CHINESE PIRATES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1152, 13 June 1911, Page 6

CHINESE PIRATES.

THE LOOTING OF A MAIL STEAMEB, A stirring account of the wreck of tlio Pacific mall stoaiucr Asia on tho Tui-> show Islands was given by the passengers who arrived at Shanghai on board tho China Navigation Company's steamer Shaohsing. They report that when tho captain saw tiie reeks through the fog it was too iato to save the ship. He therefore went full speed ahead in jrder to drive tho vessel lirmly on the rocks, and thus prevent her from slipping back into deep water. Fortunately thero was uo panic, and tho work of landing the passengers proceeded in the most orderly manner, notwithstanding the fact that a fleet of piratical Chinese j links_ was hovering in. the vicinity, and was with difficulty kept at bay by Die officers firing revolvers. The mails and belongings of tho passengers were saved, as well as somo of, thp cargo. The pas.-engers pay a warm tribute to the courage and good management of the captain and officers. Tho pirates aro reported to have swarmed on the wreck and looted everything available despite the efforts of tho officers, who fired revolvers. Tho pirates protected themselves behind mattresses. They were driven oft' one side, and swarmed up the other, from hundreds of boats. The Asia subsequently slipped off tho rocks, and was submerged to the funnel; The pirates took pos.ier.sion, and mobbed Mr. Cozen, chief engineer, and Arundel,' a water tender, who wore taking ofT tfta mails on the last boat. Cozen shot two of the pirates. The Europeans and tho crew went on board the boats of tliA pirates, who rowed them ashore, and held tho Europeans prisoners nil night. Thev ngretil to row them to the America, ilaru if the Europeans would sign a contract agreeing to ■ pay .£OO. Five hundred rounds of ammunition wero fired at tho pirates. __________

Strong action is being.taken by postmen in Great Britain to securo I lie abolition of Christmas boxes, Resolutions aro being passed in various districts'against Hie practice. A strongly-worded protest is made by the Manchester and Salfoitl offices and by that at Glasgow, which calls on the executive of the nieYi's .society to "take whatever stcjvs they tlcom necessary to secure the discontinuance' and degrading practice of soliciting Christmas boxes by postmen, (he prohibition (o take placo whether compensation is or is not granted by (he Department.''