Early this month the postal cour-for fell into the hands of a lange and of bandits, numbering several thousands and well armed, after he had left Fancheng on the Han River for South Honan. This band was later heard of ravaging the Villages to the Northwest of Siangyang, compelling the people to flock into the city for refuge. The only method adopted by the officials. at the' time was to sond out soldiers and police to register the inbabitants of the villages and emall towns, a procedure which did noth: ting towards the suppression of the bandits.
ither this or another gang have been operating in the nelhbourhood of Iehenighsien, still nearer Mankow. "It is said by the vie-tims at: Palaoho that there as nothing to distinguish rheae men rom ordinary country folk pouring {nto the town in the curly morning. Theip confederates hail arrived previously and number of fires broke out which created a panic and facilitated the looting, which was so thorcuph thet even salt and been-oil and rice were carried off, $1,000,000 Loot The next news came from a small town 40 miles below Hankow named Sinchow. The raiders. this, time numbered about a thousand and were all well armed. Commencing with the pawnshops the looting, was tear tied out systematically. Chinese {informants fix the value of the loot not less than a million dollars. About three hundred mon and women were carried off as captives and demands have been sent in to their relatives for ransom money.
strange that the strong forces at Hwangchow do not seem to have done anything to round up this band, fand Chinese assert that the reason is that the miscreants are mostly ex-soldiers.
News of another haul came from Nanchang, back once more in the Han River section, band claimed to be the "All Divine Force" and. their victims were a ang of opium smugglers. After the Aght was over the surviving smugglers found themselves minus the opitim and' minus most of their clothes aswell. The. history these dands is not easy to trace, but these men are probably a gang of hardy ruffians who used to operate North Hupeh under a leader named Liang, who was arrested some time ago, Abovt.a week ago they came in collision with some government troops.and 80 of them proved their lack of divinity by failing to withstand rifle fre, whi large quantity of opium was reco +A Brave Boatman This Inst week has witnessed trouble much nearer our doors, for fon the 14th a launch anchored the French Bund was boarded by mien from a sampan, searched under the' eyes of a scared crew, and the sum.of $400 carried off. The same féay an attempt was made to inti. rmidate a boatman bringing a cargo lof vegetable oil into letting his cargo bbe looted. The boat was making its way up the Wuchang side of the river and about to start the exon ing for Hankow when a respectable man asked for -a passage. eross. [Before the boat was clear from the shore he produced a pistol and ordered the boatman to hand over 8 sum of money oF else steer hin boat to a certain point. The boat man was of a sterner sort than the [stranger expected for he tackled his foe. The stranger fired a shot which pierced the hand of the boat rman, and when he recovered from the shock the stranger had gone, The Prudent Soldier If the soldiers had the pluck of that boatman, a serious ease of robbery and, kidnapping would have Doon averted on Tuesday last who 'a number of men swooped down oh.)
salt june passing Chin Shan, outside Wuchang. Several shots twere fired at the passengers. and Jerow, without attracting: any attontion from the river police, and the Pooatmen dropped anchor. ' The salt fand other cargo was carried ashore and eight of the passengers were also taken as hostages.
While the trouble was at its height a launch earryinge a company fof soldiers passed and came moar to see what was happening, but two oF three shots from the Pirates wore quite suficiont to make the soldiers adopt the method of the priest and the Levite. They has fened to pass by on th other side, land when they reached Wuchang and reported the matter it was of eoureo too late for the rive police to do anything.
The boldness of these rascals is such that one is left with the impression that they know that they will not be interfered with and that not a pleasant impression for the travelling public to cherish,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.