CHINA.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3059, 4 December 1878, Page 2

CHINA.

iPBB PBKSS jIjBI^CY.)

(,: vi m .: Honokon^, October 7. . For some time* past crime has been inJcr£a#ing here tojan rflarming^tentfi A state of terrorismTexists almost appsfcsching panic.,, Burglaries hare, been almost ' occurrences 1/ 1 Wi&ih^he last fortnight the colony has'been thflown. into an unprecedented staff pf ewritement By the occurrence of several by bands of robbers/ The first 6f them occured on the night, of the^thi ultimo, and is a most mysterious-affair. The Praya is a road running., along the harbour." Behind the Praya iVihe Chinese quarter of the town, .and in it is a lane called Winglockf rirtreet; r 4« :phineae gold-smith's shop is situated on one side, fronting on /V^inglock street, . and the other to'the Praya. This shop had re-; /ceived a large quantity of treasure from! San Francisco, which seems "to'.'Ji'ave become known to thieves, and shortly after midnight they mustered "about town ii numbers estimated from 80 to 100, armed with bamboo spears'and' firdaimsv. The*" landed in boats,,most probably a nesHbf pirates from the adjacent mainland. Their attack was arranged, with iCoristfmffiate skill and care. No one saw them^^pd* although policemen are stationed all alon^ the Praya at short intervals. The thievei . stationed one band to watch the Prayl N entrance of the house, while another went to Winglock street, and here a few of the men goi into ;the house'through a- window upstairs, which, they,. reached by „ means of a bamboo ladder. A coolie whom they;disturbed,was kept quiet by, threat of murder, and the thieves quietly« pursued their search of drawers and, cupboards until they came to the safe. They were provided with cold chisels, hamujers and toiches for heating iron. Their operations caused some noise, and^i^ose in the house were aroused. The men outside called to them that it was oh fire, and they taust stop/where they were ,until a ladder arrived. A Chinese watchman now appeared on the sceae^ iaod was received with a stab from « spear in the groin. These spears are most formidable weapons, fixed on bamboos 20 feet long. The watchman blew his whistle while lying on the ground, and a few constables from a neighboring: station v came..up, bat they were armed only with 'truncheons, and the, robbers, opening fire upon them, they were compelled to return- for their rifles. The. thieves received them, with their spears and firearms, and six of the. constables received ( serious* ? though happily not ratal, injuries. ' One of the robbers was shot dead by a constable, and • it is supposed; that several others were wounded or killed, but if so, they were carried off by theiroampanions. who made a clean retreat on the arrival of reinforcements of the police.-' Moa% of,,t|iem,it is believed; got away by water, ihougti some probably escaped by neighbouring lanes. The water party, to facilitate their retreat, stole a steam launch,, which was not, missed until several hours had elapsed. The launch, on being chased by the police boat, fired on the latter, and then escaped.