for Ransom Ichang, Sept. 20.
The compradore of the Yiyang Maru has now been released and has returned here. He has been sent down by his captors to endeavour to raise the ransoms for the release of the chief officer and chief engineer. The price demanded still remains at $1,000,- 000. The Japanese gunboat Hira is now at Fowchow, but has not been able to accomplish anything. It is reported here that the captors have said that the lives of the captives will be forfeit if she fires one shot. The Japanese Consul is proceeding with some of his staff to Fowchow in a day or two, It_is also reported here that the Japanese gunboat Toba, which is at present at Chungking, has not been able to proceed to the scene of the hold-up owing to intimidation of the pilots. The latter were told that if any of them took the Toba down, not only they, but also their families would be killed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.