(From the Adclaid Obscrver.)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 216, 24 June 1848, Page 2

(From the Adclaid Observer.)

With other interesting news from Singapore, per Hero, we have to record a cocl«ncholy instance of the imminent danger incurred by the owneis and commanders of any merchant vessel in taking a considerable number of convicts without a military or other ■sprcial and sufficient guard, Ou the 2nd January the ship General Wood, com-

manded by Captain JStnkoe, with Messrs. Quintom. Turaroony, and Gill, as bis Ist, 2nd, and 3rd mates ; and havinvf as cabin passenger-. Lieutenant Seymour (Bombay Cavalry), Mrs. Seymour, and Mr. Farquhar ; sailed trom Singapore bound to I'enang with ninety- | one Chinese convicts (seventeen of them convicted of ' piracy) and one Macao Portuguese transported from Hongkong, as also two convicts from Malacca, put on board (at Singapore; making a total number of 91 convicts, whom twelve lascars, selected from the crew, wore appointed toguaid. The Chinese convicts were but lightly ironed, although most of them atiocious offendeis, and under thiity years of ai>e. On the Captain's application at Hongkong 53 pairs of Handcuffs weie sent on board, but so well did these men behave m the passage down from China to Singapore, that not more that seven pairs were used; this quiet conduct appears to have put the captain oft" his guard. The Hongiong authorities are blamed as being fully awaie of the character of the villains deported, and yet not adopting sufficient precautions ; but the follow, ing particulars are sufficient, we think, to fix the blame on those who, from commercial motives, completely altered the original arrangements for sate custody :—- " The General Wood shipped two Chinese lascars at Whampoa ; one had previously been two years in the ship, the other wai a new hf»nd. She remained at Hongkong four days, and while there shipped eight men, three as lascars, and five to do duties of sepoys. When the convict* were taken on board they had on leg irons and haudcuffs; they were then locked up in a prison built upon the lower deck, between the foie and main hatchways. A chain was brought from the shore, and rore through their leg irons, the end being secured with a padlock to one of the stsneheom. On the voyage down from China there were always a guard at night over the convicts, consisting of six lascars, one tindel, and four sepoys, armi d with boarding pikes, cutbsses, pistols, and muskets. Two of the si'poya wtre stationed below on the mainhatch, one on the foreliatch. " There were three Chinese passenger! from Macao, who landed ut Singapore. On an hal of the ship she discharged all the stone ballast, and took in a large cargo of sugar. The 'tween decks was filled up with planks, &c. The prison that had been built up for the convicts was knocked down, and tbe whole space filled up, with the exception of a small part abreast of the main hatchway, whidi, not being sufficient to contain ail the convicts, room was made for some of them abreast the after hatchway. The firewood was store.! on the 'tween decks where the convkts were kept. Four of the Chinese who were employed to cook for the rest of tbu convicts, eight who were sick, and two who weic sent on board at Singapore, had not the chain passed through their leg irons, as the otheis had. The key of the padlock that secured the lock of the chain which fastened the rest of the convicts was left with the sepoy, who kept watch among them on the main* ' t hatch." I At 9 p.m. of the day ol the General vVbod's dapaiture from Singapore, the ship Wat anchored end the sails furled. About 1 a.m. the Chinese convicts broke loose, gained the deck, and succeeded in seizing tbe ship's arms, including about nine muskets in the thud officer's cabin, six boarding pikes in the rack I between the stancheons of the poop rail ; and a box containing' cutlasses, bayonets, tomahawks, and pistols, which was. kept under the poop ladder on the pert s;de. i The lascar crew alarmed, made for the rigging ; others jumped oierboard, and some were killed by the mutineers. The night being dark the Chinese convicts lighted up the deck ' b by means of cups filled with oil j and cotton, and tho e^uot previously lieed commenced knocking off their irons with much clatnoui. The unavailing opposition made by Captain Stokoe and his officer, and the fate ot thote unlortunatos, and so muny of the crew, will subsequently appear fioai Lieuteuunt