Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1864-12-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

CHINA.  The steamer Cycle, which left Shanghai on the Ist of October for the interior, with upwards of 20,000 dollars on board, has been captured and sunk by pirates, aided by Cantonese; portion of the crew and the master murdered.  SHANGHAI, Oct. B.—Her Majesty's gunboats Hardy and Staunch have just returned from a successful cruise after pirates among the islands of the Chusan group. On leaving Ningpo the two vessels proceeded in different directionf towards the spot where it was anticipated that A piratical nest would be found, in order to intercept any junks that might attempt to escape. The latter, however. appeared to have gain3d scent of the expedition, and had all disappeared when two gunboats arrived off Kitsu island, one of their favourite resorts. As, however, the whole Chusan archipelago abounds in cover to which it is well known that pirates habitually resort, it was determined to prosecute the search. On the morning of the 12th the gunboats again arrived off Sheipoo on their way back to Ningpo, and this time were more fortunate in their visit. The pirates had evidently flattered themselves that the search was over in this direction, and had doubled back to Sheipoo as soon as the gunboats had left it. Armed boats were sent from each, which surprised and captured two junks and 25 of the crews after little resistance, the whole affair being over within two hours. On the following morning the Staunch steamed to the bottom of the harbour and brought out another pirate junk, which had been deserted by her crew. Having landed the prisoners to be dealt with by the native authorities, the two gunboats steamed out of the bay by daylight on the 14th, but had not gone far when they perceived the mast of a junk peering over a point of land at a considerable distance. Casting off the junks and anchoring them outside, they steamed as close to the spot as the shallowness of water would allow, and then sent away their boats fully manned and armed in pursuit. Tha latter after a pull of about four miles among the islands, came in sight of two vessels benched on the mud in a beautifully secret cove, where they, no doubt, conceived themselves quite safe from discovery. The moment the boats appeared at the entrance, the jnnks opened a sharp fire with grape and gingall balls from the four guns which each carried in her broadside. The shots, however were badly directed and the attacking party were able to land without loss, and take ups position on some high land, from which they poured hot a fire of musketry that the pirates soon abandoned their vessels and scudded along the mud flats at their best speed, several being knocked down in their flight. on descending to the beach the victors found eight men lying with their throats cut, and on boarding the junks three others in the same condition. Another man, who _  was lying bound, but alive, was released, and informed the captors that he and the murdered men belonged to the large Foochow junk, which had been taken by the pirates a few days previously, and that 20 others of hi comrades were lying bound below. The latter were as once released, and were taken by the Hardy to the spot where they said their junk had _been left at anchor. It is needless to say that she was restored to them. Later in the afternoon the two junks were blown up, and the gunboats set out on their return to Ningpo, the Hardy having in tow the Foochow trader, and the Staunch the two junks that had been captured at Sheipoo. This must be considered a highly successful cruise, five large piratical junks having been destroyed and a large trading vessel and her crew released.