The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-27
AFRICAN PIRATES.

NEW YORK SCHOONER PLUNDERED AND
BURNED BY sAvAGEs ON THE CONGO RIVED
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
Messrs Yates l. Porteraeid, OF No. lis Wall street.
who have been engaged Tor many years IN tho African
trade, received information that tho Goth day OF
December 1876. tho schooner Joseph Nickerson, ono
Of thor vessels sent out by them with cargo con-
ssting OF tar turpenne, paint, oil and eghtoou tons
Of coffee, already on board US portion ot tho home
cargo, had been boarded by negro pirates of Sharks
Point, ana after being plundered totally destroyed
The following Is n copy Of the thrilling narrative re-
lated by Captain Yates ~ hts owners and Is dated ut
ST. Paul dc Loanda, Airica:-
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT
left Ambrix ON the 18TH December, and shaped
course Tor tho Congo River On the 10th December
arrived OF sharks Point rbe cargo consisted OF somo
tar, turpentine, PANT oil ind black lead, aud
eighteen tons OF coffee shipped Ia Ambriz The wind
light and tho current very strong running out OF
tho river; o1n order ~ make the port OF Banana
obliged to hug the southern Shore and tho Tore
loot o the sup took the sand ABOUT twelve O'Clock
the day. Immediately mad kedge anchor carried
out by the yawi under the charge Of tho chef Ocer
and was succeeding IN warpng tho vessel oil, when
numUer of natives came oil from Sharks Point. l
should them at between 400 and 500 IN about
seventy canoes They swarmed ABOUT the ship and
cut the hawser had out TO my kedgc attempted to
got another kcdge OUT but tho natives prevented me-
THE men cano on board and rendered me assistance
Tney called themselves king Peter's Son." "Jack
Wash" aud "Walker."
An ATTACK by sAvAGEs.
After my hawscr was cut endeavOred to make sail
on the SNIP thinking that us tho ship was 50 noary
aioat the sails would drive her oil but the natives
swarmed on the ships side aud with their knives
the sails TO pieces, rendering them perfectly useless
Up to this moment had received assistance from the
three before mentioned but after this AL seemed
10 JON the plundef CABIN doors torn on all
the provisions and spare rigging were taken Opt 0 tho
tween decks. l cannot say Tor certain that these
men Took part In the piundcrng but afterwards saw
many things belonging 10 the ship In the nativos'
huts Particularly l wish 10 mention trunk
belonging to Mr. swanson, tho mate, IN the Kings
mouse. The pirates tho coiee sacks open aud
carried away Us much as they could. -Four oil my
the chief officer took the yaw and went Banana
The Dutch House Tor assistance, which rendered
on The following day. Tho agent, Mr.. Biocner aud
Mr.. Youngbiood, aud about ten other Europeans or
white men, all well armed, came over with about 100
Kro0inen and drove the natives out Of tho ship. Ia
tho natives ran away when they the assist
anco coming. left tho ship about six O'Clock in the
evening OF tho day she took tho beach, and going
u native ashore was upset aud nearly drowned.
CONSIDER this Intentionally done, US heard one
man say II | was drowned there would DO end TO
tho palyer. The Dutchmen after driving tho
Out, examined thc remainder OF tho cargo, and found
the coffee saturated win oil and tar. that had
spilled by the natives, as TO DO utterly worthless.
must here state that The arrival Of the Dutch.
men went back on board tho vessel ana found her
completely gutod, bulkheads gone, copper oil,
sails and rigging cut-in fact perfect useless wreck
vessel TO 90 on hrc cannot say ny whom she
tro. saved tho ships papers and chronomecr,
but lost all my own personal elects wish also TO
state that when saw Mr. Swanson's trunk IA the
Kings house called his attention to it, and said:
III you not playin me false how comes It that
this trunk rs Ia your houscy'
He said IN sharp tone OF voice :-'T know nothing
ABOUT IL. Some man must have brought IL in here"
make this statement Just TO snow how much
can believe IN the sincerity Of their iricndness The
KING also showed me paper made between himself
and Sir william Hewitt, X. N, of Great Britain, in
which no recommended as "a trustworthy man. f"
This letter Is signed A. e. Yates, master Of tho
American schooner Joseph Nckerson, late of New
York. Further advces to Mcssrs Yates Por,cr1cld,
coming IRON ST. Paul de Loanda, inform them that
Hor Britannia Majcsys steamer Avon ON duty at that
point, ON learning OF the outrage committed by the
pirates proceeded to Sharks Point inflicted Sc
vere punishment on the depredators No American
war vessel that portion OF tho African
that time to shield American commerce. no doubt on
account OF the maarOus climate. Captain Yates and
his wrecked wofc taken on board the African
Royal Mail stcuiner Ethiopia by Captain j. W. Davis
ard sent from banana Congo River, 10 London
whence they viii be forwarded to this city by the
American Consul.
rus BURNED SCHOONER.
The Joseph Nickcrson was about twenty yenrs old
OF lT2 tons burden and built at Northport, L. l. Sho
successfully engaged IN the African
u number oil years, and AZ the time vi her loss
valued at about SlO,0UO ] he cargo was worth
much more. No insurance. The owners complain
war OH protect American enter prise and
beyond the nero notice to the State Department
which Is acs that their vessel aud cargo was
wantony plundcrcd, Mcssrs. Yates Portcrnclc must
pocket thor loss and feel happy That the lives OF thor
ON nh o. wcro spared by the savages