ATTACK ON A STEAMER BY PIRATES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2225, 12 October 1886, Page 3

ATTACK ON A STEAMER BY PIRATES.

TpHri'following details have been received kt Greenock of the desperate attack by Atchinese pirates npon the Hok Canton, a steamer in the service ot the Dutch Government, trading between Penang and ports oh. the coasts of Atchin, in the island of Sumatra : — "The Hok Canton arrived off the coast of Atchin, about seven o'clock in the morning, 'and was, boarded by 200 Atchinese, who came off in three large junks, just afterwards the chief engineer came on deck from the engine-room and was at once attacked. Although unarmed he succeeded in fighting his way through his assailants, and reached the forecastle unhurt ; but when' in the act of ascending the ladder he received his death-blow. It was sub- 1 sequent ly found that he had received' uo fewer than forty wounds on the body, while both his hands had been chopped off. The mate was shortly afterwards shot dead on the spot., On bis body also a great many wounds were 1 iqflicted. Captain HanddOn, who now came on deck, was met by a group of Atchinese and was leverely wounded. In his despair lie jumped overboard, and was followed by his wife who had also received several blows. The, ship's boat was in the water at the time, and in it were six sailors, who were endeavouring to escape. They picked up both Captain Handson and his wife, and were trying to go away when the Atohinese once more got hold of them and bound them all. The whole of the crew were bound with ropes, and the ship was plundered. One of the sailors of the Hok Canton esoped from the Atchinese, and .brought the news that Captain Han lson died about two hours after the party landed, and that Mrs Handson and Fay, the sccoud engineer, were getting on well. A message has been sent demanding 50,000i101. as a rahsom for the prisoners. Three Dutch ships of war, with about 400 soldiery on board, have been sent in pursuit of the marauding Atchinese."