The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-03-30


D out TO him ~ name, a TonE, bai 40 ne
! ply came, Hheu ieI. pretty certain TIA
{ L was no, The steward, in which belle
) | was not lcft long ii doub.
/ had turned my head Ipto Nj spsn
. eer,s cabin, 70 leIl hin ~ my susTigiuns
!, wheo th3usbt / heard steps s.eAl,sil,
!. approaching me. gave rapid aaue
! and there, no, iour feet from whore
/ stood were some 1ye or elx a. yillaingai
+ looking Chlnamen IS ] bad ever behel1
. armed, some with bamboos abbut On
/ feet long, and others witt swords, IN y
, moment, had sprung into the cabin
and closed and bclled toe door With a
! yen, the entire gang made one stnulia-
neous rush toward the door, bat they
bod missed their mark by second ]
bad planted nv back agRinst the door,
and thanks 10 my weight and the bolts, Il
resisted their combined efforts 10 force II.
Oihesfneasures however, | knew must
be lr once resofted 10, and that Instantly
Calling upon Mr. Spencer TO move bis
chest Of drawers against the door, and
placing two large trunks on the top Of
them, we patiently waited the coming
eysuts. Spencer very fortunately bad q
I couple Of Colts reyolyers in his chest of
drawers, with which we armed ourselves.
The gang outside were evidently 10 deep
consultation as to their next mode OF at
tack. One voice beard raised above all
the others, aud that voice was without
doubt AsTong, our much.respeeted stew
ard From the little Chinese was so-
quainted with, gathered that they were
bent upon the treasure, which had come
on board from the Oriental bank only
that afternoon II had been slowed
away In the captains cabin, and was
safely lodged in fire aud thief proof
safe.
They proceeded TO the captains cabin,
| but In very short time returned, and
knocking at the door with their bamboes,
demanded 1t to be opened. At first they
used threats, then entreaties, promising
us that not hair Of our heads should be
hurt. But, though we feared their threats
we had no faith in their promises, and
fully resolved that, If the worst came
to worst, we would sell our lives pretty
dearly.
On, how we longed for eleven O'Clock,
for Capt. Wiks' returnl How patiently
and eagerly we listened for the splash of
the oars Of the six stalwart boatmeul-
We heard four bells from the different
ships In the harbor, some not couple of
hundred yards away; but it was impos-
sible to reach or signal them. Instead of
large port hole there was only The small
headlight, through which we could not
even thrust our heads, much less our
bodies
Well, when they found that neither
threats nor promises would avail them, !
was standing on a camp stool, endeavor
ing to see what they were doing, by look
ing through the iron grating on the top
of the door, when saw one of them
with spear. at what, in military phrase
oIogy, would be termed shorten arms
that is, with the spear drawn back to its
fullest extent, ready to thrust through
the door. gave one spring from the
stool, and lucky indeed | did so, for the
next moment the point Of spear grazed
my cheek. Another inch TO the left, and
would have been dead man. We
both then retired to the further end Of
the cabin, so as TO keep out OF harms
way. We knew bat they dared not use
firearms for fear OF attracting the notice
Of the ships in the neighborhood; and 20
doubt this was our salvation.
Spear after spear was thrust through, /
some almost reaching US as we crouched
down on the floor OF the cabin, when all
at once we heard crash, aud, on look I
ing up, to our horror saw that one OF the !
panels of the door had been forced in 1
sufficiently for man 70 thrust his body
through. We both Immediately sprang
upon our feet, grasping our revoiysrs
more frmly, expecting that, in despera- |
ton, some OF them would be hardy
enough TO try and force their way into
the cabin. But they were far too cum
ming for that.
Two Of them now got upon chairs, but
taking care TO keep out Of the line of fire
of our revolyers, and by side thrusts |
compelled us to kneei and crouch behind
the chests OF drawers one moment, in the
berths the next, and, at last, under The
bottom of them, here We we're for some
time comparatively safe.
Bat, emboldeped b. their success, they
now faced the broken paneing; and we
could plainly see thai IN another minute
or two, the affair would end by our both
being speared like wild boars. whis-
pered TO Spencer TO hrc at the first head
that showed itself st the panelings and ]
would do the same--be 10 take the right,
and the left, so that we should no,
waste ammunition through both OF us
firing At the same persons. i remember
as II it happened only five minutes ago,
two beads suddenly appearing, and N.Y.
self And spencer 10 The act oi presenting
our revolYers at them, when, a. 8 fash
OF lightning, Two spears were suddenly
thrust through the aperture, aud the next
moment felt twinge in the right
side.
remember no mDre until six WEEKS
Afterwards, wheu vas ying ia bed in
strange room, very weak aud faint. By