The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-10
From the Overland Bombay Standard, Sept. 10.
Desperate Encounter with Pi-
rate Convicts On Board Ship.
Fight in the Night Time-25 Killed.

The story of the Ararat, now in Bombay
harbor, would have satisfied US when in our
schoolboy days, we thought nothing more in.
spring than such "Tales of the Sea" as mar.
rated the bloody deeds of pirates, aud the
righteous retribution that sometimes over.
took them.
The Ararat is bark Of 900 tons, owned
by Hajee Saleh Mahomed Arbee, of Bombay,
and commanded by Capt. j. NJ. Correya.-
On the Both of January last she left Bombay
with convicts for Penang and Singapore.
Having landed the men, and disposed of his
cargo, the captain rendered and was accept
ed for convicts for Bombay, twelve of whom
were ready for deportation from Sin ,apore,
and as many from Penang. just as the ves-
sci was ready to leave, Captain Correya was
informed that he might have batch of pi.
rates, the Esk having brought them in
1t seems that shortly before the Ararat's
arrival at Singapore, complaints had been
made of two piratical junks prowlng about
the China Seas, and the steamer Hooghly,
OF her Majesty's Indian navy, Capt. Wright,
was sent after them. Coming up with them
among the islands, the steamers boats were
sent in chase, but on coming within range of
the ejunks' guns, each vessel carrying ten or
twelve to 12-pounders, they were met by
such a fire as compelled them to return. The
Hooghly's armament consisting of only two
6-pounders, the captain did not think him
self justified in proceeding further in the
matter, and steamed back to Singapore. On
his report, her Majesty's steamer Esk, Capt.
Sir r. Maclure, was dispatched in search,
with the mate Of the Hooghly as a guide, and
was happily successful On the junk catch
ing sight Of the Esk, there being men on
board them who were well up as to her ar
manent, discretion was thought to be the
better part Of valor A boat was lowered,
with some fellows who could speak little
English, and pulled for the Esk. On coming
on board, they showed Sir Robert Singa-
pore port clearance, in ballast But Sir Rob-
ert being too old salt to allow any to be put
on his tail, cooy gave the order togo
ahead" In twinklng the Esk was along
side the junks, the crews were taken on
board, a draft to each junk made from the
Esk, and the gallant vessel, with the iunks
in tow, steamed away for Singapore. These
were the fellows who Captain Correya was
told he might have in addition to the ortlin-
ary convicts. They were tried on shore,
fifty.two in number, by special session, two
being acquitted, and the remainder sentenced
to transportation to Bombay, some for fifteen
years, some for life. On the judge passing
sentence, they assured him that if they rot
an opportunity on the voyage they would not
fail to take advantage of it, and murder ev-
cry soul on board. They would rather be
hanged at once than transported.
With these fifty pirates on board, twelve
ordinary convicts, a guard Of fifteen European
Madras artillerymen, and eight Sepoys of the
marine battalion, the Ararat left Singapore
on the 10th Of June, and arrived at Penang
in the evening Of the Gath. Twelve conyicts
were here added to the gang, making seven.
ty-four in all.
The Ararat left Penang in the evening of
the 10th, junk leaving at the same time,
and doing her best to keep up with the ship.
Captain Correya, not liking the appearance
Of things, lodged his satellite, and finally
lost sight Of the craft on the evening Of tn,
9th. A few hours later the Ararat was
some sixty miles from Penang. The 2stb
broke gloonily, very dark, and sharp gusts
OF wind. AT 245 the captain ordered the
mate to set topgallant sails if the weather
should clear, and lay, down again on tho
poop. His rest was ofshort duration Ten
minutes later he was aroused by a noise such
one as wakes man broadly in an instant
The noise, a crash as Of something giving
way, followed by shout, startled the mate
aiso' IS ne was standing by the break of the
poop, There was no doubt as to the cause
-the conyicts had broken loose. Quick ..
thought thecaptain leaped to the deck and