Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-06-07
1oF FUANUENIE Uf TIT 5VO OakN7h&5 " W.T.
MERGE.
j, S. FRIGATE COLUMBIA,

promised occasionally TO send you n
letter, and you will be desirous of knowing
what our squadron has been dong on the
west coast of Sumara, or whether We have
done any thing. after you shall have receIv.
ed intelligence Of the piratical act Of the Ma
lays in the robbery Of another American
vessel. and the murder of her captain and
ni of the crew.
TIE plot for the attack on the ship
Eclipse, Capt. Wilkins, was ongina,ed at
Mukkee, some 40 miles from QuaiIa Battoo ;
and part OF the persons wI.o committed this
murder and robbery have been protected by
tie Rajahs of Mukkee, and great proper.
uor of lhe property and money taken TO that
place. This therefore, was deemed the
principal offending place. We learn tha:
The $4,000 was divided out, and some OF
i, was received at Qual!a Battoo, and also
at Soosoo, place three or four miles from
Qualla Baltoo, and at both ofthese. accord
Ing TO the acknowled !ments Of the Rljahs
in the conversation held with them, some
of the pirates were residing on our arrival
on the coast. The demand for these men
having been made, and compliance being
declared to b. impossible. as the men had
escap"d after our anchorage, (which, how
ever, was deemed to be only an excuse to
render their refusal 10 comply with the de-.
mand an appearance Of a misfortune to
hem, rather than decision Of their coun-
clIs) our ships were run ~ near 10 the shore
q, Quala Bat,oo, an the place cannonad-
ed, wi h some damageto the town, or rather
to the forls, as they were the objects at
which the shots were directed.
The ships were then got under way, and
stoo for Mukkee, where the demand tor
he pirates vas made, without the expecta
ton of the Rajahs Of that place pursuing
any course diff rent from the one adopted
by the Rajans Of Qualla Ba'too. The de-
mapd was uncompIicd with, and The conse-
onences, as the proper alternative, (so
deemed 10 be by our Commodore, and !
believe quite unanimously the sentiment OF
all the oflicers,) followed.
The ships were kedged in near to the
town and iorts-lhe town being situated on
a small peninsula, and each side ofth point
indvn,rd by the lip of a beautiful little bay
with wafer deep enough for a seventy-four'
No boat max ng her appearance Tor an
overture up o The time specified as the
limits of forbearance, the Columbia opened
her fire upon neighboring fort, rak'ng the
town, as she chose, quite the length OF 1t.
The first gun of the Columbia was the sig
nal for the John Adams, the beautiful cor
vette, 10 lie, fly her shot and the loud roar
ofher cannon reverberated from the noun.
tain sides that nearly inwailed the angry little
ship and as the volumes Of fire and piles OF
smoke continued to emit from her side, The
Columbia slept moment, which rendered
the scene yet more impressive 10 one con.
sclous thai a moment more and her loud and
fearful pieces would send forth their heavy
METAL cannis,cr, and Crane. Her trcmen.
aous carronades, throwing 42lb. SHOT, now
"oomcd IN their loud report over the sti!
snees OF water that this morning seemed TO
have hushed the swelIinss of,s bosom, as
If It would favor the purposes ofdes.ruction
which seemed to be moy;no ,hc two dorI,
forms which had slowly noatcd over its 81.
yer surface to gain a resting. place nearer 10
the golden beach which encasnd he crrved
lip Of the bay.
! vas n lie n;zeE-'op, n ,ooto--oo.