Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-07-26

!. Both OF these boss pirates had Amer.
leans and Englishmcn with them
rascals who had deserted their ships
and voluntarily adopted the lie Of a
pirate--and one OF them was always
put forward to hail a ship. The junk
came steadily forward 10 within hailine
! distance before she came up into the
wind, This was proof, whether shS
was honest or not, that our appearance
had deceived her. The men on deck
yelled and shook their fists, as drunken
, men might do, hat at the first oppor-
tunity a voice hailed us.
Schooner ahoyl What schooner is
that?"
The Revenge, Captain Thatcher,
bound to Shanghai" answered the
man aloft.
"What is the matter aboard?"
"Crew in a state Of mutiny for the
last three days. They have lashed the
Captain to the mast and driven me
aloft."
What's your cargo?'
General merchandise.
"Any arms aboard?'
"Only n few muskets."
There were n dozen men aboard the
junk, but they dared not attempt TO
board. They chartered away among
themselves for while, and then the
spokesman called out:
VERY well, we will bring you
help"
With that the junk headed back for
the bay, accompanied by the yells and
curses of the apparently drunken crew.
We had "A native aboard called Shin
Leo. He had been in the headquarters
Office for several years, and could be
depended upon. He gave it as his
I opinion that the junk was spy boat
sent out by the pirates, who never at
tackled a vessel by daylight without
taking all due precautions. He said
we would see the pirate fleet come out
in case no sail appeared on the horizon.
and his words were speedily verified.
We had been gradually odging inshore,
and were not over five miles from the
land, when We caught sight OF five
a good working breeze, and now, as
was only natural, we began TO claw of.
BY seeming TO want TO get away very
badly but by carefully manipulating
the helm, we were seven miles of the
land before the feet reached Us. We
were satisfied OF their intentions long
enough before. 1t was not to help a
vessel in distress. but 10 take advan-
tage OF one almost helpless.
The Iunks kept pretty well together,
and when within rife shot each one
raised Chin-Lung's flag and uttered a
cheer. Each had couple OF howitzers,
with which they opened fire upon the
schooner, but no harm had been done
when we were ready 10 spring the trap.
At the word OF command every man
was on deck, the gun crews jumped to
their stations, and things aloft were
shipshape In a moment. Then we wore
round to get between the pirates and
the bay and opened fire. A Chinese
junk is a mere shell. One solid shot
went through them as II they had been
paper. The poor devils were unnerved
as soon as they saw the trap into which
they had fallen, and devoted all their
energies TO getting away. We could
outsail any Of the junks, but il was
quick work with four Of them. They
were sent TO the bottom one after an
other, and as we came up with the fifth
we ran her down. Our stem struck her
on the starboard brOadside and cut her
almost in two. She had at least thirty !
men aboard, and there was one long, |
despairing shrek as they went down /
10 watery graves. A few came up TO |
clutch at the wreckage and beg 10 be |
taken aboard, but not one Of them |
would the Captain lend a hand 10. Such /
as the sharks did not get hold OF driited /
out 10 sea with ;he tide II was "A fear
ful retribution, but these men were .
monsters. Inside OF thirty minutes 1
from the time we opened fire the /
fleet was at the bottom and az least a
hundred pirates had paid the penalty
Of their crimes.
Our captain was lamenting the fact
that he had not picked up one or two
in order 10 secure information when
there was "A row forward, and II was
announced that a pirate had been found
hanging 10 the chains. When brought
aft he was ready 10 do any thing 70
save his life. His name was Mung-
Hang. snd he had good cause 20 be-
lieye that we would reverse II. He /
was the captain Of the junk we had /
run down, and was ready 10 tell us all /
about old Climbing. The bay was
his rendezvous, but his plunder was
hidden on the coast near Foo Chow. i
There were barracks for the mon up
the bay, and thirty or forty men there /
at that moment They had captured a
French brig several days before, and
she was then at anchor In the hay
waiting for Chin-Lung's return. lie |
was then up among the LiOO kiOo isl
ands with four junks 10 capture a
large ship which had drifted into shoal
water, but was not abandoned. II we
would spare his life he would pilot us
anywhere and prove his gratitude IN
any way, Shln-I.ee took him Ia hand
for few minutes, and then announced
that we could depend upon him. We
ran into the bay. brought up alongside
the brig. and sent forty men ashore to
clean out the place Not a pirate was
70 b seen, al having bolted for thel