Mr. Mackay Was Released without Ransom: Eye-witness's Story of How Brigands Were Outwitted by an Old Comrade Turned Soldier It will be remembered that after news of the bandit attack. upon Messrs, Dinsmore and Mackay, of the China Import & Export Lumber Ca, in Pichi, Fukien, negotiations for the release of Mr. A. C. Mackay und three Chinese proceeded for some time, @ large ransom being demanded. Next came a Reuter telegram saying that the prisoners had been released without ransom. How that release was brought about ie now told by Mr. J. J. Carroll, senior forest inspector of the company in that district.
Mr. Carroll was on his way to join Messrs. Dinsmore and Mackay, but when he reached Shahsien he was met with the news that the body of Mr. Jay Dinsmore had just been brought down theitiver in a Chinese boat. He immedi manded a military escort in order to set out in search of Mr. Mackay, but was held up there by the local military official who refused furnish a guard even after the Foochow Governor had wired him to do so. Finally, Mfr. Carroll said it was his intention to set out without guard if such was not fortheoming by noon the next day, but that the General would be held responsible for his safety, and the authorities, albeit grumbling at escort. delay was due to such undue haste, furnished the
I intrigue between the local Fukien men and Marshal Wu Pei-fu's Northern army, each hoping to discredit the other, and using th captured foreigner as a pawn in his fons were going on, proached Mr. whom he had known before, and said that he had a marvellous plan {o secure the release of the prisoners without paying ransom. Gen. Goh had previously been a bandit, but concluding that military life offered large pecuniary rewards to a man of his talents he had accepted an amnesty for himself and his men and the rank of major. Husbanding his resources he had enrol-Ted more soldiers under his standard, until he now holds the rank of Brigadier-Genei He had been made responsible for the safe return of Mr. Mackay by the Tuli and in order to save his position, and at the same time make something for himself on the side, he worked out the following plan. Another band of bandits was on the point of joining his forees, but to! carry on the scheme they were to pretend to join the first band of kidnappers, and later, after giving signal to the General's men, would withdraw, allowing the soldiers to close in upon the bandits, capture them and carry off the prisoners. Gautioned by Mr. Carroll and by the representative of the Tuli as well, that nothing must be done which would jeopardize the safety of Mr. Mackay and the three Chinese, he insisted that there was no doubt of his project succeeding and permission was finally given him to try it, while $5,000 was advanced for the expenses of the expedition. own game.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.