MODERN PIRATES.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1924, Page 1

MODERN PIRATES.

ARMED MEN RAID STEA.MER. A VESSEL LOOTED. PARIS, October 29. A feat of piracy which would have delighted the heart of honest John Silver, and in which lie and his wooden limb would have enacted a foremost role, lias just come to light. 'The good ship .Mulliou.se, belonging to a French cod fishery company of Fecamp in the Seiuo-1 nlericuro, left Halifax, Canada, with a cargo of 3(5,200 eases of Scotch whisky, destined it is alleged, for various linns in Europe. The total value of tlio cargo was about 5,000,000 fanes. Captain Ferraro was in command. The Alulliouse was steaming slowly in ncurtal waters, twenty miles distant from the Canadian shores when she was hailed by the schooner Patara, whose captain wanted to buy some liquor. Alter some bartering Hie captain •>I the Falara ollered to Lake fifty cases. It was finally agreed that there should be a second meeting, when a larger order might he given. So far, so good. Later on the Alulliouse was once more accosted by a schooner; and the two captains were discussing terms when a score of sailors, armed to the tooth, who bad until then been concealed below deck, suddenly boarded the Alulliouse, smashed the wireless apparatus, and in a twinkling rendered themselves masters of the ship. They I lien proceeded to transfer as much as they could of the cargo lo their own vessel. After this another schooner hove in sight, and then another, and so tlie game continued for ten long days. The pirates were generous in their way, for they did not make the captain and bis men walk the plank. They even left sufficient liquor in the bold of the Alulliouse to make it impossible for the captain to put in to an American port.

Some days later a schooner put into the French Colony of St l’ierrc, .Miquelon, oil' Newfoundland, and the crow were detained to nice any information they could about the raiding vessels. The ]>irates’ exploit was all the more daring inasmuch iis the Mulliouse is stated by M. llourcade, managing director of the company, to he a ship of 2300 tons, whereas the first attackin'; schooner was only about 1-iO tons. Mr llourcade is convinced that the details of the plot were long and carefully worked out. It was easy for the pirates to learn what the cargo was, and then to lie in wait. It is now a question of discovering the pirates and bringing them to justice. From a judicial point of view, as tlie Mulhouse was hoarded in neutral waters and ns it is a French vessel, it will he possible to demand extradition of the pirates, if and when they are found.