Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-08-18


orable "battle of Navarine." In one o.
his cruises he was also at Genoa and had
. the pleasure of seeing Lady Blessington,
} Madame Guiccoli and Lord Byron, Just
before his departure for Greece. The
Constitution after a long and pleasant
cruise entered Boston harbor, on July
4th. 1928. Was on different short CRUZ
ses until March. 1881, when be was
promoted to a Lieutenantcy and then or
dered TO the Potomac. This ship, it was
first directed, should be put into sailing
trim, repair to the harbor off New York
and take on board Martin Van Buren, and
suite, the recently appointed Minister at
the court of St. James, who was 10 be
landed at Portsmouth,, or some other
convenient port in the British channel.
The Potomac was then to sail for the
west coast of South America to relieve
the U. S. Frigate Guerrero, but before
;he time arrived for her departure, in
formation was received by this Govern,
ment that a piratical attack had been
made upon the ship Friendship of Salem,
on the coast Of Sumatra, in the month of
February preceding; the Malays having
treacherously seized that vessel, and
massacred part of her crew. The public
were unanimous in calling for a redress
for such an atrocious grievance, and the
Potomac was now designated by Govern
ment to perform that service, instead of
proceeding directly TO her original des-
tination. She lay at anchor off Castle
Garden in the North river, until the Gath
of August when "All hands up anchor
ahoy," was heard, and the Potomac's
canvass wings were suddenly expanded
and she moved slowly and majestically
down the bay, until she was again
brought to anchorage off Sandy Hook
On the morning of the Goth the wind and
tide being favorable she stood out 10 sea
on her course to Sumatra by the way of
Rio Janeiro and the cape of Good Hope,
with the purpose of bringing the treach-
erous Malsys to an account and redress
our grievances in that quarter. It was
not until the 29th of January following,
that the Potomac made anchor off Hog
Island on the coast of Sumatra, when
the commodore, (DownesI wishing TO
take the Malays by surprise, disguised
The Frigate as a merchant ship CT great
burden and capacity, like many Of East
India traders. Thus disguised the Po-
tomac stood in and came to anchor about
FIVE miles from Quallah Battoo, the little
village where the piracy had been com
mitted upon the Friendship.
Says commodore Downes, in making
his report to the Secretary of the Navy:
voluntary justice on the part of the
Malays, for the piratical act of which we
complained, was not to be looked for, and
was entirely u of the question. Ii was
the act of a whole community with al
least the connivance of theirrulers. the
Rsjahs. TIE only plan therefore, that
promised success in compelling them TO
do us justice, was that of securing
the persons of some of their principal
Rajahs, and retaining them as hostages
until the actual perpetrators of this afro
ciOus act of piracy were brought TO cen
dign punishment, and ample restitution
Of property made TO the owners of The
ship Friendship, and her unfortunate off
GERS and crew.
To effect this object and to secure the
persons of the Rajahs without bloodshed,
the Commodore directed that the follow
lug system of espionage be adopted. A
boat was prepared TO visit the shore, and
Lieutenant Shubrick in citizens dress, was
to represent the captain of The Potomac
as a merchantmen; while Lieutenant Ed.
son was TO represent the supercargo, anx-
ious 10 procure a supply Of pepper. Lieu
enants Pinkham, Hon- and Ingersoll, and
acting sailing master To.ten, dressed
as sailors, rowed the beat. These
officers after receiving the necessary
instructions, as to the place of OPEN
ing negotiations with the Rajahs. the
boat put off from the ship. As the boat
approached the beach, the Malays be.
gan to collect in considerable force. Of
the number upon The shore not less han
two hundred were armed, some with
anu knives, and others with blum
derbusses. It seemed evident hat they
had some suspicion of the character and
of their visitors; and appeared SO
in numbers n weapons, that
party deemed it imprudent to land;
but returned again to the Frigate. An
attack upon the place was now determin
ed upon. A writer in speaking of it,
says: "The physical force of the Ma
was by no means inconsiderable, and
their fastness in the jungle rendered them
exceedingly formidable. Prompt meas
ures, and such as was calculated, if pos
sible, to effect a surprise, was evidently
indicated as the only course compatible
humanity and sound policy. As
soon as it was dark the boats were hoist
o and during the night preparations
made for landing. The rules of the SER
vice not permitting the commodore to
the ship in person, the command
Of the expedition devolved upon Lieut..
Shubrick, TO whom the commodore had
very fully impaired his instructions. anG
explained his views in general, for the
whole management Of the ENTERPRISE