Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-25
OF uninterrupted firing, a partial clearance
was effected Of the roof of the cabin. =,

,ureu 10 preathe Ireeiy, we observed a man on
board the ladrone boat passing lantern for
in the bow, and whose figures were momentari-
ly shown IN dim relief by the light thus thrown
on them In an instant, Lees Joe Manton
was at bis shoulder, and the next moment a
piercing scream from the direction where the
light had appeared, made it evident that the
shot had told. Whe her it was their leader or
some other person of consequence that Lee had
brought down we never could ascertain; but
within half q minute after the shrek which
announced his tall, our cabin roof was clear of
lntruders, and the whole crew of pirates were
In fun retreat bearing with them those of their
dead and wounded whom in their haste they
could conveniently pick up.
We then for the first time relaxed our Ere as
we had no desire for unnecessary carnage; but
their loss had already been severe, amounting,
as we afterwards learned, to seven or eight
killed, besides several wounded of whom we
could get no exact account. As soon as they
were all once more on board their own boat
they pushed on, exclaiming, in their own Ian
guage, that they would come back ere long and
murder the whole of us. They then dropped
down the river, and anchored beside two other
large boats, about40O yards off, which had been
lying there for some time, and which, as they
never either attempted to render us assistance,
or even to raise an alarm, we naturally took
tor accomplices, the crews of which had been
drafted from them to increase the attacking
force
The pirates were no sooner out Of the way,
than our discreet Chinese crew began slowly to
emerge from the hatchway Of the fOre-cabin
Where they had concealed themselves the mo-
ment they saw the approach of danger, leaving
US unaided to defend their boat from punder
vi the three native boys whom we had with u.s.
one jumped overheard in terror at the very first
alarm another crept down to the forehold, be-
side the crew, and the remaining one, who by
the way, was Lee servant, alone behaved like
trump, handing charges when required, load
ing spare gun, and performing other little
pieces OF service which considerably facilitated
our operations
The threat uttered by the ladrones as they
retlred might or might not be mere bravado
out 1t seemed not at all unlikely that there
mlSnt De sufficient number of reserved men
In the two other boats to form powerful rein
iorGement; and we were therefore rather dig
inclined to await a renewal Of the fray. The
tide, however, had not yet turned the wind
was not In our favor; and the idea of rowing a
last boat against wind. stream and tide was
out OF the question. We had the punts no
doubt: but they carried only two in each, and
including the servants, there were six people
required to be accommodated. A council of
war was held, and after brief deliberations we
concluded, as there was no other available
means ot escape, ut ali hazards to take to the
Puns; These were accordingly rigged out;
and jackson and Lee took the one, while
"nymper and ourselves occupied the other
each boat carrying besides one of the servants
The little vessels were loaded to the waters
edge; the night was extremely dark; and the
nearest point at which we could hope TO find
friend who would receive US. was at Whampoa
distance of twenty-five miles. Add to this
the possibility, If not the probability, of pur-
SUIT by the exasperated pirates, would have
been certain DEATH and some idea may be
formed of the misery of our position.
IL was OF consequence that our movements
should be rapid, and we accordingly piled our
strength to make the diminutive crafts fy
through the water, while one in each boat
strained his eyes to catch the first indications
OF approaching danger We rowed thus for
upwards OF six hours, and arrived at Whampoa
about three O'Clock in the morning, when we
at once made our way to the residence Of Mr.
ward, an old friend Of Lees, who, he assured
US, would accord us q hearty welcome. Our
appearance was far from prepossessing-ou
faces begrimed with smoke and powder our
eyebrows and whiskers scorched partially off,
our Clothes burned In many places, and our
hands sOoty and smeared with blood but the
gentleman was no sooner sufficiently awake to
understand our tale, than he all but embraced
us, In his overwhelming expressions Of sympa-
thy. He rung up tho servants to prepare hot
night titfin; and after having again heard the
particulars Of our adventure, and taxed his in
genulty to lind words strong enough to express
his surprise and admiration, he ushered us to
our cOuches, where we dreamed Of Burgundy
and fire pots, snipe shooting, and deck fighting
sinking punts and hospitable old gentlemen
till pretty far on in the next morning
As soon as our late breakfast was concluded
our excellent host kindly furnished US with his
own boat, and u crew to take us up to Canton
a distance Of FIVE miles, which we easily accom-
plished in an hour. The first object which met
our eyes, on approaching the wharf, was the
identical fast boat in which we had gone down
the river, and which the crew had been able to
get under way within a couple Of hours after
We left it.
Some of US were pretty well known in Can
ton; indeed any one who resides in Canton for
a month cannot but become known to almost
every member of the small English community
who inhabit what are called the Factories ; and
when it became public that our fast boat had
come back without us and that it was stained
with large quantities of blood, the greatest un-
easiness had prevailed. The crew of the boat
were questioned, but they could only tell of the
tight on board, and that we had left them in
the Punts. We might have been drowned or
murdered after that.
AS we drew near the wharf we observed one
or two groups of anxious-lOOking faces, and
sooner observed approaching the landing, than
three hearty cheers announced our welcome
and dozen hands were held out in congratu-
latiOn. We then learned also, that by an or
der from the consulate, to which office two Of
our party belonged, government steamer was
at that moment getting up steam, to proceed
down the river in search Of Us. as there ap-
peared sufficient ground to suspect that there
had been foul play on the part OF the natives.
The steamer was detained till next day, when
the true state of the case being known, and
necessary particulars being furnished, it was
despatched with view, if possible, to appre-
hcnd some OF the pirates, or obtain information
as to their whereabouts; but after an absence
Of two days, it returned without success
1t would be too long to tell how we triumphed
the lions Of the Factories for at least fort
night, till the whole thing had became stale,
and we were ourselves tired of being feted
After that, we settled down again into our old
business routine ; and we can assure the gentle
reader that our brain was never more troubled
with romantic dreams Of gaily dressed corsars,
a thrust from some rapier, or ball from whose
pistol, We had fancied must be rather pleasant
than otherwise, and whose life bore a charm
wherever they went, Eypsrentia docef-but
the proverb is somewhat musty.