'China Merchants' Str.
Hsin-Wah Looted en route from Shanghai to Hongkong: Passengers Carried Off Hongkong, Apr. 17.
'The China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company's str, Hsin-'Wah (1940 tons), which was on her way from Shanghai to Hongkong, was pirated on the night-of April 14, when 15 pirates, disguised as passengers, surprised the officers, Seized the vessel and took possession of the ship's arms, Captain Jensen was ordered to steer the vessel to Samchan Inlet, Bias Bay, where she arrived on Sunday ni The Hsinsampang yesterday morning and the work of transferring loot, consist ing of the ship's cargo and the be-Tongings of the passengers, was commenced. This operation" was interrupted by the unexpected appearance of a launch which, apparently without any suspicion of piraty, steamed away.
The freebooters then resumed rifling the ship's hold, but the arrival on the scene of a Chinese gunboat, which headed for the Hsin-Wah, caused consternation among, the pirates who, seizing five pas: sengers, hurried ashore with their booty and captives, who are being held for ransom.
After the departure of the pirates Captain Jensen signalled to the gunboat that the Hsin-Wah had Deen pirated. A pursuit party w: Tanded from the gunboat but, after a chase lasting two hours, lost track of the pirates and gave up the pursuit.
The Hsin-Wah then weighed anchor and proceeded to Hongkong escorted by the gunboat.
The piracy of the Hsin-Wah was the first perpetrated by a Bias Bay gang since the Irene, also a China 'Merchants' steamer, was pirated last October—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.