An interesting story of some historical value is told of the junk, and it is probably because of this that the promoters refused to purchase another junk more seaworthy and cheaper by Tls. 3,000. During the early years of the Taiping Rebellion the Ningpo was launched and wae than regarded as the trimmest and smartest junk plying in Chinese waters. Pirates, who at that time were taking the fullest advantage of the disordered state of the country, got wind of the vessel, and pursued her to Chinkisng whither the had gone with " full cargo of merchandise. Three of the pirates' junks drew alongside the Ningpo one day after darkness had set in, and, climbing on board, the pirates murdered the whole of the crew with the exception of man. Chang Sz, who happened to be keeping wath. This man's life was spared on his promising to join the pirates.
For years Sz was an outlaw, and then, by strange chance, he became master of the Ningpo. Apparently tiring of the life, however, he stole ashore one evening and gave information to the authorities, which led to the Ningpo being captured. and the pirates being executed. made a captain of the guard he wat responsible for putting down piroer which was then so prevalent between Shanghai and Chinkiang.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.