Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-01-25
MURDER AND PIRACY.

MURDER AND PIRACY. /
The ship Eclipse arrived at Salem on
Saturday evening from the Coast of Suma-
ira, bringing an account of a treacherous
murder and robbery committed by the blood
thirsty Malaysia Ira Bangun.
We abridge the account of this barbarous
outrage from the Salem Register The
Eclipse arrived at Ira Bangun on the 23d
Of August, and commenced trade with
the natives for pepper, which continued for
two or three days, without Interruption
The chief mate and four men were engaged
on shore weig hing, and the remainder of
the crew were on board the ship On the
Goth twelve natives from other ports went on
board having several bags of pepper. 1--WE
of them went into the cabin with the captain,
and after supper they all commenced weigh
ing pepper, when the Malays began the at
tack by stabbng the second mate and
young man named William f. Babbage.
The latter fell, but the mate, not being Sc
verely wounded, ranah 10 seize something to
defend himsefwith, and in going there. saw
one OF the Malays stab the captain.
The Malays in the meantime had seized
muskets 10 the roundhouse, with all the
weapons within reach and the crew being
overpowered were obliged to save themselves
by jumping overheard or re,reatng into the
rigging. The pirates then began to ransack
the ship the cook apparently assisting them.
They soon left,he ship, taking with them
26 or $4,000 dollars in specie, two chests Of
opium, two trunks of the captains wearing
apparel, and many articles OF smaller val
| N 10 1hn rOoE x,.th ho Malo
and it is believed voluntarily, MS he had
been heard 10 say that he meant TO go and
live with the Maoys, and was seen in con
versation with some Of them. The remain
der Of the crew then went in a boat 10 a
French burk lying about niue miles of, 10
procure assistance, as they feared another
attack, but in consequence of sickness on
board the bark they could not procure any
immediate aid, but having their wounds
dressed, they remained on board till morn.
ing.
! The chief mate, who was on shore, was
| FIRST informed of the massacre the next
morning by three of the crew, who had
jumped overheard and swan ashore, dis
lance of two miles through the surf He
Immediately applied 10 the Rajah for assis
lance, who manned and armed five OF the
boats and himself with some of his princ
pal men, accompanied the crew 10 the ship
for the purpose of taking her if necessary
They however, found no living soul on board
but discovered the body OF Capt. Wilkins
on the half deck below, and Babbage on
! the break OF the half deck forward-every
thing being in the utmost disorder. Three
of those who had been on board the French
bark returned about the same time
The Rajah requested that the body o.
the captain might be landed and buried a
Ira Bangun, but i, was deemed unsafe &c
comply. lest the ship should be again attack
ed by the natives The ship arrived at Sa
lem under the charge of the mate, with a
bout third part Of a cargo The value o
property taken was fully insured.
The government should look at thi:
matter Immediately. There are many A
merican ships constantly trading on th,
coasl of Sumatra, and ar armed vesse
should be always near TO afford them pro
lection, or at least TO awe the natives, anC
prevent a recurrence OF such scenes a:
related above The natives have forgotten
the chastisement they received from tb,
Potomac, and say she was the only vesse
the Americans could send, and that wa.
borrowed from The English