The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-08-27
The Ambition OF Chin Fin
ICopyrIght, 1905, BY G. ]. ITlrt.l

was precoeious youth and fairly well
educated.
At the age of eighteen. when Chin
Fin sailed for 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
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 of pair OF dia-
mond earrings and chatelaine watch.
The young man arrived ut his destina-
ton right side up and began to look
around for tough people TO consort
with. He found about 10000 Of them,
lie figured that to become pirate he
must first become tough man. He
got In with the gang without any trou-
BILE. He became swindlcr. thief
robber aud worse. He passed the first
six months in learning his A Il C's and
the next six In Jail. When his Singa-
pore record was finally looked up ii
was found that he had had hand in
about 700 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 failed TO get on to
can only be guessed al
When Chin Fin reached his majority
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 crackajack In spite of his youth
he could lead men, and, as for plan
ming, no one could equal him He had
saved his cash instead of blowing it
in. and he had induced certain other
tough chaps TO do the same, and so
when the time came he was well heel
ed, That time came when he learned
that certain merchants Of Singapore
were To ship a large sum of money by
sailing vessel to Manila 1t was not
only in the way of trade, but the mer-
chants were going to make a corner in
the hemp market.
Chin Fin got his news straight. Me
bribed confidential clerk to get it,
and then murdered the clerk 10 get
his money back and prevent any case
of conscience An agent was instruct
ed TO purchase a ship and fit her out
with guns, while Chin Fin attended to
getting a crew. The day came when
his craft was all ready and only wait
ed the sailing of the other. 1t had 50
happened that on an occasion Chin Fin
had desired to burglarze the house OF
the parents of one Of his gang. The
son filed objections. He thought ii
was carrying good thing too far.
Chin Fin got mad and stabbed the
young man and then went on with his
burglarlzing. The victim proceeded TO
get well. saw wood and say nothing,
but when the time came he gave away
The piracy snap. Being forewarned.
the merchants and authorities put up
job of their own. Just as secretly as
Chin Fin himself had worked, they
had brig fitted out at another port
armed with six guns and manned by
eighty men. and when the treasure
ship finally sailed for Manila she was
followed by the brig. The latter
looked as peaceful as an old hen.
Chin Fin was In waiting at the An
amba islands That was a piratieal
stronghold before his day, and the
young man had an eye TO the eternal
fitness Of things. The treasure ship
made her course up the China sea, fol
lowed by the slouchy looking old brig
at a respectful distance. and one morn
Ing about 10 O'Clock was within i've
miles of the islands The pirates were
waiting for her. They not only came
sailing ont from the lee Of the group.
but they ra ised the black flag to show
their hand Chin Fin wasn't going to
play any baby business by sailing I'M
der q false flag. The brig was sighted
in the distance but treated with con
tempt. The treasure ship naturally
tried 10 get away. She turned on her
heel and put back to meet the brig,
but the pirates pursued with wells ami
a great waste Of ammunition They
saw that they could capture two ships
where they had counted on but one.
BY and 10y things got TO work. and
chin Fin felt his back hair curl The
brig began hammering away with SIX
guns 10 his two. and AT the end OF
eighteen minutes thirty Of his fifty
rascals were dead or wounded and bis
craft I'm a sinking condition. and ht
had TO cry for quarter II was granted
him. aud his men were taken aboard
While the treasure ship pursued hel
voyage. the brig started back for Sing
aporc She had had seven men KILLED
or disabled The pirates were shackle'
and confined between decks. aud fO
two days they were rs humble az
cats. There was no need for Chin Fin
who was n natural orator, TO tell then
how the ease stood. They were goini
back 10 The straits for trial. conviction
and execution. Had those pirates beef
able 10 get professional jury ana
weeping lawyer from the United state
they could not have been acquitted
T one day. fifteen months after the rai'
ing 81 the black flag 10 TIE music o
the band. the five pirates stood on IN
rallous with ropes around their neck'
. chin Fin had done no talking sine