The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-07-28
A TREASURE CAVE.
A Wrecked Sailors Adventure on
Penang Island.

For two weeks upon a certain occasion, I.
Jack Tar, able seaman, belonging to the
port of Plymouth, and having scarcely been
taught to read and write, was worth my
millions. I had more clear treasure under
my hands than would have bought the
Astors, the Goulds, and the Vanderbilts
combined. 1t is a curious story, and though
/ can tell it only in a plain, sailor-like fash
ion, it may be of interest.
The Straits Of Malacca, as you all know,
is that narrow body of water between the
island of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.
Beyond are the Java Sea, the islands of Java
and Borneo, and if you sail far enough you
will bring up at New Guinea. As you enter
the Straits from the northwest you have
Acheen Head on the right, baing the butt
end Of Sumatra, and Penang Island on tho
left, this latter lying off the Malay coast,
and being for years the rendezvous of
pirates. Up to 1852, at which time British
cruisers shelled this island so often and so
vigorously as to kill Off even the monkeys,
from $40 to 1000 Malay pirates lived on
Penang, and preyed on the commerce pass
ing through the Straits. They had a sort
Of government of their own, feet Of fifty
light craft, and they often sailed q hundred
miles out into the Indian Ocean in search Of
merchant vessels.
In those days nearly every merchant ves-
sci carried an armament and extra men,
and tussle with pirates was counted on
with as much certainty as change of
weather. Between 1855 and 1858 no less
than thirteen English vessels were cap
tured within fifty miles Of Penang Island.
Include in this list those taken from the
Americans, French and Germans, and the
total number would be at least twenty-five
In 1000 .ne pirates a'.acAeu nusslan COT
Vette WHICH hau ancnoreu III vne o'raits 70
repair damages, anu allnoush sue mha'iy
Deat them on, ~ was ohly al'er -. conhic1 IN
wnicn sne iost nan her crew. lney Decalhe
30 Doio oeiore Vney weIe ulNon ous .na.
nothihg was 700 Dig LOT theui W attack' ana
tney were ut.erly recKless as 70 @ aanger.
wen, sirs' IN tne summer VI io1o was
ioremast manu- on .ne A.serpooi % sup Oaslle
oroa' Dounu Snlousm S" .so,a os ", anu Do.
yonu, anu we caiue wi'iln otsho Va TAoueen
HEAD wlthout haVing ho'eo suspicious
craiC' We hsu siA oahnun, pienS VI sman
arms anu lull crew apoaru' anu ZOE ene
iast TWO DAYS we nau oeeh reauy ior any
thing wnicn miget turn up l can remem-
per tna1 we ra.her nopsu ior asor.lamase, VI. ior
we knew whao muruerous set 1hey were
ana wahIeu revehee, ou' ~ was 1no opinion
OF Ihe omcers 'nn. & we snouau ~ turougn
witnoues shot. rug pilu.o nee1 seemea 70
pe away on some expeoitioh, ana the Dest
glasses ABOARD iailea 70 make OUT any 'hing
OF suspicious cha.uc'o.'
we came up WIN Acneeh aead anous
Iour O'CLOCK ~ 'ne a.'erroon, mo anu .ne vino
ali AZ once alea away ,ne e,ue was agalnst
u.s. ana ene snip was al9wea 70 arive over
witnin mile OF Ienans islana oeiore Deing
orought up WIN sne anonor nor On @ sor1 o! ma,
aie greunu, VINE" savo sne ilon sooo noiu
IN nve iaSnoms ms !" was psoposea 70 waiI
nere LOT one "us W su,h anu .or = iavorins
oleeIc, ~ .nH oIa" no. " ms sHoh ,.o.,
ousny su,soSo @ DS =. Son,, '.s as.. -. ~ !.
nour .no c,ouus .. vosna :" as oa -. W, snu :.
va se. sn%n,v, tL~v ,vs sot a. from dead .h..S
oetoIo sunuowm ,. We ~. A rSn wosS a',a0 su1s.
AUD u came WIN s'ea. ss lury. ans nesvlese
gsie coulu NO. navo A.osoI ~ W NUN .a.. VI sos
- % sHav opU "ns @ sa,t srv unsasine.s TaS ,a% in.