The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-22 00:00:00

PIRACY.

On Thursday last the schooner Privateer was dispatched
for Cumsirgmoon with upwards of 300 chests of opium.
About three o'clock p m. the cutter Grace Darling brought
intelligeece to that anchorage that she had seen the
schooner in possession of pirates off Lintin. The Grace
Darling, being merely a pleasure boat, was unable to cope
with the pirates, but made all speed to Cnmsingmoon,
where she and the Theresa were manned, chiefly by the
captains of the receiving vessels, and took the southern
passage. Another cutter, the Echo, in which were one

captain, six mates, and ten Manillamen took the opposite
and less accustomed route. From the heavy squalls to the
southward it was concluded that the piratical vessels and
their prize would probably be driven up the river, and the
Echo therefore steered northward, and had the good fortune
. . .

to sight the Privateer about live o'clock the satire evening,
having two China vessels near her. The pirates probably
took flight on finding they were discovered, for when the
Echo made up to the place and boarded the schooner they
had disappeared. It was found, however, that the guns had
all been removed and the rigging cut adrift, and a portion of
the opium (since ascertained to be 72 chests) taken away.
At this time it was too dark to give chase, and the captors
therefore bore up fur Cumsingmoon, where they arrived next
morning about ten o'clock.
The crew of the Privateer had originally ccnsisted of thir-
teen, chiefly Manillamen, besides the captain and a European
passenger, an officer of a merchant vessel. The Echo found
only four persons on board, one of whom was a passem.,er.
He states that the Privateer, white proceeding from Hong
Kong to Cumsingmoon, came up to what appeared to be
two large fishing-boats, and that Captain Martell, being un-
willing to injure their nets, passed to the leeward, when one
of the boats, seizing the opportunity, put up her helm, and,
dropping alongside, boarded the schooner with an over-
powering number of armed men. Captain Martell, who
had been writing on deck. fired his rifle at them, and run
below to procure more fire-arms. While attempting to
force his way on deck again, and after a severe struggle on
his part, he was stabbed in the side and thrown overboard.
We have since received some further particulars by the
schooner Theresa, which arrived here last night, bringing
with her the gunner and a seaman, who had been miracu-
lously saved. It seems that when the vessel was boarded.
the chief mate, the gunner, and three Manillamen leaped into
the boat astern, which was immediately pursued and seized
by the pirates, who brought their prisoners on board, and
threw them into the hold of one of their junks. In the course
of the night they were one by one brought on deck, where
their arms were pinioned, and hiving been chin-chinned
with lighted joss paper, they were told to drink as much
•salt water as they pleased, and then tossed overboard. Of
these victims two were so fortunate as to extricate their
hands in the water, and being expert swimmers contrived to
make their way to the neighbourhood of Macao. The other
tour were confined below in the privateer and strictly
guarded. Altogether six of the crew have been saved—two
Europeans and four Manillamen.
We understand that some difference of opinion has arisen
about the Echo's exclusive claim to salvage, and that the
matter is to be referred to the arbitration of two Englishmen
and two Americans. The value of the property recovered
amounts to a large sum.
Since the above was in type we have been favoured with
the evidence on the subject of the piracy, taken before the
marine magistrate. It is subjoined :