Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-02-03


Apenrade arrived at New York from
Whampoa, China, after q voyage of 106
days. The crew tell thrilling tale of an
encounter with pirates In the Canton river.
In December, 1868, the Apenrade left Ham
burg for Singapore, Siam, Bangkok. Hong
Kong, Formosa and Tam-Sui. When laden
with $40 tons of tea she sailed for New
York on the 2ist of September last. On the
24th the vessel arrived within sight of Macao
and, as there were head winds and calm al
ternatIug, anchor was dropped in the outer
roads off the latter port. The pilot was dis
charged close to Pat0l Island, and sail was
swarmed with Chinese junks bound In from
the sea. As this was no infrequent occur,
renee the circumstance was not noticed.
Suddenly there was dead calm, and the
vessel c0mpenced 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 Apen-
rades stem. Suddenly she tackled and sp-
preached within two lengths of the vessel,
and bringing her broadside to the Apenrade,
she opened fire. Six guns poured in grape
and canister, which tore away the bulw arks
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 thes pi-
rates, half hundred Of whom sprang from
| their conceslment, and with revolvers ia
hand boarded the bark. The captain was
shot in the breast but after slightly recover
ing he was persuaded to ascend the mizzen-
top.
The crew being overpowered, fled to the
main and fore chains, where they were dis
covered and guarded by the pirates. A sea-
man was killed and the mate received ter
rible wound on the top of his head. After
making inquiries for money and opium, the
savages rushed into the cabin and stripped it
of charts, quadrants, glasses, bsrometers, and
$2S. Then they broke open the cargo, and
with wonderful coolness began to pass half
chests Of tea into their junk. While this
was going on they caused the anchor to
be dropped, and about thirty f4thoms of
chain paid out. When about one hundred
half chests had been transferred to the junk
cry was raised that steamer was In sight,
which subsequently, was ascertained to be q
Canton river trader. The pirates then left,
after stealing all the boats, and Captain Day.
portant, slipped cable, and as the wind for
iunately began to freshen, made for Macao,
where he arrived that night
The vessel presented AZ awful sight. The
lower part Of the rigging and sails were cut
and riddled in q hundred places by the pi-
rates guns, so that they were useless. The
decks were chsrred by burning stink-pets.
All the arms used by the pirates were Of the
most improved manufacture.
On the arrival of the Apenrade at Maco,
the Portuguese authorities despatched the
gunboat Canoes in search of the piratical
Junk, but it returned without effecling any
result.
While the Apenrade was en- route for New
York the Chira agents Of the vessel learned
that tho pirate was afterwards taken by q
Chinese gunboat commanded by an Amer
lean named Edwards. 1t seems that the
Junk was overhauled in the afternoon, and
she was at once ordered to lie to. This mo-
being done fight took place, and the pi
rates fought desperately, but they wers final
ly forced to surrender Many of them tool
to the water and attempted to swim for the
shore, which was not far distant. II wal
found that some eighteen or twenty pirate
had been killed; the bodies of seven O.
eight were found on the junk's deck. From
Information received at Macao, whittier th,
prize was towed en- route to Canton, Their
is reason to believe that the junk combined
coolie-catching with her other avocations
! When encountered by the CheHto, she wa
bound, according tothe prisoners statements
for the coast Of Hainsn, the well-know
cruising ground Of both pirates and kid nap
pers.
Some of the murderous weapons uaed b.
the pirates are still with Captain Davidson
one Of thom being the short sword, of steel
twenty inches long In blade aud one quai
ter inches wide. The Aperiade is of 81
tons burthen, and 1870 feet long.