Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-05-15
PIRACY ON
HIGH SEAS
DAYS OF CAPTAIN KIDD RE-
CALLED IN RECENT AT
TACK ON VESSEL.
GOVERN AEN1 IS p0NERlESy
Chinese Pirates Are As Bold
AS Those of By Gone
Days.
GOVERN aEN1 IS POA ERlESS

Il IunLOn, Cnlld., May li--OFuludE.
acts of piracy, which occur frequent
ly in the rivers and canals in this
section, were completely eclipsed re-
Gently when the Norwegian steam
ship Childar was plundered on the
high seas.
1t was bold enough to recall to the
western world the days of Captain
Kidd, 200 years ago, and it was a
rare case even for these waters.
The number of foreign warships
constantly cruising up and down the
China coast and the fact that many
OF the merchant ships carry rifles
and ammcnition generally deter the
Chinese from such acts of boldness
for they are given short shrift when
caught. In the early days of the
British settlement at Hongkong
scores OF pirate junks were captured
and sunk; there are records OF forty
and fifty being sent to the bottom
in day.
The Childar was captured in a very
simple way. About fifty pirates went
aboard the ship at Hongkony as or
binary steerage or deck passen-
gers, bound for places up the coast.
There being altogether 200 Chinese
making the journey, no notice was
taken of them '.
A Little Nervous.
They we're evidently little ner-
vous over the enterprise, and soon
reused the suspicious of the oonafide
Chinese passengers byf their rest
lessness and earnest conversations in
little groups. Seeing that they we're
being watched they put their plans
:ato execution sooner, evidently, than
they had intended, but with com.
plete success.
About forty miles out of Hongkong
they Wiped out their revolvers and
rushed the officers. There were six
white officers, and none of them were
armed or within the reach of wea-
pons. The second officer who was on
the bridge, tried to give the alarm
to the others below and was prompt
ly laid senseless with the butt of
pistol. Otherwise no bodily injury
was done.
Money Comes Easy.
On their arms. so that they should
know one another, the pirates wore
white bands similar to those worn
by the Chinese revolutionists two
years ago. There were characters on
the bands, the translation of which
is said to be Money comes easy"
Four of the officers were tightly
bound and placed in the auxiliary
wheelhouse OF the stern of the ship,
while the second and third engineers
were left free to work the engines
under the direction of the pirates.
Pirate navigators assumed control of
the bridge and gave the proper sig
nails to the engine room. A very care
'ul course through dangerous shoals
were steeed until the ship put into
little bay known as Bias Bay.
Thee, two junks, which had evident
~ been awaiting the arrival of the
Chi!dar. received the collected
money and valuables which had been
taken from the ship, the officers, and
the passengers. Even the uniforms of
me omcers and the good clothes OF
the chinese passengers were taken,
and almost all the brass fittings of
the ship. In ALL the ship lost over
$lo'O00. in cargo, valuables and dam
ages.
Pirates Disappointed.
Inc pirates were, no doubt, much
disappointed. for on two previous
voyages the Childar had carried about
$3o,O0O worth of treasures of one
sort and another, valuables that were
negotiable ashore without serious
danger of discovery. The pirates
seemed to be angered by their fail.
urc to make the big haul they ex-
pected, for, after looting the ship and
passengers. they went through the
cabins and engine rooms destroying
W,lfully doors. fittings and furniture.
Fat the exploit was not without it's
humorous side. An English speaking
buccanneer. for instance, sympathiz.
ing with the thirsty engineer whom
ne was controlling revolver in hand.
asked the engineer if he would like a
whlskey and soda; and, leaving a fel.
, low pirate in charge of the engine
room, went to the pantry and brought
back a whiskey bottle and one Of
beer. explaining that he could MOI,
find saltwater. :
Understood Navigation,
Among the pirates were some who
understood the navigation of steam
ships and others who knew how 10
run theengines. One. indeed, told the
engineers in English that he knew
more ahoua a marine engine than
they did.
When the ship reached Bias Raw
and the collections made bv the mir.
ates were being put aboard the iunks
the English speaking engineer anon
the robbers ordered the Norwegian.
10 draw the firts and remove certain
necessary valves, thereby making it
impossible to restart the shin for
several hours. It was some hours A.
yer the junks sailed away that the
Chinese passengers ventured I'M on
deck and unbound the officers, and
some hours more before the vessel
was IN condition to proceed at slaw
speed back to Hangkong.
Government Powerless.
A reward was offered for infor:na
'lon lead'ng to arrests, but it seems.