The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-25
PIRATES ATTACK
WRECKED STEAMER
Crew and Passengers of Pa
cific Mail Liner in Bat
tie With Looters
CAPTAIN STANDING
BY SHIP WITH TUG
Two Men Are Captured by
Assailants and One of
Them Has Dis
appeared

SHANGHAI. CHINA. April as
The most thrilling battle between
Chinese pirates and Europeans In a
decade was reported by tho survivors
of the wrecked Pacific Mail liner Asia
when they were landed here to-day.
For hours the officers and crew of the
Asia fought off the pirates who
swRrmed up her sizes with tina hope
of looung her valuable cargo. with
rifles, shot guns and revolvers. and
finally with rude clubs and wrenches.
The natives were badly beaten and d
number killed. but they returned time
and again after being repulsed. A. +.
Cozen. engineer Of the Asia. and X.
Arundel. water tender. were cap
tored by the pirates, but afterwards
were ransomed for 5000. Arundel was
later missed and 1t is feared recap
tured
Mrs. Schen Dong Chez. wife of an
Oakland. Cal. Chtnaman. was wound
ed. There were no other casualties
among the Asia's company.
Through the traditions OF the sea
Captain Gaukroger. OF the Asia. IL
standing by his sunken vessel the
top OF whose stacks are still visible
above the water. The first officer OF
the Asis. who brought the sixty saloon
and 200 steerage passengers and the
mails of the wrecked steamer tn this
port, reported that the crew fred 500
rounds at the pirates during Sunday
and until the steamer slipped OF the
rock and sank on Monday. He says
that the pirates are now diving Tor
salvage despite the fact that Captain
Gaakroger Is alongside In a tug
Story OF the Wreck
The Asia was running at three
quarter speed on Sunday and In some
way got on her course and hit a rock
of Finger Island The rock tore her
hull through the first and second bow
compartments and the water came In
AZ through seive. II was then 3 40
in the morning ana the passengers
and crew were ordered on deck. Most
OF them brought their outer cloth
ing with them and hurriediy dressed
an the life boats and RATS were put
over the side. Women and children
were taken first and within thirty
minutes all the passengers were in the
boats. Before the water reached the
batteries, thr wire tess had given the
alarm and word was received that the
Chinese steamer Shaohsing was on the
way She reached the scene and
rescued the passengers soon after 10
O'Clock She stood by until the
American Maru arrived.
Meanwhile the crew had returned
to the Aria. which had settled low Ia
the water and were standing by to
repuise the pirates who swarmed about
ner In great numbers. They protected
themselves from the fire OF the offi-
GERS and crew of the wrecked steamer
with mattresses and when driven down
one side swarmed up the other.
One Man Disappears.
The mails were brought on deck and
Transferred to the Shaohsing and 1t
'waas while getting oil the .ast~of them
that Cnxen and Arundel were cap
tured. Cozen killed two OF the pirates
before he WAS overpowered. Monday
morning Coxen ransomed himself and
Arundel. but for some reason tina lat
ter did not come off in Coxan's boat.
claiming II was overloaded and he has
not since been seen
Yesterday afternoon after passen-
gers and baggage had been saved, the
Asia slipped on the rock and sank in
deep water.