A HORROR OF THE SEA.— SUICIDE OF OVER TWO HUNDRED COOLIES.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 645, 14 April 1870, Page 2

A HORROR OF THE SEA.— SUICIDE OF OVER TWO HUNDRED COOLIES.

The Havana correspondent of the New York World, writing on the 11th of November last, gives the following narrative of the revolt, despair and suicide of a number of coolies, who were being transported from China to Cuba:—"A ' drama of the sea ' that in scenes of horror and incidents of death, stands forth with unfortunate prominence, has just been brought under public notice here. Since Sunday, two vessels carrying coolies have arrived—the Salvadorian ship Macao, with 400 Colonos Asiaticos, and the Erench barque Tamaris, with only 67. It is upon the latter vessel the ' drama' occurred. Having left Macao for Havana on Eebruary 6, with 300 indentured Chinese, a Chinese doctor, and a Portuguese interpreter, a captain, and a crew of IS men, the vessel sailed to within 270 miles of Java without anything notable having happened on board; but then and there, the indentured Chinese revolted and killed the captain and the interpreter. The crew, powerless to resist the infuriated Celestials, took to the boats, which they launched, and then abandoned the vessel. Tliey were fortunate enough to reach Java in a few days, and reported the affair to the Dutch authorities. A Dutch war vessel was at once sent in pursuit of the Tamaris, but had to cruise for her 30 days before meeting her. After a slight resistance the mutinied Chinese in possession of her surrendered, and the Chinese captain and other Chinese officials installed on board after the crew abandoned her, as well as a majority of the other Chinese on board, were loaded with chains and kept in the hold. The Tamaris was then conveyed to Pedang, where a new captain (Casolis) and the old crew of 18 men were put on board, and then she started onco more for Havana. Of the 300 coolies taken on board at Macao, .55 perished in the mutiny and in resisting the Dutch war vessel, so that the second start

was made with only 245 coolies on board. When these coolies ascertained that they were, after all, to be taken to Cuba, they became desperate, and at every opportunity jumped overboard. Many, deprived of the opportunity to drown themselves, committed suicide by actual starvation. This felo de seing continued nearly the whole voyage, so that when the Tamaria reached Havana she had, as stated only G7 Chinese on board—no less than 233 having perished during the eventful voyage of nino months' duration. It i 3 useless to add that the trip had been a losing one to those who chartered the vessel and indentured the coolies."