St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-21
SWARMS OF PIRATES.
They Attack the Sinking San Pablo in
Formosa Straits.
TWENTY PIRATES KILLED.
Hot Water Turned on Them Causes
a Hasty Re-
treat.

The China steamer to-day brought
news of the extraordinary wreck of the
costly steamer San Pablo, which Oc-
Cured on April "a on reef off Turn
about island, in the Formosa straits, off
the China coast. Only brief cable re-
ports have been received of the dis
aster. The vessel struck sunken
rock in thick fog early in the
morning. Every one was aroused.
and the captain soon saw that the yes
sci must be abandoned, as she was fill
ing fast, and showed a tendency to
capsize. Just before the life-boats were
ready to be lowered swarm of Chinese
piratical junkS came from the neighbOr-
ing mainland. The queer looking YES
sells sailed in line of battle, and Capt.
Reed, realizing the danger his charges
were in, made preparations to repel the
attack. The pirates, however, came in
such overwhelming numbers that be-
fore any demonstration could be made
on board the sinking vessel the pirates
were climbing up the ships sides.
They were led by man who was
armed with a cutlaSS and large revOf-
yer. His shipmateS were also heavily
armed. Capt. Reed passed revolvers
and guns among the passengers and
crew, and, after furious fusillade, the
coolies were beaten off. They rallied,
however, and made a second and more
desperate attempt to board the San
Pablo, which was fast settling in the
water. Some of the pirates gained the
main deck, in spite of the gallant stand
of the passengers and crew, and were
swarming toward the promenade deck,
where the defenders were busy firing
and reloading, when Capt. Reed brought
the ships hose pipes into requisition.
The long coils of hose were manned by
the crew, and instantly the pirates were
again put to flight, the torrents of boil
ing water from the pipes sweeping
many of them off the decks into the sea.
The coolies then beat retreat, and,
drawing their vessels up in line, cruised
half mile Off the sinking vessel, with
the evident intention of waiting for the
abandonment of the vessel. During the
fight Capt, Reed imprisoned all the Chi
neSe among his crew with the Chinese
passengers in the fOre-hold, for fear they
would aid their countrymen in the at
tempt to loot the vessel. AS soon as
possible the passengers, mail and specie
were put into the San PablO'S small
boats, and then all bore away for the
mainland. When only short distance
from the wreck Capt. Reed and his
charges saw the pirates set
sail and rush upon the San
Pablo as they had done a few hours be-
fore. They clamored over the ships
sides with grappling-hOOkS, and were
soon masters of one of the finest boats
that ever sailed the Pacific. Whether
by accident or design, they soon set fire
to the ship, and when last seen smoke
was pouring from the wreck in great
clouds. The passengers were taken to
Hong Kong, and tugs were sent to the
relief of the San Pablo, but they found
only the hulk, burned to the waters
edge, and stripped OF everything valu-
able.
It's estimated that at least score of
pirates lost their lives in this stubborn
fight with Capt. Reed and his men.
During the battle the women and chill
dren who were on board the San Pablo
sought the state rooms, where they
were in constant fear not only OF falling
into the hands of the pirates, but of
being drowned in the water which was
filling the ship.
The San Pablo was fitted up in finer
style than any steamer that ever left
San Francisco, and was valued at $780,
600, which is a total loss, as she was UNI
insured.
..When the San Pablo ran on the
reef" says Capt. Reed. 81 knew from
the force of the shock that she must be
badly hurt. The sharp rocks tore gap
ing holes i'll the plates of the port bow,
and water was pouring through them
so fast that it was question of only
few hours when the ship would either
capsize or slide off the treacherouS reef
and go to the bottom. AS she rolled
from side to side under the influence Of
the sea, the water began to have its effect.
First, it shifted her cargo, and she laid
so far down on her starboard side that
we thought sure she was going clear
over. 1t was in this emergency that
the order to lower the boats was given,
and the men were climbing into their
stations when we sighted the squadron
of Chinese iunkS coming toward us
from the land.
A single glance at the leaders of the
approaching fleet told US that they were
pirates, and the order to lower away the
boats was cOuntermanded and one to
prepare to fight off boarderS given. The
seamen hurried down to the ships ar
senal. where they were armed with guns
and cutlasses, and then they were di-
vided into squads and stationed at the
points on deck where the pirates would
be most apt to come aboard. While the
arming of the crew was in progress the
approach of the piratical fleet was swift
and sure. Their arching decks were
fairly swarming with yellow warriors,
who were brandishing cleaning knives
and swords and guns, and shouting at
the tops of their voices. AS they came
nearer the din was increased by a de-
sultory firing of small arms. which was
int RI
but though bullets whiZZed and
screamed about the ears of my crew,not
a man retreated.
"Then the pirates came down on us in
a rush. Almost before we could realize
it we were surrounded, their graphing
hooks were aboard, and scores of the
yelling fiends were clambering up the
sides and endeavoring to get over the
rails on deck. The crew and the pas
sengers Sprang at them, firing very rap
idlv.
1.-The pirates went back over the ships
sides faster than they could be counted.
but there were so many of them that
they soon rallied and gained the deck in
force.
ga portion of them made for the
promenade deck, evidently intending to
get below. Another detachment tried
to reach the bridge, where defending
party was stationed, and still another
gang began climbing up to the hurri-
cane deck. The seamen were making
a gallant resistance. but the odds were
against them until the engineer con-
ceived the notion that hot water would
be more effective than lead.
s'Pipes were instantly run down to the
boiler-room. the pumps then started up.
and watch of firemen took the noZzles
with orders to boil every mothers son of
them they could see. The hot water
settled the fight. The moment it was
turned against the pirates they began
to retreat, and they went over the rails
into the sea as if the boat were afire.
A good many of them landed on the