The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-11-10
A Desperate Encounter with Piratcs-s
Terrific Tale ofthe Sea-, - ot1

DcsPcrate Encounter with PirafcS.s
Terrific &C Tale or the sea.'' q ota
The East India papers publish the
story of an extraordinary and fearful
encounter by the officers Of ship with
desperate gang of eastern pirates,
whom they were conveying from Sim
gapore to Bombay, which has more of
the smack of the old-fashioned "Tales
of the Sea-" than any similar narrative
for the last twenty years. 1t appears
that Captain Correya, of the British
ship Ararat, bark of about two hum
dred and ninety tons, had just landed
batch Of Bombay oonvicts at Singa-
pore, and was to take back return
freight of Singapore and Penang con-
victs to Bombay-twelve men from
each place. The Ararat was about to
set sail upon her homeward expedition,
when the Queens steamer Esk, Cap
tain Sir II. Maclure, steamed into Sim
gapore with two piratical junks in tow,
which had been caught prowling about
the China Sea-. There were ffty-two
prisoners on board, and Captain Cor
reya was informed that he might have
conveyance of them to Bombay as
soon as the formalitics of trial had
been gone through, for of their guilt
there was no doubt. Fifty were con-
demned to transportation and handed
over to the Ararat. On the 10th of
June the vessel sailed, but stopping at
Penang, twelve convicts more were
taken on board, making the whole num-
Der of desperadoes not less than seven
ty-four. ans esasss aaeadsaH sft
On the 2Sth of June the weather
was stormy, so that the Captain and
mate remained on deck; but while
they were trying to catch nap they
were awakened suddenly by a tremen-
dous crash and shoutings. 1t was ap-
parent in moment that the convicts
had broken loose. The rest of the
story is from the Bombay Standard Il
The noise, crash of something Civ
ing way, followed by shout, startled
the mate also as he was standing by
the break OH the poop. There was no
doubt as to the cause.-The convicts had
broken loose. Quick as thought the
captain leaped to the deck and brought
his arms-a revolver and two pistolsss
from the cabin. The mate as Instantly
aroused the guard, at thesame time hail
ing the sentry forward, but received n
reply. He remained by the night
guard muskets until the guard tufned
ont, before which the captains rexoly>
er spoke from the poop. The caplaiR
it seems, on reaching the deck, could
just discern that the convicts were
making their way aft. They had ad-
vanced as far as the stern of the long
boat when he fired into them. Still
they came on, atumultuous rush, yell
ing like fiends, and heaving before them
blocks, handspikes, holystones, fire.
wood, curry-stuff grinders--anything,
in fact, they could lay hands on.a Cap
tain Corrcya was severely struck by
some of these missiles, as were also
several of the guard, who had by this
time joined the captain (the crew, Las
cars and Spaniards being altogether
with out arms, having made their way
into the rigging) on the poop. The
gallant party had no thought, however,
of acting on the defensive, but Jump
ing to the quarter deck, commenced
hand-to-hand fight with the scoundrels.
Both the captain and guard fired as
fast as they could load, using also their
cutlasses and bayonets to keep them
at bay. They had desperate men to
deal with. No sooner was musket
fired than rush was made upon it be-
fore it could be reloaded, but in no one
instance did they succeed in wrench
ing it from the grip that held it for life
or death. One bayonet was their only
spoil. During the whole time they
kept up a shower of missiles described
above, and it is only wonderful that
more mischief was not done by them.
Inch by inch, however, the captain and
his party gained ground, advancing
purposely' with caution, lest from be-
hind the water casks rush might be
made upon them, and their armsHtheir
salvation-be seized. And here we
have to record an instance of courage
as rare As heroic. Some ten, minutes
or so after the outbreak, amid an up
TOdT dS IL Oi ucll iCb lOOoC, al iciuk itOiR
men who were thirsting for blood, the
captains wife took her part in the fray,
by loading and continuing to reload
her husbands pistols, and passing
them up from the cuddy skylight. AS
each hatch was gained it was seized by
the guard and fastened down. After
an hours hard fighting the convicts
were driven on to the topgallant fore
castle, where they were charged with
the bayonet, and several run through
or driven over the bows. Two or
three were seen to lay hold of the fore
topgallant studding sail, which was ly-
ing on the forecastle,e and jump over
board with it. They were shot from
the poop and quarter deck, as well as
the darkness permitted their being
made out. ro e4Hss I'll 81 lsf
The deck now being clear, lights were
brought many attempts had been
made to get lights during the fight, but
as soon as one appeared it was knock
ed over by the convicts, and the whole
work was done in the most solid dark
ness. The sights which the lights re-
vealed, when brought, were the horrid-
est. Here man with gashed face,
there another cut almost IN two, there
another riddIed with the bayonet. there