Phe Vicervy at Foochow states. that the seaboard: of the province of Fukien is so infested with pirates that the maintenance of a vigilant police service is a matter of the: uttest importance. Some little time ago the cruiser Fupo which had previously been stationed at Formosa was transferred to Fukien to assist: in policing the coast. Last summer a boat-owner reported to the Taotai at Amoy that at a place off the coast called Hsiaots'o, he had fallen in with a band of pirates' who carried off his vessel and cargo and killed one of his crew. The Taotai after consulting with the Admiral, Peng Ch'u-han, despatched the Fupo, with the boatman on board: of her, to go in search of the piratical craft. "After cruising about for some days the Fupo sighted o vessel in. the distance speeding along with a fair wind, which the boatman. at once identitied s his lost vessel. In the chase which followed the Zupo soon overtook the retreating vessel and on coming to close quarters: with her was exposed to a heavy fre, which she returned with the result that the pirates-were obliged to surrender. The boat and plunder were all recovered and sixteen pirates were made prisoners. Eleven of them who confessed to numerous acts of piracy were immediately decapitated and one who volunteered toact as spy in tracing out another gang of pirates was given over in custody to the captain of the Fupo, who proceeded to the quarter indicated as their. haunt. Four of the prisoners who had been impressed into the service against their wishes and had taken no part, in piratical attacks are to be chained to stones, and various rewards are solicited for the officers of the gunboat who effected the capture.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.