At 550 io the evening of January 29, just prior to the change of watch at 6 pin, pirates, who had boarded. the steamer on departure from Shanghai under the guise of peaceful pasemngers without foreusing any suspicion as to. their identity' (in spite of the normal Precautions taken.s regards guaran~ tees, ete.) launched an attack. The Rustin guard who was on duty on the saloon deck aft of the smoking room noticed two or throe Chinese coming up the comra-ion\vay leading from the main deck.
This guard had opened the grille jcevering this companionvay a minutes lor two before to allow three members fof the crew whom he recognized to go. down, Below, and it had" been "left) open because they said they would be returning in a few minutes, The Russian guard realize! that he did /not recognize the Chinese who were mounting the ladder and began draw his revolver but at that moment he was attacked from behnnd by other Pirates who had swarmed on to the saloon deck by climbing up the outside of the ship. While this guard was grappling with the pirates, the remaining pirates Cashed forward ano [climbed onto the boat deck.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.