American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-10-25
From tAs Overland China Nail.
BatsIO with Pirates ~ American ana
EnrIIsh saiIsrs.

n /.
Ba1sIO with Pirates by American ana
English Sailors.
Tha boats of the Rattler and Powhatt1n
had a desperate encounter with pirates
paar Kulan on Saturday, and had eight
seamen aad marines killed, aud fifteen or
sixteen wounded, some Of them. it is fear.
ID, nortally. Capt. Fellowes, Lieutenant
Grade. aRd other officers, Nere blown up
ia iunk. but fortunately wese bat Rgle
hurt. Ten pirate junks were taken and
destroyed, the greater portion Of their
crews having been killed, aud seven prizes
liberated, five Of which belonged to the
Esglet's convoy, Six'esn Of the smaller
opirate juuks escaped.
Last week We mentioned that a lorcha
and three junks, (it should have been two
loFchas and Eve junks, under convoy ct
the steamer Eaglet, hal been cut of BY
pirates. who displayed such formidable
bravery and determined front that Captain
Caldwell was unable to rescue them. and
had to apply to Capt Fellowes Of her Ma
iessy's ship RatIler, for assistance. This
was readily granted, and the Rather. with
Capt. Callwell on bsard. started for Kulan.
near which thcy sighted the pirates. and
followed them as far into the bay as tie
depth of water wonli permit :
The pirates, quite aware Of their advan-
tages in light draught. and conscious Of
their ability 10 resist successfully any at
tempt that might be made on them by the
boats Of the steamer, fred few harmless
hroadsides in defiance, and stood in toward
Kalaa. CAptsin Fsllowes thereupon re-.
turned to Hong Kong. and invited the co.
operation Of the U States steamer Pow.
haitian, now in this harbor under repair,
when it was determined that the RattleF,
with rhree boats aud hundred officers aud
men. Of the American steam frigate. sho'd d
form tho expedition. Capt Caldwell vol.
ua!eering the use Of his steamer to tow the
boats up the bay. Accordingly the Rat
tier, with the Eaglet in tow. and the Pow.
battan's boats astorn Of her, again left the
barber on Friday about three o'clock. the
first Lieutenant Pegram, Of the Powhattan,
with Lieut.. Jones and his marines, taking
passage in the Rather, aud the blue jsck-
cts in The EagIct. The steamer arrived
close 10 Kulan before midnight. the Eaglet
anchoring couple Of cable lengths in
shore Of tho man-of war. At I've next
morning the launches were set alongside
the Rather for the marines. and then, with
the Powhattan's 8 cutter, and three boats OF
the Rather besides the captains gig. made
fast astern OF the Eaglst. which, every
thing being ready, steamed slowly up the
bay. AT Kulan only one junk was 10 be
seen. and it was feared the birds had down
but Captain Caldwell deserted lorcha q
anchor at the head Of the bay, and steereC
in that direction.
The lorcha got under way apparently
with the intention Of escaping, when Capt
Felowes dispatched the Ratller's pinnac
and the Powhattan's cutter 10 intercep
her. and these had unfortunately got be
yond recall before the pirate feet. wit
their prizes. numbering in all some thirty
six sail, were observed at anchor in th
narrow and shallow passage from whicl
the lorcha had started AS the sieame
approached, the junks hoisted their sails
hut without getting under weigh. unit
Congreve rockets discharged from the Ea
glet's quarterback by Mr.. Pine. the gun
ner,and two marine ariillerymen from tn
Rather. and two or three wsll-directs,
shots from 3a-pounder. fred by Me-. Ran
dali, her chief officer, started them frol
their fancied security; for up 10 that tim
the pirates had either not observed III
boats, or thought they would not have Ii
temerity 10 attack them. In this, howe,
er, they soon discovered their mistake. f
the boats, which had at first made for
narrow neck of land, bore up for and roun
the point, aud then from the deck Of III
steamer was witnessed as bold an Attac
as was ever made in these waters.
The pirate feet formed dsnse mas
the larger and heavier armed junks brinl
ing up the rear, every now and then yAv
ing round and firing their broadsides
the boats, from which, in reply, tiny pul
OF smoke arose as the howizenS in the
bows discharged their more deadly co
tents, the sharpoell bursting over the Jun
and making frightful havoc among the
crews. The boats soon neared the pirate
Lieutenants Pegram and Rolando, with 4
launches Of the Powhattan. first, with v,
leys Of musketry clearing the decks Of q
two largest. then boarding and driving Il
pirates overheard at the point Of the bay
net. This. however, was not done wilho
a hard struggle, for tho miscrcants foug
with tho fury Of despair but they had
course no chance with the marines a
blue jackets. Meanwhile the other boz
were far from idle, aud though small
comparison with the launches, perform
their share Of the work with the utm,
gsllantry, officers and men vieing W
each other for the post of danger and he
or. SO that fire or six junkS were soon
cured. Mr. Jones, the boatswain Of /
Rather, particularly distinguished hims,
having. with five seamen and few n
rines in whaleboat dignifed with
title OF second cutter. boarded and CARR
ajunk that seemed fully match for eitl
Of the launches.
Lieut.. Pegram, in the first launch, v
haslening TO their assistance, but seei
the battle nearly won. would not interft
with their well earned laurels. and tu,n
his attention elsewhere. The pir,
chiefs junk, after being shelled by the 6
launch, was boarded almost simultaneo
ly by her crew aud that OF the Rattle
gig. and Captain Fellowes was fortunl
enough to secure the chiefs flag. I
chiei himself-Lee Afye. principal le,
erof the Whampoa "patriois" 81
BY an English marine, who had inmu
an AwaN~ r. AZ.