He Yangtze River by a motor Saligh full of armed and uniformed nese solders, the ECS. Kuba vegittered vessel, was pycgdl to anchor in the stream on September "25 "and to submit. toa ough sénrth, for contraband rang to Shformation disclosed ere'on September 26 on the arrival of steamer from Hankow.
The Kutwo had just started taking on, passengers point, when the armed gang, some of whom were in police Producing whieh} claimed asia warrant: entitling bim Yo; search ithe, foreign, vessel for sepium, the leader of the gang forced Me captain ito. drop-: his anchor. After posting. sentries at stralegi points an the Kutwo, the intruders split. into detachments.and- for an Hour searched the craft from.stem 6 stern.
Not. finding.'any eontrabrand, the tang withdrew to their own launch Without, further molesting. the crew and passengers; although as' the two gained way!one-of the-men. Yo'the launch: emptied this wife: into} the: yesso). No. one-vias Dit, by.: the what which was the only one fired. the civilian leader produced a decument, inscribed on plain paper in Chinese and bearing a number of Jchops, which he declared were his, Jorders from the Chinese government to stop and search the Tuckwo. further explanation, he stated that ithe I.-C. steamer was suspected of carrying contraband arms and that the uniformed soldiers of his party were members of the risen force, The el stated, were the same men wh: raided the C.N.S. Poyang off Kiangyin Point several months ago and therefor well knew their work.
Captain Cates onlered the anchor' dropped and signalled the engine room to stop the engines shortly after 9.30 pam. In the meantime special detachments in he form Jof searching parties were combing the ship, paying special attention below decks'and to the engine room, Guarded by a squad of men with pointed revolvers and another soldier holding an xecutioner's sword behind his back, Chief En-incor MeWilliams: insisted on ace Companying the. party detailed tothe engineering department.
When, after a search lasting over hour, the raiders failed to find contraband. except a few Frolated catties of opium, which may have belonged to passengers or individual members of the crew, they displayed a belligerent spirit' The soldier with his sword was called forward, several members of. the fered seized, and the boarders ans Inounced that unless. they disclosed here the opium was hidden the Prisoners would be beheaded. Although badly frightened, the exew sul Fisted that they ald not new of any quantity of opium bein hidden on the Tuckwo.
Apparently infuriated by this answer, several of the raiding soldiers grasped the" bo'sun' the baggage room attendant and three n'y of the engine-room force, Tu a few moments, tunate prisoners stanchions by their wrists behind their backs, in such manner and height as to teave all their weight on, wrists and. shoulders, Blouses and tunics were stripped off the pended men, while a dozen the soldiers" foxyed "them with sticks, straps. and rope ends, The" beating. continued until several of the victims appeared to a°serious condition, two of the men over sixty years of age. The raiders then desisted, released the prisoners and allowed them to fall to the deck.
While but a few catties, not even Jone picul of opium, had been found, [Captain Cates agreed in view of the necessity of protecting his vessel sign a receipt. Ina few moments, the guard detachments were recalled. and the majority of "the frsiders climbed over the' side into the steam launch, which was. still fmodred on the starboard quarter of the, Tuckwo.
Taking in tow the Kowan Station Boat which had alto ben seized and fers, the steam! launch. disappeared a rly of seven #01d-
into the darkness. about midnight. having held the Tuckwo captive for nearly three hours.
During the time the soldiers occupied the ship not a single vesee! passed on the iver, A guard. The raiders. were stationed on. the Torecstle apparently nui recalled before leaving.
While the searchers combed below decks andthe. engineering, depart: ent, nether the quarters occupied bythe officers, passengers or crew feere entered er touched, With the Creaption of being restrained by Dntals from interfering. with. the Fakl-and the beating of the men, violence was offered, the for: fignets aboard" None of the pass: fugers, either complained of being molested or robbed.
'According (0 local, shipping. men, approximately 16" foreign vessels fave been halted. and' searched the Yangtse in recent months, the Steamers Luenho, Poyang, Loyang ara, Kubwo and. Tuckvo being here' raided. diving "the ast ive {courcit has "contributed "$20,000.20 "Tae Shanghai. Manicipel Counci
fund" opened. Uy. the: Greater anghai Boreas of Social Afairs for the establishment of a rice granary im this ety.
Tam:-First. National Good: Roads ynferencs is progressing: on the hibition: ~igrounds..at. " Avenue tains! Questions velating to road; instruction and city planning have been discussed, "The: Conference is} deine attended iby: ra fous provincial governments.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.