The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-21
TIE AIR FULL OF BULLETS.
THE LTVFLIEST KIND or 4 FIGIIT
ON 1HE BONNY RITER.
Hordes Of Africans At'uckinu the British
ship Ntc'orin-The Nheeisman shot Dead
The ! erils Of Commerce on the Niger.

Hordes Of Africans At,nckinu the British
ship Victoria-The Wheeismnn shot Dead
The / erils Of Commerce on the Niger.
nom ne nanc1eTe, Examiner
STEAMSHIP VICTORIA. Bonny River, June
3.-Ihe Sult,n b wing been attacked on her
ascent by { Agberi peoule, We made every
provision during the evening Tor defence, in
case 1t was required. On the 14tn we weighed
1T $50 A. NJ, and proceeded to this hostile
lace, where we iund tue preparations were
unon us from all directions ~ the three villages
Fortunately the water had risen little the
night previous, which enabled us to keep mid
stream. and so avoid the vOlley that was being
poured upon us. After passing the towns. we
took the ground upon the fats below, luckily at
a pl 60 some distance from the woods. In spite
Of this security We had each to take the watch
ut nights til the 18TH inst. when we got afloat
again. On the Eth "A krOotOy was shot in tho
leg, going ON shore Ia boat for grass to feed
tue cattle.
verv place when the sultan ascended 10 Asomart
to discharge her cargo. Ibis little steamer was
attacked by a number OF canoes In the Sultans
absence. aud at dead OF night, ana had she not
teen prepared To- defense sue might have been
taken, there being very few men on board h r.
he mnraudefs were forced to retreat with loss
OF he, md two canoes.
being now anoat we started ut A. M. and
passed INDIANA unmolested. but at Sobogregs
we -ere fired upon. Not a man was seen, but
the IRE WIS kept up at such rate that we could
not equally respond, though we had several six
teen shooters engaged. The very slow pace of
the steamer Is "A great disadvantage. ana had
more than once wished had not Joined her.
Opoporoma village. Here the movements OF the
steamer were keenly watched 10y several large
canoes passing aud repassing all the nigit
through. keeping, OF course, at safe distance.
IL was dusk, and the pist combats made me
very Suspicious OF any strange move. remark
ed upon the movements OF the canoes to hr.
Hunter. and also to Mr. Clin OF Messrs Holland,
was then regarded "a a coward, for. rs they
said, we are free now from danger" Never
theless, we were on the watch, aud passed a
most miserable might.
Al Llambee village, on the 10Th, we were
stormed with cannon and rifle shots from both
banks. Here cannons have been planted and so
adjusted as to play upon the bridge particularly.
The shots were like hailstones all over the su,p.
The heavy shots were no DOUBT from 3pound
and 4pound guns. At this II oe 4 fatal shot
from Chassepot rifle struck man at the wheel:
the wheel. and he fell dead. Another man had
two wounds on the back and leg. Mr.. Hunter,
was forced for his life to jump down the bridge
instead Of passing by the ladder. He rih To tho
engine room, the engineers having secreted
fOrated In all directions. The water closet, tho
engine room, the galley masts. &c, suffered ex-
tremely, and several OF the crew were wounded.
AZ the previous fOstilo villages rifles were
nfed. but not cannons. 1t 10 sti to me mira
fail to remark that during this sudden attack the
guard plates round the bridge were flung
at place 50 near the Nun. Thus we were ex-
posed to the enemy. had Just left the bridge
bya prOvioental call from Cliff and had en-
tered the cabin, when this sudden and heavy
firing commenced, which not only kept
aDack but prevented any one from crossing the
decks. Presently another vOlley OF cannon bats
and rifle shots was poured upon us. The hriug
was 80 incessant that 1t was death to make
appearance on the deck. In this instance heavy
guns were not only planted on both sides by tue
pirates but they had resorted to stratasem.
At the narroNest part OF tue river known as
Horseshoe Bend, a hawser nine inches thick
was stretched across and made fast to trees ON
both sides, buoyed up with pieces Of wood in
the centre 80 Ms to entrap the steamer. Birri-
| cades were also buiit at each side where tho
| hawser was hxed, and from these experien-
| ced a deadly shower OF rifle shots This hawser
| brought the Sultan TO. and she lay her broad
side to the current. In this hell position
the natives had a fair crhnce OF raking the ship
| from stem to stern with their guns. Fortunate
| ly for us the bawser parted, either by the pad
| dies, or. as afterward reported, was cut by
krooboy with matchet. The steamer swung
| round, and we steamed down the river. On
| arrival at the Nun we found that eleven were
| wounded aud one killed.