The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-14

ouuce Dali. WIN p0Wocr enough bChlnt
it to kick tho marksman half way acros
tic ship. We left Singapore as we'll pre-
pared as a merchant vessel could DC, oil,
it seems that the Captain was advised +
bear we'll up toward Borneo, md civ
the Rcd Islands Il wide berth. w
crossed the equator at least q hundre,
miles to the cast of the islands, as l over
heard the Captain say, and then altered
our course to the southeast, calculating
to pass to the east of Billion Island be
fore hauling away for Sunda Strait.
The bark made good weather Of it
and we had crossed the equator and ru1
down on the new course until Bilito,
might have been sighted from the mast
head, when thee came o calm. Th,
wind had died away about midforcnoon,
and the drift Of the bark was to tn;
north. We looked for 4 change ut sun,
set, but nothing came, and the night
passed without wind enough to move Q
feather. My watch was below when day.
light came, and VIC got the word to turn
up lively. To the Northeast, off the
coast of Borneo, two or three green
islands were in sight, and between US
and the islands were two native craft
bearing down upon us. These craft were
about the size of pilot boats, half deckcd
over, and rugged like a catboat. They
had been sighted when six or seven miles
away, and as my watch came on deck
the mate descended from the perch aloft.
where ne had bsen using the glass, and
reported to the captain that the craft
were approaching us by the use of sweeps.
The calm stir held, but it was clear
enough to a sailors eye that we should
q breeze az soon as the sun began
TO climb up. No nan asked himself
the Grand of those boats making out for
the Huntrcss. At that time and locality
there could be but one answer. The
Captain presently called us aft and said:
''Men, the craft which you see pulling
out for us are pirates. We shall have a
breeze within an hour, but they will be
here list If we cannot beat them off,
are dead men. They take no prisoners.
look to see every man do his duty"
We gave him a cheer, and began our
The cook was ordered to
ill his coppers full of water and start
3 rouslng tire, and the arms W, re
brought up and served out. There were
three or four men who had served at a
neaVy gun. and these took charge of the
cannon, and the piece was loaded with
shell. When the Captain called for
some one to use the rifles, the only man
Who answered was an American. He took
hem aft, loaded them with his own
lands, and by the time the pirates wcro
a milo we wore as ready as wa
could be. The bark was lying with her
lead to the east, and the fellows were
us from the north, on our
'roadside. The mate kept his glass
,oing and announced that both craft
we're crowded with men, but that he
see no cannon. They made slow
progress, and we were impatient to open
fight. By and by, when they might
ave been thrce-quartcrs of q mile away,
Captain passed word for the gunners
o send them a shot. In a few seconds
big gun roarcd, and we all saw that
shell flew over the pirates and burst
q the air. 1t was a good line shot and
omethirg to encourage, but before the
sent another shot the American !
lad a. try with one of the rifles. The
nate was watching his shot from the
and the report had scarcely died
way before he shouted:
Good for the Yankee! lie hit o. least
couple of them"
The second shell from the cannon burst
yer one Of the boats and took effect on
of the men, as reported by the
The American then fred again,
again his bullet told. We were doing
ravely and were full Of enthusiasm, but
ne struggle was yet to come. The fell
'ws bent their energies TO creeping |
loser, and pretty soon they opened on US
18th musketry, and the balls began to
Ing through the rigging in a lively man
er. We had our musdets ready, but
Captain ordered us to hold our fire
keep sheltered behind the rail. One
t the piratical craft was a quarter of a
lile in advance of the other, and the
lird shell from the cannon burst aboard
her, and must have killed and
dozen or more men. There
as great confusion aboard, and she re-
'ained stationary until the other craft
amo I'D. During this interval tho Amer;-