Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-01-25
MURDER AND PIRACY.

The Salem tMass.,) Register Of Monday
brings us the details Of the murder Of
Captain Charles F. Wilkins, and young
man named William r. Babbage, of the
Salem ship Eclipse. The murder was per-
petrated, and the vessel robbed by the
Malays OF Ira Bangun, on the coasts of
Sumatra. Capt. w. was a man highly
respected and beloved in Salem. The
Register remarks in relation to the event, !
that permanent protection is required by
our marines engaged in pepper trade
The offar of the Potomac is already almost
forgotten by the natives, or alluded TO with
scorn. 7 hey say she is the only vesse
the Americans could send, and that she
was borrowed from the English. The
annexed particulars are from the proles,
made before the American Consul at ST.
Helena. The property stolen amounted
to $50 900, and the loss is covered by in.
surance at various Offices in Salem:
The Eclipse arrived at Ira Bangun from
/ dH'' W. p''l vi 'nc Cbus'. OU TIE XIV W
August, and On the 24h. preparations
were made and everything arranged for
weighing pepper. which was commenced
on and continued through the following
day. The Chief mate and foIr men were
engaged on shore in weighing, and while
there. resided at he fort of the Raiah Of
Ira Bangun. On the Goth the weighing
was continued. and about shutdown of that
day upwards of eleven Malays went on
board the ship, having with them several
bags OF pepper. Two of hesc men, Oosoo
(ihe head man and brother of Sumat whom
Capt. Wilkins had hired as his assistant,
according to custom on that coas,) and
another, went into the cabin to converse
with the Captain on business, where they
supped with him. About eight O'Clock
they commenced weighing two bags a, a
draft ; and on the lh,rd draft the Malays
began the attack by s'abblng the second
mate and the Doy BaoDuge. the latter
fell, hut the mate. not being severely
wounded, ran TO seize something to defend
himself with, and in going aft saw Oosoo
stab the Captain.
The Ma|ays in the mean time had seized
the muske,s in the round house, with all
the weapons within reach, and The crew,
being overpowercd. were obliged TO save
them. as hes, they could. some Of them
Jumping overheard and others reirealng
up the rigging. The pirates then common.
ced The plunder Of The vessel, the cook.
William Reynolds, talking with and appa-
ren,ly assisting them. They left the ship
between ten and twelve o'clock, taking
with hem &c 900 or S27 600 in specie, two
chests of opium. two trunks OF the cap.
tan's best wearing apparel, two gold
watches, fowIing piece and case, two spy
glasses. the ships colors. all the canvass
and cotton cloth that could oe found. sew
eral muskets. some ammunition, the cap
'aln's writing desk cont aiming the chief part
Of his papers and accounts, with several
other small articles
After the pirates had left the ship, those
Of The crew who had remained in he YES
sci went on deck aud discovered that the
cook had gone with them. and az was
believed of his own accord. He had fre
quenlly been heard TO say that he mean,
2 TO 60 and live with The Maays. and fol
=, several days previous had often been seer
in close conversation with Sunat. and they
were apparently very good friends.
The Eclipse arrived at Salem on Satur
d day. A letter from the Captain Of TIT
Fl. Salem brig LuciIla, who Immediately re
5 paired to the scene, that in communication
!. with the natives, he learned that all TIT
e plans were ma'ured on The 25,h, by th
= fellow "Sumat," who wrote letter 10 hi
. brother, giving him the plan Of uttock, an
J the dispositions of the ships arms on board
IT &c. From this letter we learn tina
u another Of the crew of the Eclipse die
from q wound received by guns bursting
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