The Tamworth Examiner and Working Men's Journal. — 1874-10-17 (Tamworth, Staffordshire, England)

THE OUTRAGE IN THE CHINA SEAS. The China papers contain detailed accounts of the murder of the captain and officers of the steamer Spark on ite voyage from Canton to Macao. Sonia Chinese pirates who had embarked as passengers attacked the crew and passengers near Bocce Tigris, murdered the captain, mate, and purser, and wounded mart dangerously the only European passenger and the whole crew. After the pirates had been in possession of the steamer for six hours, a junk came over from the shore to take them End their booty, and the Chimes engineers brought the steamer over to Masao. The China Mail gives the following particulars, which It has learned from Captain Carroll, of the Poyang, who brought the news of the outrage from Memo to Hong Kong:— The pirates were more than twenty in number, and took passage at Canton as at first stated. They got up disturbance by fighting with-sticks. The mate went down:to part them, when the men assaulted him. He called the captain, who:al.o went down. The pirate' fired at Captain Brady, one bullet striking him in the shoulder. He ran to the 'upper deck, got a revolver, and returned below. He then attempted to lire on the pirates, but his weapon repeatedly missed fire. The unfortunate captein was thus' entirely at the mercy of his assailants, and a fierce onslaught was made upon him. One of the pirates stabbed him in the knee, another cut him on the wrist with a sword, others shot at him, and 'mew again speared him. There were thirty two wounds on his body when found. On the lower part ef the back was a serious wound, which probebly proved fatal. Captain Carroll describe, the scene on beerd the Spark as horrible. The decks were covered with blood. Brady was found in his cabin, dead, lying on the flyer, with one arm raised in air, his whole body a mass of wounds. Mr. Mundy was on the fore deck fearfully wounded, and still insensible. Near him ley four dead sailors. Mr. Mundy was the only European passenger on board, and he offered a brave and determined resistance. He knocked down two of the pirates, and was engaged with others when he was stabbed twice in the breast. The weapons were evidently aimed at his heart, but fortunately did not reach there. Nine, persons altogether were killed in the affay—namely, the captain, the mate, the purser, one fireman, one Chinaman, and four passengers. The Chinaman was occupying the cabin of the Compradere, and the pirates no doubt milttook him for that officer. It is impossible, as yet, to say who are the dead passengers; but it is thought they formed part of the gang of pirates. There were about 150 paseengers on board in all. Both mate and purser also bravely resisted the attack, and did all that could be done; but they were of course soon -overpowered. When very badly wounded, and seeing further resistance useless, they are said to have jumped overboard. One of the firemen was also killed, and it was owing to the fact of the others secreting themselves that the vessel ever reached Macao. Out of twentytwo cases of silk on board only eight or ten pounds were taken; but as amongst the property stolen from Mr, Mundy there were several English sovereigns, it is to be hoped that these and the lost note may afford a clue to the discovery of the robbers. Seven thousand dollars, in notes of the Hong Kong banks and in silver, were taken from the purser. The incentiee to the outrage is supposed to have arisen in a rumour to the Oleo.; that a gambling' home proprietor was going down to ?