Seymour's narrative. At daylight on the morning of the 3rd January it Wiis found that eighteen or nineteen lascars were missing, and also three ChuHah passengers, the captain and fiist officers' servants. The convicts ordered the Titidal (u petty officer among lascars), to loose tbe sails. This man wanted to heave the anchor up, and make a long job of if, so as to have a chance of attracting the notice of a brig, also at anchor, but the convicts abusrd and threatened. They then knocked out the pin nnd bolt of a shackle, and let the chain runout. The brig got under weigh at the tame time, but did not near the ship. The subsequent prograis of the desperadoes wi<h the ship, aud the final catastrophe, must be gathered from the narratives of eye witnesses, one of whom says :— « " One of the Chinese lascars said he knew the way back to China, and took upon himself to direct the ■hip's couise. He took the ship through Dryan'i Straits. A day or two after we passed a ship ; the Chinese hoisted our ensign to her, but would not answer the signals the made. The ship was afterwards anchored close to an island, where eight or nine of the Chinese landed in the cutter, taking with them two lascars. A junk hove iv sight, and the Chinese made signals to her to come within hail by waiving a red fl.ig on a long spar. When she neared, the Chinese on board said they would take possession of her. The cutter went from the island to the junk, and after some time returned to the ship. On the 19th day the ship was hove to, close to another island, where some of the Chinese landed and bought fowls and cocoanuts. On the 20th day (viz., January 23rd), at about 9 a.m., the ship struck on a reef, called Great Natunas, about nine miles distant from an island called Pulo last. There was a light breeze and a smooth sea ; after she struck the boats were hoisted out j many of the Chinese, the paisengers, and some of the laacars went on shore in them. About sixteen lascari and fifteen convicts remained in the ship, waiting the return of the boats. The water rose up to tbe maindeck ; at about I p.m. she slid off the rocks, and went down head foremost. Sevaral persons were floating about over the spot on tbe spars, hen coops, &c. " After the Chinese got possession of the ship, they took one of the hatches off, and broke out the cargo* eating and drinkinganything they fancied. Every man was armed each with some of the ship's arms, or with knives and thick pieces of wood The crew now muster, I syrane, I gunne-, 1 seacunny, 3 tindals, 27 lascars, 2nd and 3rd officers' servant!, 2 topases, 1 c»ssaub, 1 Ceylonese, and 1 sepoy, in all 40 persons." The convicts wantsd to kill the lady pas c enger, but after it was explained to them that if they killed any one, the Malays would look upon them as pirates, and treat them as such, they desisted. We now proceed to Lieut. Seymour's narrative. " Dear Sir, — I beg to send you the following account of the loss of the ship General Wood, bound ! from this port to Penang with convicts from China : — " On Sunday, the 2nd of January, at 6 a.m., the General Wood weighed anchor, and stood out of the tuibourwilh a fair wind, in company with the Morand Sarah Crisp, After rounding the Rabbit and Coney we had a btifF brews light against us. At one o'clock j the Mor was out of sight ; towards six o'clock in the j evening we pas&ed the Sarah Crisp, and the wind and tide being both against us, anchored off the Carim6ns ; shortly after this we retired, it was then the chief officer* watch. At about half-past one or two o'clock j

in the mornine; we were auakcnel hv a '"'id nofcc on deck, and the smashing of glass inside the ruddy, I immediately rose and went to the door of our cabin for the purpose ot asceitihiing the reason of the iiproai. I had scaicely touched the hnndlc, when the door which sepiuates the captain's cibin from ours was thrown suddenly open, and Captain Slokee rushed in, exclaiming, ' For God's sake shut the door, and ketp it fast." He tns almost immediately followed by Mr. Andrew Farquhar, one of the passengers. Having secured the entiauce, I turned and asked the captain to tell me what was the matter, but could get no reply from him. He (the captain) appeared to have lost all his presence of mind, and kept running up and down, exclaiming at different intervals, ' O Merciful Father, what luve I done that this should happen ; O Blessed Jesus, save us, &c.' All this time he had his pistol case in his