To say the toast of it, all Shang-Yoi was thrilled yesterday morning with the news of the great pirate! story. After leaving Tientsin—so it was announced in the best informed circles—one of the British coasting ships had received a wireless mes-aboard, and following this thi officers of the vessel had shepherded the pirates into the hold and there "subdued them by means of the steam hose. Tt was a performance which covt@-not but catch hold of the imagination of the least unimaginative -peopia, especially as the number of the pirates w: given—to wit 26—and all manner of Jather details about-their appearance, *|mannors-and habits. Ths ladies on board the ship were regarded in the ight of heroines, as having sailed in company:-with'such a cut-thrast gang, and it was rather disappointing to hear that the ship's officers Iied dons the grent'act at night when all were asleep betwixt those snow. white. linen. sheots. which ere th: pride of this steamship company and the envy and despair of every self-respecting housewife in Shangiai and the outports. So,.when the news got about, reporters and reporteresses, were sent flying in all directions to interview whomever could be interviewed, no matter whether pirate or passenger. Then the sad truth leaked out. The other place, and having done their job of work they decided that there was nothing more to be done than to walk on to the next steamer for Shanghai. The great, passport question with the endless business Jot visas did not come within the scope of their outlook: they know that in all probability. they wou have to pay for their passage while on board the ship and also hand over sundry monies to ths compradore for food: and hence their presence. Unauthorized parties aboard ships on the China coast are not popular, and in many cases unsafe, in these days, and asa consequence of their presence the ahip's officers made an inquiry into the ease, And the result was that a perfectly: good story was spoilt by the men being bricklayers, masons or carpenters instead of pirates.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.