The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-02 00:00:00

The CAPTIVE CREW of the "NISERO."

Messrs. Pinkney, Sons, and Clare, the owners of
the steamer Eisen), have received a communication
from the Foreign Office which states that a telegram
has been sent to the Office,
Office by the Governor
of the Straits Settlements, dated the 25th inst. It an-
nounee.a that the Rajah of Tenom has informed the
Governor that he is taking care of the crew of the
Nisero.
The following is an extract from a letter, dated
Sumatra, Dec. 8, from Captain Woodhouse, of the
Nisero, to his wife—" This is the most terrible news
I have ever had to send. I am as if risen from
the dead. What terrible sufferings I have gone
through! For days nothing to eat but a little rice night
and morning, and treated like a dog. It is impossible
for me to write yet, my feelings will not allow me.
When we were wrecked the natives (who are savages)
came down and took us all prisoners. Since then they
have taken us to three different places, sometimes
making us go up to the chin in water, giving ID nothing
to eat, several times nearly killing use It was eight
days before anyone knew we were there, when the
Dutch got a friendly Rajah to go to our Rajah and
ask what terms he would deliver us up for; at the
same time sending me a letter telling me to keep
my heart up, for they had two men-of-war ships out-
side. At this time an Engli,h war-ship with a consul
on board was lying off the shore. I begged the Raj ih
t 3 let me go and speak to him, and to let me take the
sick ones with me; but he would only let the second
engineer go. When I got on board I fainted, for the
first time in my life. All the officers were so kind.
The troops and ships are ready to chastise the Bejah,
but pray God he may release the crew I Every one is
very kind to me, and will not let me return. lam
still very weak."
The following is an extract from a despatch from
H.M. Minister at the Hague, dated 24th January :
"At yesterday's sitting of the Second Chamber of the
Sates-General, the Acting Minister for the Colonies
read a telegram which he had received from the
Governor General of Netherlands India, of which the
following is a translation, giving an sec, unt of the
result of the military expedition undertaken by the
Dutch authorities in Atchin against the Iteleeh of
Tenom, with a view to the rescue of the crew of the
shipwrecked British vessel Nisero, held as prisoners
by that chief: 'On the 7te January the troops
landed at Tenem. On the following day the en-
trenchment (Gedei) was taken by storm after a
severe engagement. Padarg Kling, which had been
very strongly fortified, was attacked cn two sides
and burnt. Simpang Olin), the residence of the
Rajah, wa3 levelled with the ground by our guns, and
Tenom chastised in an exemplary manner, after
which the troops returned to Kotta Radja (the Dutch
headquarters in Atchin). The military and naval
forced vied with each other in courage and persevere
mice. Captain Leyssins, of the infantry, who led the
storming party, specially distinguished himself. Lieut.
Count Schimm.illseninch was foremost at the storm-
ing and capture of the rifle pits and entrenchments.
Ile received two slight sword-cuts. An Amboina
fusilier named Patty was the first to protect the
wounded lieutenant. Naval Lieutenant of the first-
class Prager stormed and took possession of a fortified
position occupied by the enemy. A sailor of the first-
class named Decent saved the life of a non-commis-
sioned officer under heavy fire, and at the risk of his
own life. Lieutenant Snyder and twe privates were
killed. Two privates are missing; and four men. of
whom three belong to the navy, were wounded. The
R.jah retired with the prisoners from the Niscro into
the interior."