New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-20
BATTLE WITH PIRATES BY ANE
AND ENGLISH SAILORS
From The Overland China Mail


The boats of the Rather and Powbatan ha dee
perate encounter with pirates near kulan on Satur-
day, and sight feamen and marines klef and fifteen
or sixtt wounced Of them is feared mortay
Capt. Grando and other officers were blown up IN q
Junk but fortunately but little hurt. Ten pirate
iupks were taken and destroyed, the greater port
of their crews having been killed, aud seven prizes
liberated FIVE OF which belonged 10 the Eaglet con-
voy. Sixteen Of the smaller pirate junks escaped.
Last week we mef toned that two lorchAs and i've
jul ks under convoy OF the steamer Easle, had been
Gu, off by pirates, who displayed such formidable
bravery snd determined front tina, Capt. Cald veil
was III able 10 rescue Them and had to apply TO Capt
Fellow of her msjestys ship Rather for assistance
This readily granted, and the Rather, with Capt
Caldwell on board, started for kuan, near which III y
sighted the pirates and followed them far into the
bay as the depth of water would permit. The pirates
quite of their advantage Ia light Zhts, and
conscious of their ability to resist successfully any at
tempt that might be made them by the boats OF The
steamer, FREQ few harmless broadsides in defiance
and stood in toward Kuan. Capt Fello yes thereupon
returned to Hong Kong and invited the cooperation
Of the United States steamer Powhatan, now 10 this
barber under repair. when was determined that the
Rather, with three boats and hundred OFF ers and
men Of the American stssm-frgste should form the
expedition, Cspt Caldwell volunteering tie use of his
steamer 20 TOW the boats up the bsy. Accordingly
the Rather, with the Esglet in toy and the Powhatans
boa,s astern of her. again left The harbor on Friday
about clock, the first lieutenant Pegram) Of the
Pc whaap, with Lieut.. Jones and his marines, taking
passage in the Rather and the blue jackets in the
Esglet. The steamer arrived close TO kulan before
midnight, the Eaglet an horiDg a couple of cables
length in shore OF the man-ofwar.
At five next morning the launches were act along
side of the Rstler for the marines, and then with
the Powbatans cutter and three boats from the
Rather beside the captains gig, made fast asern Of
the Eaglet, which, every thing being ready steamed
slowly up the bay. At Kul4n only one Junk was TO
be seen, and it was feared ths birds mad flown; but
Capt. Caldwell deserted lorcha at anchor al the
bt ad OF the bay and steered 10 Ii at direction The
ha cot mo-
ton Of escaping, when Capt. Fello VS. dspat he'd
the Rsttlers pinnace and Powhstsn's cutter 10 in.
tereept her, aIi these had unfortunately got beyond
recall before the pirate feet with their prizes
btring in all some thirty siI sail were observed a.
cbor in the mario. and shallow passage from which
the lorchs had started. As the steamer approached
the junks hostsd their sails, but without getting
uncer weigh unit several coDgreve rockets, dis
charged from the Esgets qusite deck by Mr.. Pine,
the gunner and two marine artillery men rom the
Rstter, and two or three wel-airected shot from q
thirty :wo pouneer, fired by Mr. Randall her chief Of
fcer started them froD their anced security for up
that time the pirates bsd either not observed the
boats Gus BIZ they would rot have the temerity TO
attack them. In this, however, they soon discovered
their mistake; for the boats which had at first made
for nsrrOw neck OF land bore up for and rounded the
pont-and ihen from the deck of the stea was wit
Iessed a. bold an attack as was ever made in these
wetsrs. The pirate feet formed 9 dense mas the
larger and heavier armed jnnks bringing the rear
every and then yswDiDg round and firing their
bioadsides a. the boats, from which, in reply, tiny
puff of smoke arose the howizsrs in .h-ir DO VS.
discharged their more deadly conien She shrspnel
bursting over the unks, and making frightfu havoc
amorg their The boats soon cared the pirates
Lie utter ants Peg.sm and Roando, with the launches
Of the Poshs,an first, by volleys Of muskeuy, clear
il the decks Of the Two largest, hen ooariDg and
driving the pirates overheard at TIE pon, OF the bay
onet This, however, wss not done without hard
Struggle, for the nscr ants fcug ht with the fury of
despair but they had Of course DO chance With the
marI es and luejackets Meanwhile the other boats
Eeie very far from Deglectns their advantages, and
though small in comparison with the launches per.
formed their share ofthe work with the gaanry
officers and veing with each other for the post Of
danger and Of horor so ths, five or six more j1nks
were soon secured. Mr.. james, tbs boatsssn Of the
Rather, particularly distinguished himself hsv-
ing, with i've sesnen and few nariDes 10 a whas-
bos, ;ier ifed wi-h ;he 5le Of ecocd enter bDHdei
..c carried junk tat iee1-sd iall mach fJr s.-bef