Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-02-16
ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATES.
Chinese Saveges Overpower the Grew
of German Bark-An American
AyenUSr -f..

of n German Bark-An American
AYenger.
The crew Of the North German bark
Apenrade, which arrived at New York on
Saturday, from Whampoa, China, tells
thrilling tale of an encounter with pirates
in the Canton river. When laden with $40
tons Of tea she sailed for New York on the
21st Of September last. On the oath the
vessel arrived within sight of Macao, and
anchored wag dropped in the outer roads
off the latter port. The pilot was dis
charged close to the Patol Island, and sail
was subsequently made. At twilight the
river swarmed with Chinese junks bound in
from the sea. Suddenly there was dead
calm and the vessel commenced drifting
| toward the lee shore. All sails were set
| but to no effect, and as the Captain was
/ about again to anchor large junk ran
! across the Apenrade's stem. Suddenly she
tackled and approached within two lengths
Of the vessels, and bringing her broadside
to the Apenrade she opened fire.
Six guns poured in grape and
canister, which tore away the bulwarks
and boats, smashing the upper works and
scattering the splinters in every direction.
Instantly the pirate laid alongside the bark,
whose crew were ready to receive the pl-
rates, half hundred Of whom sprang from
their concealment, and with revolver IL
hand boarded the bark. The Captain was
: fshot in the breast but after slightly recov
ing he was persuaded to ascend the miz
8 zen top.
q The crew being overpowered fled to tn
main and fore chains where they were dis
covered and guarded by the pirates /
seaman was killed and the mate received
terrible wound upon the top of the head
After making inquiries for money ant
opium, the savages rushed into the cabin
and stripped it of charts, quadrants, bar
- ometers and S29. Then they broE
open the cargo and with won
derful GOODNESS began to pass hal
chests of tea into their junk. While thi
was going on they caused the anchor to b
. dropped, and about thirty fathoms of chair
. paid out. When about 100 half chests ha,
= been transferred to the junk, cry wa
' raised that a steamer was in sight, whicl
i subsequently was ascertained to be Can
e ton river trader. The pirates then left
e alter stealing all the boats, and Capt. Da
Q wilson at once, feeling that time was all
n important, slipped cable, and as the win
!. fortunately began to treshen, made 70
: Macao, where he arrived that night.
The vessel presented an awful sight. TIL
lower part of the rigging and sails were Gu
and riddled in hundred places by th
7 pirates guns, so that they were useless
The decks wei g eharred by burning stink
pots.
+ While the Apenrade was en- route for thi
port, the China agents of the vessel learn
ed that the pirate was afterward taken b
8; a Chinese gunboat commanded by a
lie American named Edwards. 1t seem
Y that the junk was overhauled in tn
afternoon, and she was at once ordere
5, to lie to- This not being done, a fgh
lie took place, and the pirates fought des
perately. but they were finally forced
3. surrender. Many of them took to the wa
ter and attempted to swim for the shore
which was not far distant. It was foun
80 that some eighteen or twenty of the pirate
had been killed. the bodies of seven o
S, eight were found on the junk's deck. Fror
r. information received at Macao, whittier til
prize was towed en- route to Canton, Their
= is reason to believe that the junk combin
ed coolie catching with her other avocs
" TONS When encountered by the Chentc
she was bound, according to the prisoner
statement, for the coast of Hainan, til
y well-known cruising ground of both pirate
: and kidnappers.-