The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-01
From the China Mail, June 25.
Murderous Piracies in China!

On Thursday last, the schooner Privateel
was despatched for Cumsing-moom with up
| wards OF 200 chests of opium. About O.
clock, p. NJ, the cutter Grace Darling brought
intelligence to that anchorage that she had
| seen the schooner in possession of pirates of
Lintin. The Grace Darling, being merely a
pleasure boat, was unable to cope with the
pirates, but made all sail to Cumsinemoon
where she and the Theresa were manned
chiefly by the captains of the receiving YES
sells, and took the southern passage. Another
cutter, the Echo, in which were one captain
six mates, and ten Manilamen, took the oppo-
site and less accustomed route. From the
heavy squalls to the southwark it was conclu-
ded that the piratical vessels and their prize
would probably be driven up the river, and
the Echo therefore steered northward, and
had the good fortune to get sight of the Priva-
teer about o'clock the same evening, having
two China vessels near her. The pirates pro-
badly took flight on finding they were DIS
covered for when the Echo made up to the
place and boarded the schooner, they had dis
appeared. 1t was found, however, that the
guns had all been taken away, and the rigg-
ing cut adrift, and a portion Of the opium,
(since ascertained to be IS chests) taken away.
AT this time it was too dark to give chase and
the captors bore up for Cumsingmoon, where
they arrived about ten o'clock the next morn
ing.
The crew of the Privateer had originally
consisted of thirteen chiefly Manilamen, be-
sides the captain and a European passenger,
an officer Of - merchant vessel. The Echo
found only four persons ON board, ore of
whom was passenger He states that the
Privateer, while proceeding from Hong Kong
to Cunsingmoon, came up to what appeared
to be two large fishing boats, and that Capt.
Martell, being unwilling to injure their nets,
passed to the leeward, when one of the boats,
Selling the opportunity, put up her helm, and
dropping along side, boarded the schooner with
an overpowering number of armed men,
Capt. Martel, who had been writing on deck.
fired his rifle at them, and run below to pro-
cure more fire arms. While attempting to
force his way on deck again and after a Sc we're
struggle on his part, he was stabbed in the side
and thrown overheard.
We have received some further particulars
by the schooner Theresa, which arrived here
last night, bringing with her the gunner and
q seaman, who had been miraculorlsly saved.
l seems that when the vessel was boarded, the
chief mate, the gunner, and three Manilamen
leapcd into the boat astern, which was imme-
diatcly pursued and seized by the pirates,
who brought their prisoners on board, and
threw them into the hold of One of their iunks.
In the course of the night they we're one by
one brought on deck, where their arms were
pinioned, and having been chin-chined
with lighted joss paper they were told to
drink as much salt water as they pleased, and
then tossed overheard. Of these two victims
we're so fortunate as to extricate their hands
in the water, and, being expert swimmers,
contrived to make their way to the neighbor-
hood of Macao. The other four were confin-
cd below in the Privateer, and strictly guard
ed. Altogether six of the crew have been
saved-two Earopeans and four Manlan,en,