Dee. 15.
News reached Shanghai last night which makes it clear that a thoroughly prepared plan lay behind the Plrating of the steamer Hung Tay which was held up in, the Yangtze Estuary shortly" after leaving Shanghai for Yangchow on Tuesday.
"All that was known yesterday Was that a band of pirates, stated number. nine, managed to loot. the hip, "which is owned by' the Dah 'Tung 8.'S, Company, of the Nantao Bund, and. that' they afterwards made' good their escape. south of Gutziaif, leaving the steamer with engines crippled. Despite "the efforts of engineers who worked hard for many hours, it was impossible fur the vessel {0 proceed under her wu power, and a'tug was sent out tow her into port.
'Recording to "information, which has now been conveyed to. her oviners, the steamer Toft for Yangchow from the place, where she had een anchored " during' the night about four o'clock yesterday more ing." TUappears thab as soon as the ship was outside. Woosung on Tues-Gay, about twelve men who had Hoatted her among' the passengers revealed themselves as pirates, All were armed, and several shots were fired in order to intimidate the passengers and crew. Buch of the pirates wore a hat drawn down well ver the face and having. only. Small space for the eyes, providing fan effective disguise, and making {dentification @ matter of great diftculty. oughly" dining wp. the 600 passengers who were on board, the Pirates subjected them all to.a strict earch, afterwards combing the ship for any money or valuables.
When this search had lasted for as Tonge as" four hours, with all movement of the crew and passengers checked. by. menacing firearms, the pirates onered the steamer to" pro ced outside. the" Yangtze River. Avout'200 miles from Woosung they commanded that the ship should be Stopped. A small junk was in the fofting, and the eriuinals seized the opportunity of making their escape by"eommandeoring this crat it was. the original intention of the captain to bring' the ship. back, 19. Shanghai after the departure of the pirates, but owing to. engine trouble the' steamer was forced. to heave to about 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday, Seeing that the steamer was anchor and apparently in distress, a power Munch putt out to. make 'Ax n result. of what they, eard. telegram was sent to the Certoms in Shanghai, and the steam-hip company were' also informed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.