Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-06-17
DESTRUCTION OF A PIRATE SETTLE
NENT

The Spaniards have carried into effect their
threatened chastisement of the people and Sui
tan of Suloo, but attended with great sacrl-
flee of human life, without comprising any ul.
innate object The particulars OF the fall OF
this nest of pirates is interesting. Owing to- the
effect of strong currents and other contretempLs,
the corvettes Villa del Bilbao and Bilbaino
both grounded on coral reef to the eastward
of the island of Pangasinan, when the former
vessel commenced making 20 feet of water an
hour Both vessels were ertricated, and on the
2Sth the expedition sighted Suloo. Every pre-
paration had been made to offer a most formid-
able resistance.
A general order having been issued announ-
cling the plan of attack, the Decentralization OF
the troops commenced early Oh Feb. 2S. The
Shores forts and houses are described as crow.
ded with natives eager tc 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 SER
peant. whom he slew with lance. The first
drawing of Spanish blood heated the imaglna-
ton Of the troops, and the assailant fell amid
shower of balls. Save this incident, the troops
marched on regardless of the fire of the enemy !;
their advance in regular order, Notwithstanding
the narrowing influence Of the guns, astonlshed
the Suloos. In the meanti he, the steamers and
BRIG of war opened brisk and effective hire on
the fortresscs, doing much execution; the cor.
vettes anchored on the right, and discharged
bombs and grcnades in such parts OF the town
where masses of natives are seen. The sue
cess of the firing was mainly attributable to the
circumstance of the engineer officers seating
themselves on the masts, from whence they
took the angles of the fort, &C., and gave IN
structions for the elevation of the guns, with u
degree of accuracy and precision not otherwise
atainable. The fire directed to the left ceased
about midday; this division was under the
personal command of the Governor.Genera,
who made an assault on Fort Daniel, regarded
bv the Suloos as the strongest in the place. On
the right the firing was kept up till half-past
one. In advancing to the assault of Fort Dan.
| iel the troops barred their breasts and pressed
Oh.
The fire from the forts is said to have been
nccssant and tremendous. and the resistance
offered extremely deSparate; every inch OF
ground was disputed amidst cries OF Viva 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 pos
scssiag themselves OF Inc place, but eventually
the Suloos were expelled. The Spanish iiag
was hosted on the fortress by Father Pascual
lbanez priest of the order OF Recoletos, who
paid for his daring by being slain. The assaH'
ants on the right had little to overcome; the
Sultan's and other forts i'll that direction had
been abandoned. The Sultan in escaping from
! his fort, accompanied by his Datoos aud Il large
| force of Srloos, encountered the right division,
which appears to have been pau': struck, at all
events, the officers were, and two colonies i'm.
medatelv alter battle placed in arrest, and will
he tried by court Martial for cowardlcc. Had
these officers acted with decision, the Sultan
must have BEEN eitie. s!ain o. made captive,
and lis escape naturally weed the Intrepid
Goye,no..G General The Jet division suffered
i loss OF 3} killed aui ei;hi .'-iour wounded,
while the loss OF the oiiict division was Single
man.
The defenders OF i'o't Darirl inNght to the
last-cyprr o 10 of them pH'ish2d. Ia whrle
of the fnr;; aud pat O. t':o iown were Destroy
! ed on l:t same u'S9t, Lie capi"'cu "'''e'. -
cons,i;'g % l3) pieces ordnance ani II guam
! tiiy Of u nnnni on were embarked. The mum.
her Of tle de tndc.s slain couI not be ascer-
famed, bnt must have becl considerable. The
exneiion thea sailed for Zam5oaYno, leaving
the Spanish nay floating over ihe rains of the
deserted CITY of Suloo. Owing to ihe advanced
poriod OF fhe monsoon, and tje difficulties OF
iolIowior tie Sultan into The Jungle businesses,
the Goveruor.General did not carry out his
promised exicrmiuaiion, but he will probably
re;urn 10 the work when the time is more ia
vorab!e.