The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-09-11

SHE NRlBUNE.
CAPTURED BY PIRATES.

GAP RED II u |
Three months had elapsed since the
ship Sultan had cleared from the custom
house. bound for China, and we were
bobbing up and down the long irregular
swell, with TIE island of BoIneo looming |
up in the distance-a long distance |
ahead.
| had been aroused out of comforta-
BILE snooze. by the mate who reported a |
Malay prahu heaving in sight.
The mate and myself were standing on
the poop, with our glasses leYeled in the |
direction of the stranger, who had now
approached within mile of the Sultan.
Suddenly black speck was discerns
BILE on the water; it appeared to be NOV
ing with considerable rapidity, and with
some curiosity watched the object which
/ at last made out to be sampan pad
died by single half. naked Malay.
With marvellous dexterity he guided
his little craft over the bosom of the
ocean, and when within quarter of
mile, he stopped, dropped his paddle and
shaded his eye with his hand, and gazed
long and eagerly toward us.
stWhat the devil is that fellow after,
wonder, Mr. Jones?' | enquired of the
mate, who was an old trader, and had
run many a cargo of opium in those seas.
"Tbat fellow is scout belonging to
pirate prahu, and he is accommodating in
order to find out whether we carry the
means of defense. IF you will allow me.
Captain Mason, | will show the fellow
we have barker. and a good one too.
But are you sure that your suspicious
are corrcct?"
Eyes, sir, / have encountered such
fellows before"
'AIl right then, give him a shot, and
then arm the crew, for unless the breeze
springs shortly we will have TO fight the
rascals.
Without loss of time Jones trained one
of the four-pounders upon the Malay
scout, and applied the match
But the quick eye Of the pirate had
caught the fash, and leaping from the
sampan he dived far beneath the surface
and out Of danger, while the solid shot
striking close alongside, ricocheted and
disappeared in the distance.
simultaneously with the disappearance
of the shot the Malay rose to the surface,
regained his sampan, and, with loud
shout of defiance, shot off in the direc
ton of the prahu.
Sc Now, Mr.. Jones, the sooner VIC pre-
pare to receive this fellow, the better. y
AYE, aye, sir; every man must fight
for his life, or he will lose tn number of
his mess. These Dyak pirates very seldom
give quarter, and if any of US should be
spared, in case of capture, we will be con-
signed to everlasting slavery; for my part
| will never be taken alive"
And hurrying forward. he was soon
hard at work with all hands, greasing
the sides. distributing arms, etc. while l
loaded my pistols, rifle and shotgun, and
buckled long, formidable cutlass around
my waist.
The twilight was verging slowly into
night, and the moon, rising from its
couch, cast a bright silvery light around,
enabling us to discern the outline Of the
I. IL III
impelled through the water by double
row of blades. managed as | afterward
learned, By slaves.
1t was crowded with men, and sudden
ly, loud, shrill, discordant cry, mingled
with the beating of gongs, drums, etc.,
broke upon the still night air, followed
by vivid flash, and the dull report of
cannon.
The whistle and rush of the ball was
heard as it flew over our heads, and |
threw an anxious glance around in hopes
of discovering some evidence of breeze,
but with the exception of few cat's
paws occasionally stealing over the
water, | could see nothing which babe
me hope.
With a fierce determination, l now
turned my attention to the enemy, and |
both our guns were trained on the prahu, |
which was advancing bows on, with the
intention of boarding US.
Jones stood by one gun, while I squint- |
ed along the other.
Now is the time" shouted Jones, as
the prahu waved slightly; and, with a
deafening roar, the simultaneous report |
of the two guns echoed around, followed |
by loud shrieks of altogether another |
character than that which was formerly |
INDUCED in.
AS the smoke lifted caught glimpse
of the craft, the bows of which were
stove, and stained with blood while
dozen dark forms were struggling in the
water. and yells of agony, rage and en-
couragement filled the air. The next
instant felt the conclusion as the prahu
struck US amidship, and with such terri
BILE force as to cause US to swing slightly
before the shock.
With the eye of hawk and quick as
fash of lightning, Jones leaped to his
gun, and threw with fearful precision
said shot into the boat, which went
crashing and humping through her bot
tom planks and timbes She was filing
rapidly, forcing the savage men to leap
overheard or into the main chains with
their knives in their teeth. On every
side they were met by our men, and
were being rapidly thinned off before the
unerring aim of the crew.
Victory no doubt would have been
perehed on our side, and the day would
have been our own, had not another prahu
larger and more formidable than the
first, hove in sight; their loud, harsh
cries giving fresh courage and vigor 10
our nearly beaten and disheartened OPP
ponents. who by means of hooked poles