hand. After repeating the question over and ovur again, as to what had occurred, lie iu formed me that the convicts had risen, and had taken possession of the vessel and cuddy, where the arms had been placed. I then asked him, as to whether anything could be done, and what bad become of the mates and crew. His reply was, the convicts have got the fire arms, nothing can now be effected. He was ignorant of the fate of his officers, and the lascais must have all hid themselves After this Captain Stokoe became calmer, and commenced loading his pistols. Just as this was done we heard the cries of Mr. Gill, the third officer, followed by heavy blows—the moan* became fainter and fainter. Captain Stokoe went outside the cabin door, and fired his pistols without any effect. He then rushed back again dragging Mr. Gill, whom he threw upon the mattrass, which happened to be on the floor. Mr. GiU had a sheet thrown around him, and was one mass of blood from head to foot ; he lay there groaning,|*iid on our asking him where he was wounded, he said he did not know, but from the excruciating pain he w<iB suffering in bis thigh, thought it must be broken. He must have been dreadfully mutilated, as not a white spot could be seen on his body from the large quantity of blood. Captain Stokoe was perfectly incapacitated from doing anything, and remained without acting at all. I put the question to him, as to whether there was any way of getting down iuto the hold, where we might hide Mrs. Seymour and her ayah. He said at first no, but afterwards commenced tearing up the planks which covered the locker, but to our disappointment the aperture by the rudder down to the hold was tuo small for ev«n Mrs. S. to attempt. We then requested Captain S. to speak to the Chinese, and offer them the boat if they would spare our lives : his answer was, ' Thoie wretches know no mercy ' lie *>aid he would try and speak to the convicts, and went out ot the quarter gallery port for that purpose, after which neither saw nor heard tny thing more of him. When When Captain S. had left us 1 put out all the lights iv our cabin, for fear of the cjnvicts seemg 1 what we were about. During the time I held the door, it whs twice tried to be opened by the convicts, but, on li'idmg it secured, they retired. I then directed Mrs. beyinoitr aud the ayah to hide themselves in the quarter gallery at the last resource. I could see through the chinks of the door what was going on in the cuddy : the convicts I seemed busy knocking off their jrous and rifl nn o ' the j mate's cabin. Alter &ome lime a body ot them, armed with the ship's axes, speais, Sec, commenced bieaking in the other cabin doors, and seeing it was then useless f r me alone to stand by the door any longer, 1 retired tj the quarter galleiy, where the rest were, exclaiming 'The convicts are breaking open the doora.' Mr. Andrew Farquhar then left u», and we saw no more of him until the morning. We then heard hem breaking open our cabin door— there was a scuffle— Mr. Gi.J, who had been lying on the cabin floor, immediately rushed into tte quarter gallery, bunging Witll him a bayonet (the only available weapon, durng the whole period, that we had), and closed the dooi alter him, desiring me to assist in secuiing the same, 'lhe convicts, after trying two or three times to foice itwithout success, withdrew. We now knew our on'y hope ot sately lay in remaining quiet whe c we were until daylight, which we thought must thon be near at hand. At tha time, we imagined the ccnvicis would either take to the boats and leave the ship, or some vessel might come down to render us assist iiice. "We sat mi dreadlul suspense for above an hour or more, and our feelings may be well imagined when we heard over our he,idf> the sounds ol a pjr&on being dragged forward, followed by blows, evidently inflicted by a heavy sharp instrument upon some toft substance, and then a dull splash in the water. This was repeated five times. After the lapse ot a minute or two we heard the clashing of the men's leg irons as they again came to our door. On finding it secure they burst in one of the panels, and thrust their epeais and swords through, upon which Mr. Gill called out, ' I say, Foki, why lor you want to kill me,' which was answered by • Come out, come out,' and a repetition of the thrusting of the spears and swords. Mr. Gill took the bayonet to olVdr resistance, but iv the attempt got dreadluHy cut and wounded abont the hand, the Chinese