Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-06-13

1 fear" he concluded, and have q
deep sigh.
On the second day, before night,
the Black Dogs foretopsail was hove
back and a signal set for boat. 1t
was soon longside. We took very
large mail from the Black Dog, to be
delivered at Hong Kong; also a large
amount of bills and valuables from
the captain, consigned to the care OF
the British consul.
1t was time for me to take mo depar-
ture and bid my friend goodbye,
quite likely never to meet again. A
tear rolled down his cheek; he could
only press my hand.
| was soon in my boat and on board
the Sheffield. The Black Dog made
all sail, steered away south for
Macasser Straits, and in short time
was out of sight. She was next heard
from at the north entrance of Torres
Straits and the south end of Boreno,
where ne had captured a number of
ships. Those ships had large con-
signments of gold bars and gold dust
from the Australian mines. 1t was
reported that one of those ships, the
Marco Polo, had on board $500, 900 in
gold. which the Black Dog had cap,
tured. News of her degradation were
soon spread abroad. The english
feet, then lying at Singapore and
Hong Kong was ordered to go in pur-
suit of the sea rover. One fine morn
ing, when off the north end of Borneo,
the English steam sloop ofwar Hector
fell in the with Black Dog, lying BE-
claimed close on shore. The Hector
bore down for the pirate. The cap
tain of the pirate saw that his chances
were small, unless the trade winds
should soon set in, by means of which
he would escape by running through
one of the shoal water passages. Ii
he could not thus escape he would
run her ashore or destroy her. He as
well as his officers and crew would
never surrendre alive.
The steamer was fast approaching,
as it was a dead calm. The last ex-
tremity would be to touch match to
the magazine and blow her up with
all on board. The pirates crew stood
by their guns, determined to stand to
the last The sloop- of-war had hoist
ed the St. Georges cross, and in re
turn the Black Dog run up the Bra
lillian flag, with the practical flag
underneath.
There was no mistaking now the
character of the barkentine. As soon
as the Englishman got within range
he commenced firing at the pirate.
Her guns were of much heavier
metal than these of the pirate and
crew more than double. The Black
Dog opened or unlimbered her Long
Tom amidships, hoping to do some
damage to the steamers machinery.
Every shot from the pirates guns
was telling sadly upon the steamer
Her crew evidently had been well
drilled The pirate captain was
walking the quarter deck quickly
giving orders, pulling his hair and
muttering excitedly: "Oh for a
breeze" The shots from the sloop of
war were flying thick and fast above
and around him. The Englishman
kept off to come up astern of the
pirate so to rake him fore and aft.
Down came the Black Dogs foretop-
mast and for'etop gallant mast, royals,
yards, sails and rigging, all upon the
deck. At the same time came shot
in admidships, capsizing the Long
Tom and killing a number of the
crew. With all the top hamper upon
the deck it was impossible for the
pirates crew to longer work their
guns.
The steamer rushed boldly along
side, 200 men standing ready with
their cutlasses and pistols to board
the pirate as soon as she should be
near enough to jump. As the steam
er was ranging alongside the pirate
let go her four port guns, killing and
wounding a large number of the
steamers crew and doing much dam
age to the ship. The 200 men jump
Ell on board the Black Dog, her cap
tam standing by with match in hand
to fire the magazine. Just as he was
about to apply the torch "a ball from
a sharpshooter, fired from the foretop
of the Hector, lay the captain low on
deck.
The crew of the Black Dog was soon
overpowered. A large number had
been killed and wounded, leaving few
to surrender of that once large and
brave crew. No time was lost in Sc
curing the prisoners forty five in
number-placlng them between decks,
ironed and under charge of armed
sentinels The officers Of the pirate
had all been killed in the battle, the
dead buried and the wounded cared
for A strong hawser was made fast
to the pirates foremost, the other end
taken to the Hector, she steaming
ahead with the pirate in tow, passing
along the Pallawann passage, heading
for Hong Kong. The pirate captain
was found to be alive. He was taken
to tho cabin and watched over by the
surgeon of the Hector A large amount
ofgold aud silver-some $3.50, 000-was
found on board The captain of the
Black Dog had landed a large amount
of gold at Bornea the day previous to
his capture.
On March %, the Hector arrived at
Hong Kong with her valuable prize in
tow. The Black Dog was condemned
as lawful prize TO her majesty's
steam sloop Hector of eighteen guns,
and sold az auction to the house of
Jardine, Madison * Co., for $40, 600,
to be employed in the OPIUM trade be-
twiXt Bombay and China. Her name
was changed to that of Antelope, and
for many years she was the fastest
opium clipper in the China seas.
The captain and wounded seamen
of the Black Dog were removed from
the vessel TO the hospital, and for
many days the captains life was des
paired of. Harry had grown so much
in favor with the officers of the Hec
tor and they, having Jared
so well IN prize money, would not ap-
pear against him. They would never
attempt to convict man who had
shown such great courage as the cap
tain of the Black Dog. Those of the
crew who recovered had shipped on
board the Hector. The captain still
remained in the hospital
After bidding adeu to our friends
of the Black Dog off the island of
Banditti, the Sheffield steered away
for the Java Sea and captured a mum
Der Of whales, making altogether
2, 400 barrels of sperm oil. As the
monSoonS were against us, we had to
beat all the way up the China Sea and
arrived at Hong Kong on he twenty
third of May. After calling upon my
agent and entering the ship at the
Custom House, hearing of the cap