The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-05

secret society OF which they are all mem
bsrs- This secret society. whose Chinese
name is Sam Tism-"three points"-had
originally at its head men OF very marked
ability.
Its object was the re-establlshment OF the
Chinese dynasty OF the AIings and the ex-
pulsion OF the present Manchu rulers. But
from a political body IL has degenerated
into an association Of thieves and robbers
\ Nearly one-half OF the coast population Of
Canton belongs to the Sam ITEM. l do not
mean to imply that they are all evildoers:
far from II. the great majority of the mem
bers are peaceful and honest merchants.
tradssmen and land owners who. having
no Government protection, have been COM
PEELED 10 join.
They know absolutely nothing about the
doings OF the society. and by paying a GER
tain sum every year are left unmolested.
The active members comprise all the pr
rates. thieves and eyildoeTs: they are IN
der the OF a supreme chief. who
resides in the neighboring Province OF
Quang 81 and who has absolute power over
|, the whole association
The Sam ITEM are divided into districts.
having at their head men OF means or
a~blity-nearly always Chinese officials dis
missed from service-and subdivided into
sections. under chiefs OF clans or families.
None of these chiefs ever takes part in ac-
tive operations. but they preside at meet
AAASs NAANIA all lhG c1pcOlIOuS anu COnITO
the funds.
On the first or fifteenth OF every Chinese
month-new moon or fun moon-secret
meetings are held TO discuss the affairs OF
the society and to initiate new members
These meetings always take place at night.
In some out Of the way spot, generally q
ravine near the mountains or the top OF
a plateau which commands an extensive
view OF the country; they are carefully
guarded by s~entineis and outposts and as
soon as the alarm is given the members
scatter and return quietly TO their homes
CAREFULLY GUARDED MEETINGS.
Although sometimes as many as four or
five thousand men assist. II is almost i'm
possible to take them unawares. as they are
always warned in time by ssntinels posted
nearly a mile away.
The meetings are announced to the mem
bers by planting a branch of a tree In the
fields around the villages. and accordingly
as the twiSs are bent the Initiated know
exactly where TO meet. The Sam ITEM have
a secret language Of their own. and in their
writings employ special characters. which
no other Chinaman can understand.
All the members swear TO help and pro-
tect one another and. under penalty of
death. never to reveal the secrets or the
names OF the members OF the society. The
oath is taken by cutting the neck OF a
chicken. whose blood drips into a crp. from |
- NAL1< a SAa LLl- I
mediately after this ceremony they are |
given a new name. by which they are |
known thereafter to the society.
The Sam ITEM owe the dread they inspIre 1
and the control they have over the country
outside Of the large cities to the awful wav
they revenge themselves and punish thoSe
who do not obey their orders. / have never
known n person who has informed against /
them and who has remained in the country
who has not been murdered shortly after
in the most atrocious manner.
SELECTING FIGHTING CHIEFS.
The pirates are all without exception fish,
and are to be found all along the
coast. sometimes ten in one village. some
over a hundred in another. The bold
est and best seamen and those who by their
family ties have the greatest influence over
their fellow sailors are appointed fighting
chiefs by the heads OF the Sam ITEM and
are the ones who conduct all the expsdi-
tons.
They receive their arms and ammunltious
from the society. besides being supplied
with opium and rice alcohol. and in return
must turn over one-haIf Of their booty or
one-half OF the ransoms paid by their pris-
oners. II would take volumes to relate all
the methods pursued by the Chinese pirates.
but they may be all reduced to this one
tactic: To acquire the most plumber while
the smallest risk.
According to the object they have in view,
they employ either fleets of twenty or
thirty junks. with crews amounting 10 more
han 80 men. or else a single junk and even
the smallest SAMOAN. or fishing smack. car
only from four to five persons. Al
though well armed with Mausers. Win
;hesters. Sniders and all the old models OF
oreechloaders. they are far from brave and
will always avoid a tight with a yell-armed
and determined foe. Nevertheless they are
20 shrevd and cunning. they rely so much
IN their perfect knowledge OF the coast and