The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-04

The most polite pirate extant is the
chief of the band that looted the
steamer Kwang Lee on the China sea
recently. An account has reached this
country of this remarkable case Of
piracy, in which $12O,OOU in bullion
and passengers money and jewelry
was stolen and a native passenger was
murdered.
The Kwang Lee, 400 tons, owned
by the China Merchants Steam Navi-
CATION company, commanded by Cap
tain Lindsay Crawford, left Shang-
hal on Dec 10 for Hongkong with a
general cargo and $50 Chinese pas
sengers. All went we'll until Dec. Is,
when, off Annoy, two Chinese passen-
gers entered the captains cabin at
midday pointed revolvers at him and
fired a blank cartridge. Captain Craw-
ford was forced out of the cabin and
told If he offered any resistance he
would be instantly shot and thrown
overheard He was ordered along the
main deck and shown into the mess
room. where he found the second en-
gineer. Armed sentries were placed on
ward the chief engineer and other Of
ficers were made prisoners.
Gave Him Sailing Orders
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the
captain was ordered onto the bridge,
and the leader of the pirates demanded
the position Of the ship and the dis
lance to Chapel island. On being in
formed that the Kwang Lee was
eighteen miles due south of the island
the pirates became very excited. A
number of them collected on the bridge
and after an animated discussion
Captain Crawford was asked the dis
lance to Hongkong, and was then
ordered at the point of revolver to
steam due south.
At 10 o'clock the same night the
course was altered towards Swallow, |
the captain being Informed that if he |
went near the shore he would be shot. !
During the night and a great part OF |
the following day the pirates occupied I
in loOting the vessel. Pas
songers' trunks were smashed open
and everything portable removed. The
cabins were ransacked and officers re-
ieved of all personal belongings, in
GLIDING evening dress clothes. Early
in the proceedings Chinese passen-
ger, Sc Pc Kwan, was shot and his
body heaved overheard. The strong
room was opened and five boxes con-
aiming $4,000 were lowered into a
Junk, together with passengers cloth
ng, money and jewelry, valued at
100000
On leaving the boat the robbers gave
strict instructions that the vessel was
lot to leave the bay before 6 a. m.
IN Dec IT, Directly the junk left the
ressel the members of the crew were
eleased and the necessary repairs to
he engines were rushed through.
rhree hours later the vessel crept out
# the bay and made full speed for
Iongkong.
Courteous Pirate Chief.
Captain Crawford is of the opinion
hat there was no collision between
he crew of the junk and the pirates.
'he junk was held up and ordered to
ONE alongside The chief Of the pi-
ates was courteous and polite, and
pom leaving the vessel apologized for
he Inconvenience caused, and hoped
he captain would think of them in | |
riendly manner He offered to shake /
ands with Captain Crawford. Il
AS a little memento Of the occasion Il
ne robber presented the captain with
is gold watch and chain to compen- II
ate him for the loss of his own, which II
ad been looted by one of the gang. Il
silver mounted walking stick was
to the second officer, and a Il
hinese lady passenger was called for Il
ard and 500 given her with instruc- Il
on TO share II among the pa sSenp gers i