Atrocious Work of Robbers on Hsin Shutung: Three Persons Burnt to Death Tehang, Apr. 27.
The fire on board the Hsin wuting in Ichang Harbour last ight was a terrifying—spectacle, but the ship was well equipped with fire extinguishing appliances and with timely assistance from the men of the American and British gunboats in port, the flames were soon controlled. ' Considering the height and ferocity of the flames ing that so little damage The fire was confined to the upper deck, and only the centre of the ship wes destroyed, from the funnel back to the foreign saloon. The lower deck and holds were not touched, and the ship expects to il for Chungking to-morrow.
It appeared to be the most daring piece of work since the attack on the str, Alice Dollar two years ago, for evidently the fire was the work of robbers, Twice during the day men had been seen trying to pilfer, bhut each time escaped. There was Jo large number of wealthy passengers on board bound for Chungking. Their baggage was piled up on deck, and apparently offered strong temptation to the robbers, fore 9 o'clod minutes th whole of the centre of the upper dock was enveloped in flames. It wus discovered afterwards that while all the passengers were stampeding ashore the compradore room and the staterooms were plundered ard several thousands of dollars carried off, A quarter-master, a cook and a entry boy were burnt to death and four other members of the crew are now in hospital terribly injured.—Reuter's Pacific Service,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.