The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-23

Life Cheap Among the Oeesta That They Are Willing to
Be Shot for Trhing Remuneration.
Most unlucky compensation

Most unlucly Compensation
The 500 proved Veritable godsend to
the wounded Chinese, but he giving OF 1t
put distinct Quietus to the seasons sport.
Five laborers were shot the next day, and
each demanded immediate compensation
for his wounds!, A sixth was so rash as
to offer his head for a target and was
killed outright. His body was shipped
over to the island in exultation by his be-
reaved relatives. They demanded 5000
and got SIS, for the officers were on to
their game by this time. Later, when the
hunters went back to the field, they dared
| not shoot at all, except straight up In tho
air, for Chinese were found: crouched be-
| hind every stump, ready to- thrust their
| bodies into sight as soon as Etriggers were
pulled The stumps are close to the
! ground, and frequently the traps are
placed on them. Trees are not allowed
to grow any height in this vicinity; they
are cut down for arewood before they
become good-sized saplings. The country
is, therefore, almost entirely treeless The
Chinese lay down close to the stunps, and
when the officers took aim they sprang
into the air and tried to receive the shot.
The officers held a meeting and put the
matter to vote.
Zine sport and good radiance" said
the German, jestingly; 'Iet's kill 'em off,
:, ''But it soils a mans conscience to shoot
the idiots. by Jove!' protested the Eng
lishman. "And it isn't exactly civilized,
you know
i They finally decided to leave the aelds
to the birds and the coolies. The seasons
shooting was given up and the officers
took to fishing, much to the distress Of the
would -be-wounded natives, who crept back
to their huts In some chagrin.
A few weeks later the officers We're
given another example of how cheaply
these natives value their lives and how
| highly they value the almighty dollar. A
!, few native fishing boats make frequent
/ journeys from the village to the Island.
) The little boats have way OF cutting
] swiftly in front Of the large steamers that
$ ply between Shanghai and the towns along
I the coast. This is due to an odd supersu-
!. ton that is religiously believed by the be-
/ nighted fishermen. They think that II
y they run a great risk Of being run down
: and escape in safety they will be spared
o all accident for whole year-accordfng
o to the dictates of one Of their gods. But
d in order fully to appease the god they
: must keep up the practice until steamer
8 really touches them, and they can boast
y that they have run a risk OF the required
o quality. The steamers are usually on the
8 lookout for them and try to avert I'm
t, timely casualties. The practice Is ex-
IS tremely thrilling to witness and proves
thoroly fascinating to the officers.
a On the occasion referred to a couple OF
e little boats were dancing merrily back and
e forth in front of a big steamer that was
~ blowing lis way LOVELY lAe 'Sieho
l. party Of officers on steam launch near
le by were offering bets as to which craft
IL would go in the greater danger.
W Finally, one Of the officers leaned for
n ward and shouted in fair Chinese what he
al thought to be good Joke.
~ '.I'll give $40 to the ono that will lei
IN himself be run down."
IN The next instant there was wild pull
< ing at oars, and the two little boats
n crashed simultaneously against the prov
o. of the vessel. One was cut in two and thu
Of other was merely capsized.
ly An immediate effort was made to saw
e. the unfortunates, but it was noticeable
or that the Chinese on the steamer did no
lis take part in the rescue. They sat on tn
to deck smoking, calmly Indifferent to VIVA
ly was going on. The Chinese is not hu
g nanitarian; he is the truest stole In ex
II istence.
he The officer changed his $50 into sma,
81. coins and scattered them among the hall
up drowned natives. Two had gone under, bu
there was no grief expressed. Their de
tic misc left all the more cash for the sur
n vivors. And besides, they were all thoroi
ut immune to accident for a whole year,