TERRIBLE MUTINY AT SEA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2221, 16 February 1886, Page 2

TERRIBLE MUTINY AT SEA.

A. JJubJin correspondent telegraphs a sensational story of a mutiny which is said to have ocour'red some weeks since on a ship belonging to the British Mercantile Marine, which has beou doing duty as a Chinese transport in the Chinese seas. The name of the ship is not given, a circumstance which throws doubt upon its authenticity. The writer states that hig steamer was chartered by the Chinese for 10,000 dols., to take to Hankow from Amoy, 600 miles, 2,600 Black Flag troops, who had been disbanded from tho Tonkin, war. On their march to Amoy thoy had committed fearful murders and atrooities, and the Govornmont wore very anxious to get them from Amoy, where they wore a terror. At the embarkation about one thousand were disarmed, butthey crowded on board too fast, and tho work of disarming had to be abandoned. Many of them wore drunk, and carried liquor with them and were fit for any mischief. The ship was crowded to excess, the bridge, poop, forecastle, befcween-decke, and the lower holds being packed. Aftor getting away with great difficulty, the Black Flaga commenced gambling, having plenty of money about them, and were $ night quarrelling, fighting and, murdering each other. Numbers wjere thrown overboard alivo or dead. Some were stabbed, others were strangled, and not one of tho ship's crew dare interfore. Tho writer bimseif saw three murdered men pitched overboard during the night. When morning came dozens of dead bodies were thrown overboard, some of them having been smothered, squeezed to death, or died from thirst. A party of the Black Flags seized the water on board and guarded it, refusing any of the crow. A fearful ctUßh followed on the other Black Flags trying to get at tho water. The heat was fearful, and many died from thirst. Tho Black Flags destroyed all tho food, threw the rice overboard with the cooking apparatus, and threatened, tq kill |he onoks. They eventually began to drink sea-water. The sailors, who were fearfully parched, crawled down to the engine mom and got condensed water, and drank it though it was. quite hot. Things became still more serious, and tho Black Flags threatened to kill the crew, drawing knives acrons thoir own throafa to convey to the sailors their- meanii.g. They succeeded in getting hold of the captain by the beard, and held a knife to his throat. Eventually the vessel was put back to Amoy, whew a British warship was anchored.. Tho commander of the latter prepared- to sweep the vessel's dock with bis Gatlings, and eventually , boarded her.' the Bffltineeii w»n tilt* jtadiojo! deck

Chinese gunboats subsequently arrived and took off the black flags, those'ref usine to land as best ■ they could. ;•. Sjijfflf tho mutineers were at once beheawft and 100 bastinadoed. Five dead ralmeer* \ ",' were afterwards found in tho. lower hojd . P) having been crushed to death.]:.:.;...", M" ' '■—' l ' i .P' v »' r --k •