STORY OF THE TAI ON TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14980, 29 May 1914, Page 3

STORY OF THE TAI ON TRAGEDY.

SPLEXDID FIGHT BY BRITISH OFFICERS.

The E. aud A. Company's steamer Aldcnham, which arrived at Sydney trom KoDo last week, icmud the rest dents of Hong-Kong 'v a state ol great excitement on hor ai'rival t.«crc on April 26th, news having just come through rcgaiding the aaack by Cmpirates on tho On fc.o. Company's steamer Tai un. which had left tfong-Koug, bound lor West Kivor ports, shortly before. According to the information re-' oftived by tnc Aldenham s othcois (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"), tno attack* was of a most, iorocious and bloodthirsty nature, and the desperadoes were ouiy checked in their wild rush by tho outstanding bravery of Captain" R. 11. WcthcrcU, Chief Engineer T. D. McCartney, and Guard A. Diaz, who, armed with automatic pistols, made a most gallant stand on the vcsstfl'b bridge, and mowed down the pirates as they attempted to scramble, up tho coin pan ion-ways to get possession of the wheelhoueo. The methods adopted hy the pirates were similar to those followed in tho recent attacks on the Norwegian steamer Childar and tue Chinese steamer Shingtai. The Tai On left Hong-Kong with several hundred Chinese on board, including tho pirates, who were disguised as passengers. When the steamer was about 35 miles west of Hong-Kong, the pirates drew revolvers and automatic pistols, and, after shooting down all the passengers, who came in their way on the lower deck, made a rush for tho bridge.

DEFENDING TiiE BRIDGE. Their progress was xinintcrrupcod until they reached tho two compauionways leading to tho briagc, and iiere 3 according to one of" tho Auienham's officers, they met with a very warm ro.ception. / Tho two British officers and Diaz, the Portuguese armed guard, sent a shower of bullets into tho leaders, whoso dead l/odies fell back on their comrades.

The yellow mob, however, continued to swarm towards tho companionways, and'tho throe revolvers on mc bridge barked more rapidly. Chineso after fell back dead or wounded, but it was not until tbirtv dead and dying men were piled up at the foot of tho gangways that the pirates ceased their attack on tho wheelhouse, and retired to safer quarters. During the rush, ifc is stated, Diass was responsible for some very eifective ishooting. Chief-engineer McCartney, who distinguished himself-in a previous raid on the Tai On last year, again upheld the traditions of his Scottish ancestors, and fought with great bravery. Captain "Wetherell's revolver, too, ac counted for at least eight of the pirates". ' .■■•■'

After retiring vto cover, the pirates called on the gallant derendera of tne vessel's bridge to surrender, but received a reply more forcible than polite—They then threatened to set firs' to the steamer, and burn- the white men out, bnt even this did not cause the latter.to yield. ,Tho pirates then retired below, ; aud clouds of smoke soon proved that theirs had been no idle threat. It is believed that they at. first intended to merely smoke the captain and engineer out of their position, bnt the fire apparently got beyond them, and in a short space ot time tho whole vessel was ablaze INDISCRIMINATE SLAUGHTER. Tho pirates had previously takon possession of the engine-room, after shooting the second engineer, and they held command of the lower decks of the vessel. The Portuguese man, Diaz, partly carried the figfat into tho enemy's camp, and sounds oi shots kept ringing IVom various parts of the steamer. "When the fire- had gained a strong hold on the vessel tho pnssongers and pirates became mixed up in a wild scramble for safety. The seeno was indescribable. The pirates indulged in indiscriminate slaughter amongst the passengers, and tho flames leapt up, consuming both the dead and dying. Tho pirates were now caught in their own trap. They were unable to secure possession of tho bridge and take tho -steamer to the spot where it had been •arranged for email boats to moot hor and take them off with their loot. However, steamers bound for Hon"Kong caw the plight of the Tai On, and went to hor assistance. Those of tho pirates who had not jumped overboard" to escape death from fire mixed wih the other Chineso passengers, and were Tcscucrl. The three defenders a? the vessel's bridge were also brought on to HongKong after having been forced to jump overboard bsfore being rescued. Wlu'lc doing so the mate Evans was shot. The Tai On was burned to -a shell, and ifc was estimated that no fewer than 160 Chinese were shot or burned to death.

BRAVERY EKCOGXTSED

On tho arrival in Hong-Kong of tho survivors, Captain Wethcrell, Chief Engineer McCartney, and Guard Diaz were summoned before his Excellency Sir F. H. 3l.iy, K:C.M.G., the Governor of Hing-Kong, and -vvero each presented with a letter expressing the Government's appreciation of their bravery in defending (he vessel agaiust overwhelming odds. w In addressing the heroes, his Excellency described the pirates as "nothing but devils, who deserved no mercy.'' and stated that the Government would do its utmost to provent a recurrence of such au act. His Eseellenov concluded by saying:— -'I am nofc goinc to have tho British fln£ insulted by a" lot of dastardly Chinese pirates—or'pirates of any other nationality.' . His Excellency also expressed reprot at the loss ot the mate. Mr Evans, who met. his death on tho night of the attack.