Part 18 (2/2)
Myself and comrade were soon ready for the attempt, our baggage being confined to a tooth-brush each, our revolvers, and a good-sized piece of soap; the Canton men took little besides their formidable short Chinese swords, and a supply of those huge double-barrelled pistols in which their countrymen delight.
Proceeding to one of the Shanghae wharves, I engaged a boat, embarked with my men, and in a moment we were proceeding as fast as possible towards the vessel of the enemy.
We started in broad daylight; in fact, but a short time after noon.
About one o'clock we were close up to the steamer. Sculling against the ebb tide, our boat was slowly worked past the enemy, while, having observed all that could be seen from outside, I made arrangements to board. My plan was to drop alongside the steamer's bow, get on board with W----, and then engage the Europeans in conversation, until I decided upon the instant for our _coup de main_, which would be signalled to A-ling (who was to hold fast the boat and watch every movement) by a wave of my arm, who was then to rush on board with the other Cantonese. Myself, W----, and one man, were to seize and secure the two European officers; the other three, under A-ling's orders, were to overpower any resistance from the Chinese soldiers and crew, and then cut the vessel adrift; while their leader, who had been brought up as an engineer, and understood the duties of one, took charge of the engines and set them going ahead at full speed.
Three of our men now hid themselves behind the mat cover of the boat.
When we got alongside, A-ling and another held fast to the steamer in such a position that they could observe the movements of myself and W---- in the after part of the vessel. Proceeding from bow to stern, and looking fore and aft the deck, we were able to notice that the crew on board consisted of twelve or fourteen soldiers, one Manilla-man, six or eight Chinese--employed as firemen, &c.--and two Europeans. With my comrade I walked right up to the officers of the s.h.i.+p, and engaged in conversation with regard to my taking a pa.s.sage to Quin-san with them.
Their positions were respectively those of gunner and chief mate. They informed me that their trip to Shanghae was for the purpose of obtaining stores, and to deliver over to the Manchoo Governor several unfortunate Ti-ping chiefs, captured by them on the Ta-hoo Lake. This statement, given with a would-be air of conviction as to the glory and heroism of their achievement, made me quite determined to attempt the capture of the steamer at every risk, rather than lose a chance to prevent future acts of such cold-blooded atrocity. The flotilla, with which she had acted on the Ta-hoo, was commanded by one Macartney, formerly surgeon of Her Majesty's 99th regiment, but who left his honourable profession to take service under Li, the Manchoo Governor of the province. This man, having made prisoners of the chiefs, set off in the steamer for Shanghae, where he quickly sought the presence of his Asiatic master, delivering up to him the miserable Ti-pings, who suffered merciless torture and a cruel death, while this n.o.ble-minded Englishman felt no compunction at becoming the recipient of Manchoo patronage. A more dastardly act than thus giving over vanquished enemies to certain death I never heard of, though it was the ordinary practice of the Europeans in Imperialist pay. The case in question decided the fate of the steamer, and made the Imps pay dear enough for the satisfaction of torturing to death one or two helpless patriots.
The narrators had just finished the history of their gallant exploit against unarmed boats, peaceable villages, and powerless captives, when I decided to make my attempt. I stood close to the mate, while W---- was ready at the side of the gunner; I had just waved my arm to A-ling, and turned to seize my man, when, fortunately casting a glance astern, I observed two boats making for the steamer, and scarcely fifty yards distant. Quickly giving A-ling the signal to retreat, I managed to avoid giving any alarm, or even to excite the least suspicion in the minds of our two interlocutors, who believed that I intended to proceed up country with them as correspondent for a certain paper. The nearest boat contained seven Manilla-men, including two quartermasters belonging to the vessel, and their friends; the other, the engineer, captain, and another European, who was engaged to take command upon reaching the lines before Soo-chow. It was, indeed, fortunate that I happened to notice the approaching boats before commencing operations; otherwise we would certainly have succ.u.mbed to numbers within a few minutes. When the captain arrived on board, I requested a pa.s.sage to Quin-san. This was arranged, and I then took my departure.
Having ascertained that the steamer would not leave until late at night, I fully determined to make another effort to capture her for the Ti-pings. I found that it was imperative, however, before making the attempt, to have some addition to the number of my followers. Besides the complement of four European officers, three Manilla-men quartermasters, twenty soldiers, and eight or nine other Chinese, it was expected that _General_ Doctor Macartney, with an _aide-de-camp_, and the intended future captain, would be present. Consequently, directly we reached the sh.o.r.e, W---- and myself proceeded to find a few Europeans whom we could engage for the service. Late in the evening we met at my house, and found that we could muster five recruits. The character of these men was far more than questionable; their social position was among the genus _rowdy_. However, we had not time to pick and choose; a reinforcement was essential to afford any prospect of a favourable issue to our enterprise; the _rowdies_ were therefore engaged on the spot, simply to a.s.sist in the capture of an Imperialist vessel, for which service myself and lieutenant guaranteed to pay them well. We would not have had them in our young legion.
