Chinese Military Officer Amok on Foreign Steamer: Three Ladies Wounded From Our Own Correspondent, Ichang, Aug. 1.
About 8.30 p.m. on the night of July 30 the blowing of a steamer siren suggested to the writer that there was something wrong somewhere, and drew him out on to the Bund to investigate. On arrival there, the noise was found to be proceeding from the str. Alice Dollar, which was lying just outside the harbour limits. One was also able to see the search-light from U. S. S. Isabel playing its brilliant light athwart the merchantman's bows. The Alice Dollar was clearing for Chungking at daylight on the 3ist, and had as one of her passengers gentleman proceeding up river to take up the appointment of Taoyin in Chungking. Accompanying him was a friend of Chao Yung-hua, a General Liu. This gentleman, from all accounts, had, previously to embarking, dined not wisely but too well, and was considerably the worse for liquor. He had with him an armed guard of eight or 10 men. The trouble began over the question of the accommodation which had been provided, and the ship's compradore was assaulted by the General. The Captain of the ship was then called in and he tried to pacify the aggressor, who proceeded to call on his. guard for help. A regular scuffle then took place, but the Captain, although considerably bruised, was able to ward off his assailants until help arrived.
The agent of the Robert Dollar Company who, with his wife and daughter, had been dining on board, was hailed and he at once got in touch with the U. S. 8. Isabel, which was moored but a short distance away. Having satisfied hiniself that help would soon arrive, he proceeded to the help of the Captain, while some members of the crew set the siren and whistle agoing. This action on the part of the crew scared the soldiers, who tried to get away, but were unable to do so as all the sampang had cleared off from the side of the ship. {n a little while an armed party from the Isabel came aboard and the disturbers of the peace were put under arrest.
During the affray the Captain and agent did their best to prevent any of the soldiers getting a shot at them, but some shots were fired and one bullet hit a steel beam, and rebounding pieces of it found a lodgment in the neck of the Captain's wife, and shoulder of the agent's daughter, while the agent's wife received a skin wound.
Such then is the story in a few words, and the question one
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.