Hankow, June 16, dering bands of Commani iptured the Yangtze Rapi Steamship Cos motor vessel Y. R. fon Saturday, thoroughly looting ti ship, after the crew had deserted th American master, Capt. E, Smit According to up-river advices the Rel had gone ashore about three miles above Chengling, stranding in shoal water. Chengling is about] halfway between Hankow and]
While in a helpless position, the Jarmed bandits came in sight' and fired, frightening the Chinese crew, who without more ado, made off towards the opposite ° shore in sampans leaving Capt. Smith helpless. In the circumstances Capt. Smith was foreed to abandon, When advices of the affair reached the Company's offices, they assigned their str, Chichuan to salvage the Y, Rel and having obtained a guard of American sailors, the steamer left! Tehang full speed for the stranded ship with intentions of recapturing] tanking, June 16, Through the prompt assistance of the gunboat Weisheng, an American mercantile steamer plying on the Yangtsze River has been saved from piracy. The steamer was in precarious position on the night fof the 13th instant when, after yunning aground in the vicinity of Kuanyingchow, southern Hupeh, it was threatened by the approach of pirates.
Upon learning of the danger to the steamer, the naval authori ties immediately ordered the Wel sheng, which was patrolling in the! neighbourhood to accord protection.
A few shots from the gunboat as it rushed to the scene dispersed the pirates, It is understood that passengers fon the steamer have been conveyed to Chengningchi, near by. Mean while, work is in progress to tow the steamer from shallow water, with the Weisheng standing by and rendering the necessary aid—Kuo
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.