The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-03-25
PIRACY-BRIG HANNAH.

PlRACY-BRIG HANNAH.
BY the arrival Of the ship Houqus, from Canton,
lew days since, we gave brief account of an at
tack by pirates on the brig Hannah, Of Salem, when
near Macao The Salem Gazette Of yesterday con-
tains the following particulars of the attack, from
the pen Of Captain Cheever, the commander OF the
brig:
MACAO, 4th Dec, 1874.
arrived at this place the night of the 26th uit,
in six days from Manila, and OH the morning of the
18th got under way for Whampoa and at half past
seven OF the same evening was abreast OF Llnt'n
North sands, wind Eastery, misty aud dark. Hav-
ing caught cold during the day, had lain down in
my BERTH telling the mate if fell asleep, to Call me
at first sight of the land about the Bogue.
had been below perhaps ten minutes, when
heard the mate cry out "Hard up," the second mate
at the same time exclaimng, 1--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 starboard beam, and before
could reach the weather rail, the ire-ball was
thrown, which struck me on the breast and fell upon
deck. Several moro were then throws, and then
stencil pot, and the junk neared US. instantly Or
dered all hands aft and sent two of them below 10
get up the swivel, which already loaded, and set
two to putting the fire out. Two pistols and couple
of muskets were discharged Immediately into the
junk, which now fell astern of US.
The breeze had been very light at 4. N. E., but
was increasing, and we had the pirate pistol
shot on the quarter Our swivel was now up, but as
isusual in such cases, would not go oil. The charge
was blown out of it after while, by putting coal OF
IRE 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 fre
from carriage guns and swvels, firing round and can
lser The latter came on board in all directions, but
the round shot passed over our heads. The singing
Of the shot alarmed my Manila men little, but
tad thotV. hxrf Al
der could not kill. The breeze had increased 90
that we were now going and half to knots full
and by, and the pirate in spite of his oars, which he
piled vigorously, 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 had been gaining upon
all day. But our hopes and suspense were soon end
ed The breeze failed altogether, and the junk
gained rapidly upon us. When she was within pistol
shot puff of wind headed US off, and thought she
would board US to leeward. The swivel was then
to the larboard rail, but the wind catching us
aback and casting the vessels head to sarboard, Or
dered 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 pis
tolls, 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.
The muskes and blunderbuss we're discharged
into them, and Immediately passed below; but he
fixed his graphing hooks and hauled upon the star
board quarter, amid perfect shower of fire, which
burnt our clothes and blinded US that from that
timelforward lost all sight of my men, save the
cond mate, who was in the cabin loading the mus
kets as they should be discharged and handed down
to him. had ordered my men to reserve their fire
until the last minute, and they poured it in as the
pirates were coming over the side l heard the dis
charges but could see one. The fire checked
them for minute, but fresh shower of fre-balls,
followed by a Derfect Of mi hill
lets Of wood and iron bolts, &C., &C., hailed down
upon us, while the prates safe behind their high bull
warks swept decks to the farhest rail with their
long lances.
Despairing of saving the brig, dubbed musket
had just discharged, and getting in between their
spears attempted reach their heads but they were
too high above me. then got hold of one of their
pixies, and nearly wrenched it from the man who held
1t, but 1t was so long that he got it again. and
they shortened their pixies all round to thrust at
reiterated to the cabin, where / found the second
mate coming up with musket | asked him if it
was loaded, and he said eyes, with three balls"
took It from him and got to the sde
grazing me all over, at least three between my legs,
and fired 1t at the only that had fairly exposed
himself TO my sight He uttered piercing yell,
which all the survivors, even those in the water,
heard, and could hear his lance drop but fire ball
burst - my face just them iron bolt struck on
the shoulder, and fell at the companion door.
| was up in second and got into the cabin, carry
ing the musket with me- here found the second
mate printing musket, and supposing that he had
loaded it, took it from him and was rushing on deck
taking hold of their pike stats to help me up, for
they were thrusting them down the companion The
second mate stopped me, telling that it was not
loaded then threw it down upon the floor, and
said to him, Z" Mr.. Brown, am afraid all is lost-we
are alone and without arms" Spying the larboard
bread room open called to him to follow me, and
we both got IN and drew the cover too well as we
could. The pixies were then coming down the com
Panon, in at the side windows and down the skylight
We had hardly pulled the cover to when heard them
tramPling upon the trunk and fire ball was thrown
In the CABIN, another and third followed. The Sc
cond mate said to me they are sitting us,n but |
told him that they only wanted 10 light the cabin to
see If any OF us were below Several of the pirates
now descended, and an pdiscrminate page CON-
menced, which lasted about half an hour They
took every thing which owned except two or three
loose articles Of Dress and all the contents of the
cabin which were of any value, the ships papers and
letter bag among the rest They cut up the carpets
and searched the run, but found nothing
They left us quietly that i did not
know that they were gone, when two persons de-
scended into the cabin, talking in strange tongue
which | thought to be Chinese, but soon recognized
as the Tagaoa dialect of my Manila men. / then
emerged from the hole and spoke to them they would
not al frs believe their Senses but forward and
ielt OF me- Their JOY at discovering that | was
alive knew no bounds. The poor fellows were with
out clothing, and had none to give them but we co.
vered them as well as we could. | went on deck
where found two men, who bad just got on board
from alongside. then hailed for more, and finding
the fore hatch Oft, called upon the by name, be-
ginning with the mate. The pilot at last came crawl
ing from the mast head to which he had climbed at
the beginning of the ARRAY
Looking about me found the small boat gone
the anchor down in three fatboms of water and ten
fathoms OF chain out The main boom topping lift
was cut away, main tack and clew, and the bayards
and braces fore and aft, hacked to pieces sup
posed that this was done preparatory another visit
IN which they could rob us more at their leisure and
therefore made every exetion TO get away from them
The tide running up strong and the wind was go
light from the north that the brig tide-rode. The
pilot wanted me TO leave the brig, in the long boat
but this looked upon last resort
We hove the anchor up with great difficulty and