American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-19
DESPERATE ATTACK BY PIRATES ON AN
AMERICAN VESSEL.

AMERICAN VESSEL.
By the arrival of the ship Honqua, from Can
ton, few days since, we gave brief account
of an attack by pirates on the brig Hannah, OF
Salem, when near Macao. The Salem Gazette
contains the following particulars of the attack,
from the pen of Capt. Cheever, the commander
of the Brig
MACAO, 4th Dec, 1914.
arrived at this place ofthe night of the 26tl
ult., in six DAYS from Manila, and on the morn
ing of the 2sth got under way for Whampoa,
and half-past of the SAME evening was abreast
of Linton North Sands wind easterly, misty
and dark. Having caught Geld during the day,
! had lain down IN my berth, telling the mate,
if fell asleep, to call me at the first sight OF
the land sbout the Bogue.
had been below perhaps ten minutes, when
heard the mate cry out, "Hard up" the Sc
cond mate at the same time exclaiming, ''we
shall Just clear her, and nothing more" ran
upon deck, and found ourselves side by side
with large craft precisely like war-junk, on
our ar-board beam, and before could reach
the weather rail, fire-ball was thrown, which
struck me on the breast and fell upon deck
Several mere were then thrown, and then a
stencil pot, and the Junk neared u.s. | instant
ly ordered all hands aft and sent two OF them
below to get up the swivel, which was already
loaded and set two to putting the fire out
Two pistols and couple of muskets were dis
charged Immediately into the junk, which now
fell astern Of us.
The breeze had been very light at ENE, but
was increasing, and we soon had the pirate a
pistol shot on the quarter Our swivel was now
up, but as is usual in such cases, would not 60
of Tho cbor hln,yp of II after n
while by putting a coal of fire into the muzzle,
and we opened fire upon him from it, loaded
with musket and pistol balls, for we had no
round shot. The pirate returned our fire from
carriage guns and swivels, firing round and
canister. The latter came on board in all di-
rections, but the round shot passed over our
heads. The singing Of the shot alarmed my
Manila men little, bat | quoted them by
telling them that the Chinese powder could no,
kill. The breeze had increased so that we were
now going l-2 to knots full and by, and the
pirate, in spite Of his oars, which he piled vigor-
ously, fell astern out Of musket shot.
We were expecting every moment to come
up with an English brig, an opium trader, which
was Just ahead of us, and which we had been
gaining upon all day. But our hopes and sus-
pense were soon ended. The breeze failed al
together, and the junk gained rapidly upon u.s.
When she was within pistol shot puff Of wind
headed us off, and | thought she would board
as to leeward. The swivel was then taken
over to the larboard rail, but the wind catch
ing US aback and casting the vessels head to
starboard, ordered them to leave the swivel
and lay aft to the small arms, which were all
loaded upon the trunk. They consisted Of four
muskets, three pairs of pistols, and small
brass blunderbuss. The pirates all the time
came steadily on, and as we, being Hat aback,
made stern board, we soon came in contact,
the junk's bow coming into the briggs stern.
Two muskets and blunderbuss were dis
charged into them, and Immediately passed be-
low; but he fixed his graphing hooks and haul
ed upon the starboard quarter, amid a perfect
shower of fire, which burnt our clothes and
blinded US so that from that time forward lost
all sight of my men, save the second mate,
who was in the cabin loading the muskets as
they should be discharged and handed down to
him. had ordered my men to reserve their
fire until the last minute and they now poured
il in as the pirates were coming over the SIDE
! heard the discharges but could see no ONE
The fire checked them for minute, but fresh
shower of fire-balls, followed by perfect storm
Of missiles, such as billets Of wood and iror
bolts, SIC. &C., hailed down upon US, while The
pirates, safe behind their high bulwarks, swep
our decks to the farthest rail with their long
laDces.