Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-06-16

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forms -Milsoaukie Democrat.
SulOe, Destruction Of a Pirate Settle.
ment-Great Slaughter
The Spaniards have carried into effect
their threatened chastisement of the Snltan
and people of Suloo, but attended with a
great sacrifice Of human life, without com.
passing any ultimate object. The particu-
lars of the fall of this nest of pirates is inte'
resting. The expedition sailed from Fam.
boanga on the 18th February. Owing to
the effect Of strong currents and other con-
tretemps, the corvetts Villa de Bllboa and
Bilbaino both grounded on coral reef tc
the eastward of the island of Pangasinan
when the former vessel commenced m king
20 feet Of water an hour. Both vessels
were extricated and on tie Goth, the expe.
dition sighted Suloo. Every preparation
had been made to offer most formidable
resistance. A general order having been
issued, announcing the plan of attack, the
Decentralization of the troops commenced
early on February 2sth. The shores, forts
and houses are described as crowded with
natives eager to begin the fray, and three
of them were so impetuous as to rush on
the first column Of troops; two of them were
shot, while the third threw himself upon a
sergeant, whom he slew with lance.
The first drawing of Spanish blood heat.
ed the imagination of the troops, and the
assailant fell amid shower of balls. Save
this incident, the troops marched on, re-
gardless of the fire of the enemy; their
advance in regular order, notwithstanding
the narrowing influence of the guns aston
ished the Suloos In the meantime the
three steamers and brig of war opened a
brisk and effective fire on the fortresses,
doing much execution; the coryettes an
chored on the right, and discharged bombs
and grenades in such parts of the town
where masses of natives were seen. The
success of the firing was mainly attributa-
BILE to the circumstance of the engineer
officers seating themselves on the masts,
from whence they took The angles of theforts,
&C., and gave instructions for the elevation
of the guns with degree Of accuracy and
precision not otherwise attainable. The
fire directed to the left ceased about mid
day; this division was under the personal
command of the Governor-General, who
made an assault on Fort Daniel, regarded
by the Suloos as the strongest in the place.
On the right the firing was kept up until
half past one.
In advance to the assault of Fort Daniel
the troops barred their breasts and pressed
on. The fire from the forts is said to have
been incessant and tremendous, and the re-
sistance offered extremely desperate; every
inch of ground was disputed amidst cries
ofsViva Ia Reina," on the one hand, and
the war yell on the other. All their hope
Of security lay on Fort Daniel; here the
fight was maintained, the slaughter fearful,
each in succession possessing themselves Of
the place; but eventually the Suloos were
expelled. The Spanish flag was hoisted
on the fortress by Father Pascual Ibanez,
a priest of the order Of Recoletos, who paid
for bis daring by being slain. The assail-
ants on the right had little to overcome !;
the Sultan's and other forts in that direction
had been abandoned. The Sultan, in es-
Gaping from his fort, accompanied by his
Datoos and large force Of Suloos, encoun-
tered the right division, which appears to
nave Uttu pduIC StIuGA. Al all eFcutS, Tue
officers were, and two colonels were imme-
diately after battle placed in arrest, and
will be tried bya ceurt-martial for coward
ice. Had these officers acted with decis-
ion, the Sultan must have been either slain
or made captive, and his escape naturally
vexed the intrepid Governor-General. The
left division suffered loss Of 33 killed
and 4s wounded, while the loss of the
other division was a single man.
The defenders of Fort Daniel fought to
the last-every one of them persisted. The
whole of the forts and part of the town
were destroyed on the same night; the cap
tured artillery, consisting Of l30 pieces of
ordnance and quantity of ammunition,
were embarked. The number of the de-
tenders slain could not be ascertained, but
must have beer considerable. The exps-
dition then sailed for Zamboanga, lea wing
the Spanish flag floating over the ruins Of
the deserted city Of Suloo. Owing I'd the
advanced period of the monsoon, and the
difficulties of following the Sultan into the
jungle fastnesses, the Governor General did
not carry out his promised determination,
but be will probably return to the work
when the time is more favorable.