Arrest of the Chinese Conspirators on Board the R.M.S. “Bowen.”

Scarce colonial engraving of the arrest of Chinese passengers on board the Bowen enroute from Brisbane to Hong Kong.

The mail steamer Bowen which recently left Brisbane, via Torres Straits, has had a narrow escape from being the scene of a fearful tragedy. It appears that the vessel took on board at Singapore some 42 passengers. There were on board before that 313 Chinese passengers coming from Australia to Hong Kong. There had been a rumour there some attempt being premeditated to attack this particular steamer, and the Chinese agent of the company whose duty it is to interest himself in all Chinese rumours floating about concerning the company, informed the head of the firm of agents. A telegram was despatched to Singapore, intended to convey to the captain of the Bowen a warning requesting him to be careful as to what class of Chinese he took on board there ; but that telegram seems to have missed its mark in some way or other, and was meaningless or unintelligible, or was not regarded as serious by the captain. No precautions, therefore, were taken to test who or what the Chinese passengers were who came on board at Singapore, although they did not appear of the ordinary class. On the 8th ultimo, at 1.30p.m., latitude 13.09N., longitude 311.20 E., Chiang Soy, the Chinese interpreter, reported to the captain that the Singapore passengers (42 in number) were pirates, and intended setting fire to and plundering the ship, as they had been over- heard talking to that effect. An examination was then” made below, but the Singapore Chinese passengers were so scattered amongst the 313 Australian Chinese passengers that they could not be readily identified The interpreter was then ordered to pick them out and muster them and their effects on the poop-house. He first brought up 8 or 10 choppers, a house-breaking tool and a box, for all of which no owners could be found. On opening the box it was found to contain 25 packages of powder, about 1 lb. weight each, all with a fuse attached. As the matter seemed serious all hands were mustered and armed, and the Singapore Chinese brought up and secured. A further search disclosed another box con- taining 11 loaded revolvers of different sorts and sizes, also a large quantity of ammunition to fit same, a bundle of touch paper, and a Chinese ship compass. On examining the Singapore Chinese, 16 gave a satisfactory account of themselves, but 26 who did not do so, and had neither money or luggage, were put into a place of safety, with an, armed guard over them night and day until the arrival of the vessel at Hong Kong, when they I were handed over to the authorities.