Show Thieving Coolies Narrow Escape Retribution almost overtook a number num-ber of thieving coolies In Hankow Central China last month They had entered an old barge belonging to a British oil firm and woro engaged In unsoldering the cans stcallngtho oil and then resoldorlng tho cans The barge was anchored in the river While they were hard at this task one of them upset a can of oil over their charcoal lire The coolies tried to putout put-out the ilamc but failed and their neighbors turned them adrift The oil was spread over tho surface of the river and caught fire Tho junks near at hand were burned as woro GOO houses on shore Many lives were lost by fire and drowning Tho thieves had a lively time but escaped |