Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-06-18
(E,om The GtoJe. }
(tTom the Gtobe)
OPERATIONS Of COMMODORE READ ON |
= COAST OF SI1MATRA


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From the GtoGe.)
OPERATIONS Of COMMODORE READ ON
THE COAST OF SUMATRA.
n v;n be recollec,ed that outrage was con1mi.Ieo
- ne Malavs off Quaah Batioo in the Island OF Su
MARA on the ship Eclipse OF Salem which resuieo 10
the murder of the Captain and one OF The crew. anu .e
plumber of the vessel Of specie and other properly ue
value OF about thirty thousand dollars On hearing MS
t.ommodore Read who had been Instructed 10 Fis inc
coast Of Sumara for The purpose Of protecting 'ne aae
of the u > Immediately proceeded 10 tsnt 'sano' WIN
view 10 the recovery Of the property and enforcing
the delivery Of the principals in This daring act OF piracy
II appears from his repost to the Navy Department,
an extract whichRe give below, that his hrst vst was
paid Quaah Battoo, for the purpose OF acquiring ac
curate information in relation TO the particulars OF he
outrage and the persons concerned The result OF ms
inquiries with the details given IN The pro
test of the survivors of the crew OF tie Eclipse trans
mted from ST. Helena by the commercial agent OF Inc
United States that Island, which eIonerated Inc Ia
lab and people Of Qua'ah Batoo from all participation
In the outrage for which he had come TO exact rePara
ton but that Of the pirates was now resong al ha
nlace IL apoeared however from information derived
from native who came board the Colombia, and who
stated that he well acquainted with oil The ccnn
stances Of The case that the whole affair was planned
with the sanction Of the Raahs, at another settlement
called Mucke situated at great distance, where most
of the money had been carried and where the principals
in the piracy now resided.
Commodore Read demanded of the Rajahs OF Quai'ah
Batoo and Mucke. in succession, The delivery OF The
pirates stated 10 be within the limits of their authority;
but receiving only evasive answers, and finally assur-
nnces OF their inability to comply with his demands,
he proceeded execute the purposes of bis VISIT in the
manner detailed in The following extracts
Having come 10 anchor three miles from the lat
ter place (Qualoh Ba,too) deemed it my duty imme
datey to make the demand for the pirate and property
said 10 have been conveyed 10 that place with him
Lieutenant Palmer accordingly, was sent to the BaJah,
make the demand and to say TO him that The Govern
ment Of the United States desired TO be friendly terms
with the Rsjahs fSuma,ra-,nt had come as friends
but hat nd " should
should not leave him With The same sentiments The
Rajsh professed himself willing 10 comply With my
wishes bu stated his npprehensons that the man could
not be taken for the purpose Of delivering him 10
The pirate had many friends and the people generally
feared him. but he would endeavor that night TO have
him taken while asleep.
Commander T. W. Wyman sent the following
day, and the same excuses repeated The hour oil
sunset Of the Oath named as the limit of the time
which would lie allowed for the apprehension of the pi
rate, and the bringing him board the Columbia
The Rajsh told that unless this done in the
time specified, should be under The necessity Of cons
deng him an enemy and Of proceeding to treat him as
such, assuring HIM that impossible for him TO
vince that he could not and give up pirate
found g thin the limits of his command.
"Ihc hour OF sunset passed. and nothing further had
been done by the Rajah, p,ance with the demand;
and conceived that all the Rsah had promised had
been done for the purpose Of gaining time If had now
left him without infIcting some chasisement feared
he might hereafter question power, or have in
different opinion Of It's existence. therefore caused
QrOppeQ dS near 10 as couu
swing with safety, and having sprung their brosdsdes
TO the forts, commenced FIRE upon them. The fire OF
the ships returned with but three shot Two OF the
forts hung out white flags, and after few shot well di
rected at the Raiahs fort, directed The firing TO
GAS did not conceive the object for which con-
tended sufficient TO justify the landng Of party of
10 destroy the place. directed The ship to be got under
way, and to proceed 10 Muckie. We arrived at The
common anchoring ground off that place on the 3Oh
and the demand for the offenders, who il said were
residing there, Immediately made. Excuses similar
10 those We had before heard, given for not
having confined the persons claimed desired TO obtain
possession Of The Rejahs and invited them board but
could not prevail on them 10 come. Having sent ano-
ther message TO The Roahs the succeeding day. and
being satisfied that they did moi mean 10 comply with
my demands for the persons concerned in the piracy
directed all preparations TO be made for hauling in The
ships.
"On the morning of The first of January, commence
ed towing and warPing in and by half past 10 a. m got
into an excellent position for sweeping with FIRE The
peninsula which The stood. The two ships now
not being more than cables length from The edge of
the town. No sooner had commenced this operation
than it was observed that the inhabitants engaged
in carrying off their property from the town. II was
impossible 10 prevent this as early as could have wish.
ed but few guns were soon brought 10 bear, and We
saw no more persons employed in this business. A
slow fire from few guns on the main and spar csck
was kept up merely for the purpose OF preventing any
preparation for defence shore and for the protection Of
our men in landing BY half past l2 three hundred
and twenty seamen marines we re landed and formed
on the beach, under the command of Commander T.
w. Wyman. The divisions from the Columbia were
commanded by Leu,enants Magruder, Turk, Turner,
and Pennock. The marines Of the squadron were led
BY Lieat. Baker. The two divisions from the John
Adams were headed by Lieuts Thompson anG Minor
The firing from The ships ceased, and the expedition
moved towards the town, with order and regularity
Much anxiety was felt at the the result =
The conduct of the Rsjahs the evening before being
SUCH i, was believed that steady and determined re
sssnce would be made; but TO my great surprise, the
party entered without opposition. The town was
after in flames; all the dwellings Of the Rsjahs and their
i've fors destroyed The guns Of The FORTS 90 in
number, found loaded and primed, (and matches light,
edD were were spiked and thrown into the ditch. A
magazine Of rice and storshous- mixed pepper
destroyed valuable boats OF large dimensions on
the stocks and several of less value were consumed in
the flames. In short, there was nothing left above
ground and by halfpsst o'clock, m the officers and
men had returned their respective ships without the
occurrence Of single accident"
commodore Head does full justice to the prompude
and decision Of Commander Wyman, and all the officers
employed 10 these transactions, who acquitted them.
The Navy Department has furnished for publication
the following copies of the engagement entered into by
The Rajahs of Soosoo, Qualah Battoo, DC, with Com
Read:
We, the Rsahs of Soosoo, for ourselves and Tho in
habitans Of the town Of Soosoo the west eoa, &c
Suma.ra sensiby affected by tbe clemency pacs.d to-
wards us the late visit of the gste Columbia and
John Adams, do hereby pledge ourselves suffer NO
American vessel 10 be moested hereafter and by all
annoying or in any way injuring them. Should we
ever hear OF any plan being laid for the capture Of
American weasel, we engage forthwith give notice of
The same 10 the commander may be board
said vessel in lime TO prepare themselves for the defence
Of their lives and the protection Of their property And
do further pledge ourselves that case any pratt.
cal expedition should hereafter at any time be attempt.
3D. successful plumber be committed upon any Ame.