taking good care not to come within the leach of any weapon that he might have, but to keep at speai's length. They then broke the door to splinters. Mr. Gill, being w the way of their weapons, was unable to stand the agony from the wounds he was receiving, and got out of the quarter galleiy window, efter which he was no more seen. I had taken up my sword, but found, owing to J its length, and the confined size of the place we were j iv, that I was unable to use it, especially, as I said be- | fore, on account of the convicts being out of the reach of my weapon. As yet we hoped we might escape, tor they were ignorant of our being on board, having broken open the door and seeing the port open, and it also being dark, we remained unperceived, and the Chinese retired ; it was, however, for a few paces only, for one of them returned bearing a lantern in his hand, from the reflection of which we were discovered. 1 wa« immediately dragged out, and surrounded by a number of the convicts, armed with every deicription of arms that they had been able to lay hold of. They then forced me forward to the weather gangway, where they made signs I was to go overboard, and, to faci'i • tate my egress, commenced to cut me down. I fell over some span, and received two cuilass wounds, and in attempting to evade others, fell backwards with my head forenoon into the sea. Not being able to Bwim, I laid hold of a rope that was over the ship's side; whilst in that position two men were thrown overboard close to me, one a corpse, but the other, not being hurt, got into the maiu chains, whence he would not j lender me any assistance, although I entreated him to do so. Not being able to hold any longer, and feeling almost sure that all had been murdered ou boardi 1 gave myself up as lost, and let go my hold. 13y chance 1 floated to the after part of the ship, wheie the ship'a gig was suspended With one end in the water (Captain Stokoe having attempted to cut it away duiiag the night), and remained there concealed until daylight, when I was called up by the convicts, who assured me that I s lould not be hurt if I came on board. I did so with difficulty, being much bruised from the heavy swell that kept continually striking the boat against th<j ship's siern. I theie met Mr. Faiqohar and Mis. Seymour, who had suffered no hurt, but had been dreadfully frightened from the Chineie, Vflio hud repeatedly menaced her life. They frequently said that, had flhe been the wife of Mr. CuUUve.ll, the Depu'y

Superintendent of Police i\t Hongkong, thtj wo'ild have chopped l>er inro pieces \\ hen on f ] Pr | { / perceived almig nt nnchoi close to leward ot us. 'flic Ch'iuse. on fimlin" we could not navigate tin* si jj, ( or them, confined us to our cabin, and being shown by the Clvine-c sailors on board, they slipped the c.ib!o. nnd stood to the south-east, striving- to avoid Singnpoie h.irhour. After we were under way I observed the ship's hie; fljating towards the land, and the brig noticed before standing nfler us with all sail fef, when she suddenly changed her course, and slecred for Singapore. The same evening v ve saw a ship standing towards us ; the convicts Jbeu put the crew under hatches, and handcuffed them — the ship passed on without noticing us. At night the gunner's mate at* tempted to run the ship ashore, bnt the Chinese being too vigilant, he could not succeed. Mjs. Seymom's a) all, from the effects of the fit st night's fright, became deranged on the third day, and notwithstanding our endeavours to prevent her, jumped overboard and was drowned. After tacking ofF and on at the pleasure of the Chinese, day after day. on Fiiday, the 2Jth January, we sighted the Gieat N.itunes. On Saturday, the 21st, with a light wind aft and no swell, the vessel stiuckat 9 a.m. After losing much time in endeavouring to get her off, the Chinese got out the boats. We all quitted the vessel, with the exception of thirty Lascars and ten or twelve convicts, who were left to kill the lailoi's and blow the ship up, having failed to do so once before At the time we left, 1 o'clock p.m., she had settled down with her lower decks underwater, and we had juat got half way to the shore, when the vessel was obseived to turn round and go down, after which no vestige of her was seen We arrived at sunset at an island, where it was the intention ot our captors to murder the passengers, but Jortunately the Malays, hearing of our arrival, came down. The ringleader of