The New York herald., 1878-08-24
BUCCANEERS.

THE z. G. RANKIN PILLAGED OFF ST. DO
GOVERNMENT UNABLE TO PUNISH THE MA
RAuDERs.
Captain Norman Bishop, OF she schooner X. c. Ram
kin, Of Rockland Me-, arrived At this port yesterday
with majority OF his board the steamer
Tybee, Captain Kuehi, from 81 Domingo City. Cap
tam Bishop makes an Interesting report, embody-
ing tho stranding Of hts vessel the st. Domingo
coast and ITS being subsequently boarded and plum
dered by boat loads Of pirates natives Of the coast
and the utter hcpessnsss Of the United States Con-
sui local covernmsnt itself to render him any
practical assistance. The Rankin was bound from
THIS port TO Jacmcl with general cargo ard uck
on a reef ut Saona Island.
CAPTAIN BishoP's pzcLARArioS.
About four O'Clock on the morning OF July 12 the
vessel struck the bottom. At daylight found
hard aground the sousheast point of Saona Island
everything being done he vessel but without
effect
At ton O'Clock A. small soop came TO our rs.
sistance, and portion OF the cargo and the ships
supplies transferred to her She left for ST.
Domingo at eight O'CLOCK p NJ, with Captain Bishop
who was anxious to procure further aid
July ID strong breeze, wish frequent rain squalls.
Al ton A. NJ schooner Altagraoia, owned In ST
Domingo formerly the Lawrence Turner, OF New
Yorx, sovs " I'M IN sgnt Tns captain consGaGsed & VIII
vessels cargo and fixtures at salvage allowance Of
ny per cent net the vessel was then full OF water
and the sea breaking over her.
BoARDEp BY PIRATES
July IA was boarded Dy small boats from the main
shore, containing from seventy TO eighty men, armed
with cutlasses and knives. Beng ourselves unarmcd
and totally dciencssss, they drove US from the
.Srsc Tao .Soa pfocssaed to
Rankin and transfer whatever OF the cargo thoy
could to heir own boats but in the meantime destroy
POa m N IQl a WaRA nnnNL IN uka
Trey hacked tho cabin with their weapons and up
the furniture. They demolished tcnt which had
vessels sails, and they knocked in the heads OF tho
water casks both on shore aud board stranded
carry oil u buIk they smashed in and threw lhs
TENS overheard. They rendered worthless the ves-
sells rigging, sails and blocks
RBsIsTANcE USELESS
At the 6rst visit the Rankins mate aud Grew en-
deavored 20 protect the vessel and property, and
ceeded IN getting down tho matches once twice,
but The marauders In such strong numbers that
the wrecked mon were overpowsrsd, and the indica-
tons OF . general massacre becoming moro more
Imminent il wss dsemcd prudent NOT 70 resist the
robbers.
Domingo City, about eighty miles distant On the
18th, at elopen A. ". Captain Bishop returned 10
the wreck. ana nndinG notnins more could be saved
she Was accordingly abandoned, and all hands pro-
oeeded 70 ST. Domingo Cisy.
Mr.. Paul Jones. the American Coosui at Sc.
Domingo city, declared shat no mad American
vessel OF bis disposal, aud that ne pover
less n his Official capacity to render any ad. Even
the DOmi0lCau government were unable to do
thing the whole island bcinR IN state OF chaos,
revolution succeeding revolution from day TO day.
Captain Bishop gives IL ~ his opinion that there
absolute necessity tor the presence OF Uned States
gunboaIs In those waters both Tor the protection OF
American property and interests and also from
siderations oi humsuty generally.
OTHER VESSELS BoARDED AND PLUNDERED.
l. Besides the Rankin u not long snce Spanish
vessel. loaded with nne wines, &C., wac boarded and
piundcrsd by these pirates VINO. alter satssfy Ing
themselves broke opeu the wine Casks and bal he'd
themselves In the costly liquid. Que or two
killed on tho spanish vessel An American vessel was
recently wrecked anu plundered near where he Ran
kin struck. The spanish government put In demand
for $50 900 damages to the vessel bearing its nag.
TIKI RASKIS's CREW
Six Of The crew Of the Rankin arc in this city,
namely :-Captan Norman Bishop, Portland; A. ID.
Rogers mate; George fooie salem; Charles Burdick,
sion ingtop; Aichaei Burns, Now York, seanan; Mel.
son Bishop, Rockland, Me-, steward. Henry burns,
seaman, renamed in 81 Domingo city, not wishing
TO come home.
THE CARGO TEE RANKIN
The cargo OF the Rankin consisted oil rs 600 bricks,
900 feet OF lumber, 6U 600 shingles, the balance
general cargo OF pork bcci. -four, hsh &C., all
about 200 barreis valued at about $l7, 000 About
81, 500 worth OF MATERIAL &C., saved from she wreck
soId subject to tho salvage oil 30 per cont aud
Other expenses fhe vessel was only partially insured
here Cargo owned here.
Captain Bishop and crew OF the K. c. Rankin, dc.
sire TO express their sincere thanks Captain Kuh
aud officers OF the steamer Tybee Tor their unremi
ting kIndpess and attention during the passage from
ST. Domingo 10 this port