Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-05-15

.ly Associated Prc<S-I
CANTON. China, May 15.-Ordin-
AIRY acts OF piracy, which occur fire.
quently in the rivers and canals in
this section. were completely eclipsed
recently when the Norwegian steam
ship Chaldar 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 AMMUNITION generally deter the
Chinese from such acts Of holiness.
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 Hongkong
as ordinary steerage or deck pas
sengers. bound for places up the
coast There being altogether 200
Chinese making the journey, no no.
tice was taken of them
They were evidently a little nerv-
Gus over the enterprise. and soon
reused the suspicious of the bonafide
Chinese passengers by their restless,
ness and earnest conversations in lit
tie groups. Seeing that they were be-
ing watched they put their plans into
execution sooner, evidently. than they
had intended. but with complete sue
cess.
About forty miles out Of Hongkong
they whipped out their revolvers and
rushed the officers There were six
white officers, and none of them were
armed or within the reach of weap-
ons. The second officer who was on
the bridge. tried to give the alarm to
the others below and was promptly
! laid senseless with the butt of a
pistol Otherwise no bodily injury
was done.
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 at the stern of the ship
while the second and third engineer;
were left free to work the engine;
under the direction Of the pirates. Pr
ate nayigators assumed control Of the
bridge and gave the proper signals
to the engine room. A very careful
course, though dangerous shoals were
steered until the ship put into a little
bay known as Bias bay. There, two
iunks, which had evidently beer
awaiting the arrival Of the Childar
received the collected money and
valuables which had been taken from
the ship, the officers and the passen
gers Even the uniforms of the off
GERS and the good clothes OF the
Chinese passengers were taken, ana
almost all the brass fittings Of tbs
ship, In all, the ship lost over SO.
900 in cargo, yaluables and damages
The pirates were. no doubt, mucl
disappointed, for on two previous
voyages the Childar had carried
100000 worth Of treasures of one sor
and another, valuables that were ne
gotiable ashore without serious dan
ger Of discovery. The pirates seemed
to be angered by their failure t,
make the big haul they expected, for
after looting the ship and passen
grs. they went through the cabin
and engine rooms destroying wilfull
doors, fittings and furniture
But the exploit was not without it
humorous side An English speaking
buccanneer. for instance. sympathiz
ing with the thirsty engineer whom
he was controlling revolver in hand