the Chinese told us that we were to remain on that spot until 3 o'clock a ra,, when they intended to lake us away again ; we appealed to the Malays, requesting their assistance, informing them of our situation, and who we were. The Chinese being busy in looking afier thiir effects, the Malays took us away, followed by the Lascars, some distance before we weie noticed. We were pursued, bnt on three Malaya lurning and facing our puisucrs, they retreated. We were then taken to the Malay's house, fiom whence a letter was immediately dispatched to the Rajah on another island, the Malays declining to meddle with the Chinese before receiving; his orders. An answer wao not received from befote the next morn n^, by which lime most of the Chinese had gone, taking with them a couple of boats, and bieakmg the other. They lei£ eighteen of their countrymen behind, who weie all secured and bound, alone; with four Chinese belonging to the General Wood. The next day we were taken io the llajah's house, whe Ireated us vety kindly until our departmc, in native pi amis, in about a month after* wards. While on the island, one convict hung; himself. We experienced, on our passage to Singapore, very heavy weather, and at one time were in imminent danger. With regard to the fate of the first and second officers, nothing 1 certa.n is known, but it is supposed both were drowned ; also Captain Stokoe. Wlu.st the Chinese weie in possession of the drip, they plundered Mr-, feeymour of all her trinkels, and kept us all in continual fear of our lives, there being always some eight or nine, sometimes more, armed m the cabin during the night. Having bst eveiything we possessed* we ariived here With the scanty clothing we secured before quitting the ship. 1 must not omit to mention the kind treatment we all experienced at the hmdsof the Rajah of the Great Natui.a* durng our. stay on the island of Bungoran, and subsequently oa. our way here, which I trust the authoi nies will duly take into consideration, Youri truly, } L. W. Seymour, Lt. 2d Kept. J3.L.C. " P.S. — T may add, that during the time we were prisom ra on board, it would not only have been useIcs, but sheer mndnes?, to have attempted to regain, the General Wood, especially as vve had no aims of any description to avail of; and any endeavour of that sort would have been followed by the immediate death of the passengers and crew.*' We may mention, as a proof of the despondency of the lieretofoie insolent Chinese convicts when they lound themselves in the power of the Malays, ihit one of them hanged himself io a tree during the nigrht, after which two of the crew kept watch over them with, swords, provided by the ' Ddtoo Kya." It appears, r'rom the statement of an eye witness, that Captain Stokoe cut away one of the boat's falls, and commenced cutting away the other, but received a sword cut on the hands, and then iVH into the water, where he held oa by a rope, until he became eshaustej, and then perished. An Ejiopean, John Green, who embarked at Hong* kong, and was woikmg his passage to Bombay (dome; the duty of a Sepoy sentinel), wrs fearfully beaten about the head by the convicti, and being in a helpless condition, went down with the shipThus has been the General Wood, like the Harriett Scott, and the Freak, some time ago, sacrificed Io tbat cruel policy which sends convicts on board merohaut vessels without a sufficient guard. If governments wilt not disallow such careless, transport, it is high time for underwriters to interfere. The insurance offices at Singapore will suffer considerable loss by the General Wood catastrophe, the policies bemg a^ under :— One agency (fwo offices) 23,000 dollais ditto (two offices) 16,000 " ditto 10,000 " ditto (about) 3,000 '• The ship is supposed to have been insured in China by the owners, Messrs. Jardjne, Mathesou, and Co., and it is presumed that the whole of the risks taken upon the vessel and cargo have exceeded two lacs of rupees, in addition to which there was a large amount of cargo shipped at Singapore, by Arabs, who religiously decline opposing tale, which they imagine they would do by effecting insurance upon their property. Tne captain, officers, and crew a,tpear to have been overcome by a surprise that rendered them powerless ; for only one of the convicts died from a shot wound, and by whom that was inflicted does not appear. Mis. Seymour's ayah (lady's maid) jumped overboard under the influence of terror, aud perished by drowning.