FREEBOOTERS IN CHINA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 April 1910, Page 3

FREEBOOTERS IN CHINA.

1101! Rl UNO CIUJICI/riES

[IIY KIiKCTItIO TKLKGIMPU-COPlrtlOHT.]

[.PER IMIKB3 ASSOCIATION. "J (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) J'OKT DARWIX, April IS).

News by the eastern mail gives some details of the taking of a Chinese city, Lwai aeii llsien, by robbers. The city was built on an island in Liu River, about three days' journey from Kweilin, the capital of Kwa.ngsi province. The conntry around was precipitous and mountainous and afforded secure retreats for bandits. The robbers killed several officials and many of the inhabitants. The young men of the place were made to stand in line like cattle. They were 'then secured by holes pierced through a protruding portion of the nose or through the llesh at the back of the ankles, through which pieces of string were passed. Eventually the captives were utilised as beasts of burden. All the good-looking young girls in the city were also mustered by tht l robbers and carried off by them into the mountain I'ust.nesses. The concluding scene in the tragedy was the. setting fire 'to the town. The correspondent says although these things as a rule are little heard of, similar outrages to the above are of frequent occurrence inland. Village after village, and city after city, have been plundered by heartless hands of free-hooters, who are rarely captured or punished.