The easy-going merchants here were rather rudely startled by a daring robbery from a passenger boat within ten li of the city early in the present month. The robbers, who are commonly put down as disbanded tuan lien, had two accomplices on ths boat, disguised as ordinary passengers. Their friends on shore overpowered the men who were pulling the tow-line, and dragged the boat to the bank. Altogether some $7,500 were seized and carried off. A further $5,000 in a foreign safe was abandoned, as the safe could not be broken open, and was too heavy to carry. The money belonged to local banks, two of which have had to close their doors in consequence. Four beggars captured (1) the following night sleeping in the precincts of a temple near by represent the results of the official endeavour to capture the robbers so far. A small reward is also offered for their apprehension.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.