'The Governor of Formosa reports that on the lst of July a typhoon of un-Ustal, violence onsurred in. the southern Win-done in the Pescedoves aid. near rt of e island. lo test dams Takow and Anping. On the 11th' of August there were floods in Taitung-étiow; and on the 16th there was a typhoon with heavy rain in Keelung, K'uei-Hsiang, Ham, Posi, Taiwan Hsien, Chang-hua and Yunlin, Many public build private dwellings, temples, telegraph wires and other structures were thrown down, and a few lives lost. The shipping also suffered groutly. "As the first crop of rice had, been harvested and the second only just sown, the farmers escaped with less Joss: than might have been expected. 'The people will be assisted where it seems necessary, and the restoration ofthe public works destroyed will be undertaken in dite order. "Just a8 fie "memorialist og' writing' (épphroatly on the 6th of up in Taipei Fu and is doing a good deal of damage to the buildings there. Decree, Let relief be given where necessary. 23rd October.
No documents of interest.
24th October.
CRIMINALS RESCUED FROM PRISON, A memorial presented by the Governor of Hunan throws a good deal of light on the recent movements of Chinese troops in the province of Kiangsi, which caused so much excitement and needless alarm last month among the Chinese round about Kiukiang. In eastern Hunan not ver far from Changsha there is a district called Liling, and adjoining it is Ptinghsiang Asien' in the pro of Kiangst. The last mentioned district contains a village called Taianli, lying deep in the mountains which from the frontier between the two provinces. Taian Li is the head quarters of a number of Koloa Hui who have formed a Indge there with several chiefs. Two members of the society were arrested not long'ago in Liling, under what cireumstances is not explained. As they had been enrolled as members of the society, but had not become headmen in it, the magistrate in accordance with the law condemned them merely to perpetual con-tuement. Their friends in als Li deter. minal to rescue them. On the 3rd of September a party of two or three hundred men concealed themselves in the neighbourhood of Liling, and at nightfall rushed into the town, wearing white handkerchiefs round their heads. They forced their way into the magistrate's yamé, broke open the prison and liberated their two friends. The warders resisted as well as they could, but they were powerless against such numbers, and were wounded as well, blows from swords and staves. There were five other prisoners in the gaol, convicted or accused of capital crimes, who availed themselves of the opportunity to make their escape. The brigands, as they retired, plundered an opium and money shop which stood just in front of the yamen and further robbed a cloth shop ina street that they passed along. The magistrate was unable tu stop them in the city, but gathering together the few soldiers and constables at lis disposal he went after them and overtook them not many miles from the city. They immediately turned upon their pursuers, five of whom they wounded; but three of them were killed and ten were captured. The rest escaped over the frontier into the P'ing-hsiang district, where no attempt was made to follow them, as it was in another province. When examined by the magistrate the ten prisoners all acknow themselves to be members of the society. Phere was a general feeling of uneasiness ini the city, as stories of various kinds were flying about, and it was rumoured that another rescue was to be attempted. The gistrate therefore took the ten men and them all executed without delay, as the best means of reassuring the in: habitants. In reporting what he had done the magistrate added that his spies informed him the brigands were collecting in large numbers and were talking of taking their revenge. The Governor itinmediately despatch oda force of about three hundred soldiers to Liling, in order to protect the place and arrest. the offenders if possible. At the same time he sent a special official to make enquiries on the spot and find out whether the magistrate's rather strange story gave the whole truth of the case, or when ther there were other facts which he had concealed. In due time the official in question furnished a report completely confirming what the magistrate had stated. He ins the warders and found that they had really been wounded as allege. 'Also lie questioned two prisoners who had remidined in the gaol and not tried' to escape when it was broken open, already filled the post, September) a tremendous gale has sprung They said that the brigands entered shouting aloud the names of their two friends, and as soon as they found them, they picked them up and carried them away without waiting for their fetters to be removed. He also explained the fact that the deorand shutters of the plundered shops showed no signs of damage. It was because the attack was made just after nightfall when the doors were only just closed and-had not yet been barred and bolted. Tt. was also reported to the Gover nor from other sources that the two escaped men were still staying in Tainnli. The Governor has despatched more troops under a superior oticer, who will take the command in whatever military measures will be necessary. Ho has also written to the Governor of Kiangsi requesting him. to send a force into Péinghsiang' Hsien, and to let the two bodies of soldiers ce-operate together on cither side of the provincial frontier. With regard to the magistrate who failed to prevent the bresking open of his gaol and the escape of his prisoners, the Governor shows thnt there fare many extenuating circumstances in the case. The Magistrate had but newly arrived at his post and did not know the locality. The city is one without walls which rendered easier the entrance of the brigands, Again the pursuit was vigorous and made without delay, and it resulted in the capture of ten offenders. Still the magistrate cannot escape the responsibility for what has happened. He has therefore been temporarily removed from his post and another officer substituted for him. But he will be allowed to remain on the spot in an official position and will be given two months in which to recover the missing riseners. Is also recommended that the ward should determine a penalty for him and the gaol-warden.—pproved.
25th October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.