The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-05
THE AMBITION OF CHlN-FIN.


Copyright, 1906. by @. J. Hirt)
Mr.. Chin-Fin was born on the Island
of Hainan, in the China sea. and he
was content with his lot until arriving
a the age Of 16- Then he began to ache
TO do great things. He was a preCOctOuS
youth and fairly well educated. and one
of his chief diversions was in reading
and hearing about the celebrated pirates
that used to roam the China sea before
he was born. He realized that there
was romance, adventure and consider
able cold cash in the life of a boss
pirate. and he finally made up his mind
to adopt that profession and give it all
the respect and dignity possible.
At the age Of Is, when Chin-Fin sailed
COR Singapore to broaden his mind, he
was as well posted on the subject Of
piracy as the average American consul.
His father patted him on the back and
told him to be a good boy and do all
the grating he could, and his mother
fell on his neck and wept and cautioned
him that she was badly IN need or a
pair OF diamond earrings and q chate-
laine watch. The young man arrived
at his destination right side up and be-
gan to look around for tough people to
consort with He found about 10 900 of
them. He figured that to become
pirate he must first become a tough
man. He got In with the gang without
any trouble. He became a sWindler.
thief, robber and worse. He passed the
first six months in learning his A 3 C's
and the next six in Jail. When his Sing
apore record was finally looked UP it
was found that he had had a hand in
about 100 different Jobs" in three years,
and that these Jobs" ranged from gold
brick swindles to Sitting threats. How
many Of his little curves the police fall
ed to get on to can only be guessed at.
When Chin-Fin reached his ma
jority he was ready for piracy on the
high seas. He had passed through all
other grades OF crime, and even the
police had paid him the compliment
Of being a crack-a-jack. In spite Of
his youth he could lead men, and as for
planning no one could equal him. He
had saved his cash Instead of blowing
&c in and he had induced certain other
tough chaps to do the same, and 50
when the time came he was well heeled
That time came when he learned that
certain merchants of Singapore were
to ship a large sum Of money by a sail
ing vessel to Manila. 1t was not only
Ia the way OF trade, but the merchants
were going to make q corner in the
hemp market.
Chin-Fin got his news straight. He
bribed a confidential clerk to get it and
then murdered the clerk to get his
money back and prevent any case Of
conscience. An agent was Instructed
to purchase q ship and fit her out with
Guns while Chin-Fin attended to get
ting crew. The day came when his
craft was ali ready and only waited the
sailing of the other. Tt had so hap
uened that on an occasion Chin-Fin
had desired TO burglarize the house of
the parents of one Of his gang. The
son fled objections. He thought it
was carrying d good thing too far
ChIn-F'in got mad and stabbed the
Young man and then went on with his
burgIarfzing. The victim proceeded to
get we'll saw wood and say nothing.
but when the time came ne gave away
the piracy snap. Being forewarned,
the merchants and authorities put VI
= lob Of their own Just as secretly
as Chiu-Fin himself had worked. they
had a brig fitted out at another port,
armed with six guns and manned by
eighty men, and when the treasure
sb3p anally sailed for Manila she was
soTEoved by the brig. The latter looked
as peaceful as an old hen on her nest
ana no pirate would have had a sus.
picion Of her.
C'hiu~E,in was IN WalttaE e TIE An-
aHana zH4s. That WAS nIalleal