IN
moiested. The active members comprise
al the pirates. thieves and evidcrs; they
are under the command Of supreme
chief who resides IN the neighboring
PROVING Of ouans 81 and who has ALSO
lutte power over the whole association.
The sam ITEM are divided into districts.
having a. their head men Of means or
ability nearly always Chinese officials