Hankow, Feb, 29.
Capt. WI, Eisler, of the firm of Messrs, Eisler, Reeves and Murphy, Me felis the towing sors of how Ca, played false wen they' a a Of the Yangtze Rapids 8.3,
the ransom agreed upon' fort captive and then made off with hia fand the money sent "for his Ter Case, manager of the Y.R, Ca, "at Ichang arrived at Mopanshih on February 6 and was quartered on board the USS, Panay, with a Chinese interpreter and commenced nego the bandits at Pailochi for the release of Captain Baker. Some days. after Mr. Case had commenced negotiations he asked whether he could use one of my launches which I was using! for salvage work, to convey the Yansom money ($10,000) across the viver from the U'S.S. 'Panay to Pailochi, 'To this I agreed provided the launch crew were willing, A few days later itr. Case asked me whether I" would' accompany. the fwoney ga the launch whee wes delivered.
On the afternoon of February 17] Mr, Case came down to the T'Ping and requested me to take the money across to Pailochi and instructed me to tow a sampan with three bandit representatives, who had come on board the U.SS. Panay, back to Pailochi, and " further advised me that T should stop halt way across the river (about 1,200 yards) and that the bandits would bring Capt. Baker out to the launch, whereupon Twas to deliver the money. Owing! to delays caused by the bandit representatives insisting on counting, the money, before leaving the gunboat, we did not get started until 5.80" pin.
After getting across and within 900 ft. of the Pailochi beach, T stoped, and after considerable shouting. on the part of the bandits on my Jouneh, and my inter and the bandits on sampan and hold her} jong side while Capt. Baker was to come out to the launch in another}
This {proceeded to do and I had on
he money "placed. im ackty which the Dandite "had: provided. "forthe Purpose. and lowered into. the same Petwhich t had teruved to "the runch With a piece of heavy anchor chain After the money was it the SSmpan, the bandits on shore were informed, whereupon they marched Capt Baier down to the beach and sted, of from "the. share, and Stopped about. 79 to. 800 from fa. "the bandits on shore dersanded that the money be sent on shore be: fore they" would. allow Baker tome out to the launch T objected to thin ax it was rapid.
getting dark, I therefore ordered thetmoneyrto be taken ost of the Sampan and returned to. the launch, End informed the bandits that would return next day.
The three] Tandlts eft the launch and_ went shore in their sampany snd the {onch returned to the USS. Panay and T reported to Bir. Case and "The next morning, Mr. Case aga requested me to resum to Palocht with the gnoney, and: _again tow a Tampan, this tie with ove banat] Tevreechtatives, "who. stated that Capt. Baker would be delivered to ther They had also brought Tetters From 'Capt. Baker' and. the bandit Chet, "Before leaving. the anbost Tasked: Are Cate' im the. presence Commander Rorcot, whether Shosid send the money" ashore. bee fore had Baker on the launch, and he replied "Use sour own jadgvient"
hick T answered "Noy our money and T wane your defi Commander Morcott sad "T would got deliver the money Sefore Thad Baker inthe launch but ti. Case Salt es, send the money" ashore, they say they will send. Baker ost tote launch after they "zee the replied, "Alight, I will do you say'
We left the gunboat at about 10 am. and I proceeded within 500 ft. of the Pailochi Beach, tuntit the lauiach "touched a shoal Spot. 'The bandits hailed us to send] {the money, and brought Baker down tothe beach where T could clear} see and hear him, He hailed the launch and said' "They say, send the money on the beach and they] will send me out" T replied, "Tell them to send you out first" to which] he replied "Send the money-and will start in another sampan They then placed Baker in a sam-'Ban which stood out feom the beach
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.