Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-08-02

ana the other officers were divided up
among the other nationalities. We
flew the association flag, and while we
were at liberty to go for pirates, we
were warned that any mistakes would
be made to cost us dearly.
The two boss pirates OF that date
were Shung- Wong and Climbing.
The first had a fleet of seven or eight
craft, and haunted the sea from Singa-
pore north to the Tong Kin Islands.
The second cruised from thence as far
north as Shanghai, having his head
quarters at Formosa Island. He was
reported to havea feet of nine craft.
That both were monsters we had a
hundred proofs, and that both had
grown rich and powerful 1t was easy
to show by the long list of missing
vessels hanging in the headquarters
Office. While we had kept our move
ments as secret as possible, we had no
doubt that Government officials had
given us away, and that the pirates
would be on the watch for us. To de-
ceive them as far as possible, we ran
to the south for three days, and spoke
and reported to four ships bound for
Canton. Then We ran over toward the
Philippine Islands until we had a good
otfing, when we headed up for Formo-
sa to get acquainted with old Chin
Lung.
During the next three days we did
not sight vessel of any sort. Then
early one morning we fell in with a lot
of wreckage which showed us that a
trader had been overhauled and burned.
We were now to the east of Formosa,
and fifty miles of the coast. Men were
set to work to give the schooner the
appearance of vessel in distress, and
under light breeze we made slow
Roadway toward the island. 1t was
about four o'clock in the afternoon be-
fore any thing approached us, although
we saw number of native craft at a
distance. Then small junk came out
from bay about five miles off, and
headed directly for us. Every thing
aboard of us seemed to be at skies and
sevens. A man was dashed to the main
mast, to represent the captain, every
thing aloft was askew, and the seven
or eight men on deck were seemingly
drunk and havinga high old time We
had man aloft to play q part, know.
ing that we should be hailed in English
Both OF these boss pirates had Amer
leans and Englishmen with them
rascals who had deserted their ships
and voluntarily adopted the life of 8
pirate one of them was always
put forward to hail a ship. The junl
came steadily forward to within mailing
distance before she came up into tn,
wind. This was proof, whether sh'
was honest or not, that our appearance
had deceived. her. The men on decl
yelled and shook their fists, as drunken
men might do, but at the first oppor
tunity voice hailed lis.
"Schooner ahoy! What schooner i
that?"
"The Revenge, Captain Thatcher
bound to Shanghai, answered tn,
man aloft.
"What is the matter aboardp"
Screw in state of mutiny for tn,
last three days. They have dashed tn,
Captain to the mast and driven M
aloft."
whats your carso?"
General merchandise.
"Any arms aboard?"
"Only few m4iskets."
There were a dozen men aboard tn
junk, but they dared not attempt +
board. They chartered away amon
themselves for while, and then tn
spokesman called out:
Every well, we will bring yo
help"
| With that the junk headed back TO
the bay, accompanied by the yells an
curses of the apparently drunken crew
We had native aboard called Shin
Lee. He had been in the headquarter
Office for several years, and could b
depended upon. He gave it as hi
opinion that the junk was a spy boa
sent out by the pirates, who never al
tackled vessel by daylight withor
taking all due precautions. He sal
we would see the pirate fleet come oil
in case no sail appeared on the horizon
and his words were speedily verified
We had been gradually edging inshor'
and were not over five miles from tn
land, when we caught sight of fiy
junks coming out after us. There wa
, a good working breeze, and now, {
! was only natural we began to claw of
, BY seeming to want to get away yer
badly, but by carefully manipuiatip
the helm, We were seven miles off ii
, land before the fleet reached us. W
, NcIO odoioicu VI tlOli iutCuoloho ion
enough before. 1t was not to help
vessel in distress, but to take adval
, tage of one almost helpless.
The Junks kept pretty well togethe
and when within rifle shot each OF
raised Chin-Lung's flag and uttered
cheer. Each had couple of howitzer
with which they opened fire upon Il
| schooner, but no harm had been don
when we were ready TO spring the ira
, At the word of command every ms
was on deck, the gun crews jumped
3 their stations, and things aloft We
shipshape in a moment. Then we wo
round to get between the pirates al
, | the hay and onened fire. A Chine