Piracy.

Manawatu Herald, 21 September 1899, Page 3

Piracy.

News has been recsived of a daring case of piracy on the West River, China. It appeas thai; on the 20th ulfc the steamer Taiping, registered undfr the Portngnpse flap, was bound from Macao to Samshui, via Kongmoon, and was about fiv^ mi'es below the latter place, when she was attacked by pirates. Then ran alongside in a pteam launch and at once commenced firing their vifle=* and a heavy charge or two from a cannon. They sprang up the sides of the Portuguese steamer, and boarding the vessel, drove the crew below from (he upper deck. They then mude the purser, Mr Ozorio, vi ho had resisted .by. firing on the pirates, come up on deck, and there promptly shot him in the side. The crpw being powerless, the ruffians robbed the passengers, of whom there were forty on board, and, having generally plundered the steamer, they left with their booty. Just before taking their departure they went below, and, as they thought, disabled the vessel's engines. By packing up the machinery, the vessel got back to Macao, but the life of the plucky purser was despaired of when she reached port.