[Ill.u.s.tration: A VIEW ON THE JOURNEY TO SOO-CHOW, OF A PORTION OF COUNTRY NEAR THE CITY OF WU-SEE, LATELY DESOLATED BY IMPERIALISTS.
_See_ p. 638.]
FOOTNOTES:
[49] In the _Friend of China_, March 10, 1865, and subsequent numbers, the following advertis.e.m.e.nt appears:--
”The Steamer _Donnington_.--The undersigned” (H. Evans), ”_in consequence of the determination of the provincial authorities not to permit the navigation of inner waters for tradal purposes_ by vessels of the above cla.s.s, being thus disappointed in the purpose for which he had her constructed, is desirous of disposing of her.”
This direct violation of the last treaty is one effect of the Manchoo restoration to power, by British means, in the Kiang-su province.
[50] Now in the service of the Ti-pings.
[51] In the mutual recriminations between the leaders of the force, upon their arrival at Shanghae, Captain Jones states (referring to Burgevine):--
”He further accuses us of trying to make out a good case against him, thinking he would never return to Shanghae. To this I answer, that he and I were the instigators of the defection from the Ti-ping cause, for I confess I at once fell into his plans, glad of the opportunity to escape from what appeared likely to turn out _unprofitable_, and having, besides, for some time before lost confidence in his capacity to command.”--_Vide_ Blue Book on China, No. 3 (1864), p. 179.
[52] See Frontispiece.
[53] The want of some such clause in Burgevine's arrangements originally excited the suspicion of the Ti-ping chiefs.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Renewed Attempt.--Its Success.--Narrow Escape.--British Interference.--How explained.--Its Failure.--The _Coup de Main_ succeeds.--Groundless Alarm.--Route to Soo-chow.--Its Difficulties.--Generous Conduct.--Arrival at Wu-see.--Prize-Money.--Treachery.--Preparations for an Attack.--Manoeuvering.--The Attack.--Warm Reception.--The Enemy repulsed.--The Result.--Wu-see evacuated.--Return to Shanghae.--Last Interview with the Chung-w.a.n.g.--Manchoo Cruelty.--Result of British Interference.--Evidence thereof.--Newspaper Extracts.--Further Extracts.--England's Policy.--Its Consequences.--Its Inconsistency.--Her Policy in j.a.pan.--Religious Character of the Ti-pings.--Their Christianity.
As the steamer was expected to get under weigh about 1 a.m., I started with my men a little before midnight. Upon this occasion the very elements seemed to favour our design. The tide ran slack; the moon, after shrouding herself within a bank of silvery-edged clouds, retired below the horizon to rest; while even the never-setting stars were partially hidden by the volume of damp, misty vapour hanging over the surface of the river, and almost concealing our two small boats.
In little more than half an hour from the time we left the sh.o.r.e, we were right alongside our destined prize. With the exception of a sentry at each gangway, everything on board seemed silent and unprepared for an attack, although by the symptoms from the funnel and steam-pipe it was evident that the engines were in readiness. I decided to attempt cutting the vessel out immediately, as it seemed to me that her crew were probably turned in, and if so, not a moment should be lost in taking advantage of the opportunity, or they might be roused out to get under weigh, in which case we would hardly be able to effect the capture without loss of life.
Dividing my followers equally between the two boats, one being under my lieutenant's charge, and a.s.signing to each man his duty in the attack, I gave the word to pull alongside, my own party to board on the starboard bow, the others on the port.
Another second and we were grappling at the sides of the steamer, and scrambling over her bulwarks, sword or pistol in hand. The Chinese sentinels on guard, and a Manilla-man who appeared on deck, were secured without either resistance or alarming those below. In fact, the Chinamen, directly they perceived the danger, seemed suddenly inspired with a strong determination to take no notice, but to be very diligent in marching up and down, and carefully employing themselves by intently gazing somewhere else. The calmness and attentive inattention with which they acted throughout the capture were really charming to behold. They betrayed neither surprise, fear, sympathy, _esprit de corps_, nor any other feeling. I then placed a guard over the hatches, set a party to slip the cable, and sent A-ling into the engine-room to get steam up; while, with four Europeans, I proceeded into the cabin and secured the officers. These comprised the intended captain, the mate, and the gunner, the others being still on sh.o.r.e. They submitted very quietly, gave up their arms, and were altogether too much confounded to attempt any resistance. Just as the vessel was entirely in our possession and I had given the order to go ahead full speed (the cable being slipped), the engineer came alongside in a _san-pan_, only to find himself a prisoner when he got on board. Directly the capture was accomplished, I produced the commission the Chung-w.a.n.g had given for the purpose, and showed it to the senior officer of the steamer, informing him that we were Ti-ping partisans, and that we would endeavour to pa.s.s himself and brother captives from Soo-chow into Gordon's lines as prisoners of war.
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