Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-26
A TREASURE CAVE.
a Wrecked Sailors Adventure on
Penang Island.

For two weeks, upon certain occasion, |.
Jack Tar. able seaman, belonging to the
port of Plymouth, and having scarcely been
taught to read and write, was worth my
millions. / had more clear treasure under
my hands than would have bought the
AstOrs, the Goulds, and the Vanderbilts
combined. II is curious story, and though
can tell it only in 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 theJaya 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. being the butt
end of Sumatra, and Penang Island on the
left, this latter lying OFF the Malay coast,
and being for years the rendezvous of
pirates. Up to 1889, at which time British
cruisers shelled this island so often and so
vigorously as TO kill of even the monkeys,
from 500 to 1000 Malay pirates lived on
Penang. and proved 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 hundred
miles out into the Indian Ocean in search Of
merchant vessels.
Inthose days nearly every merchant yes
sci carried an armament and extra men,
and tussle with pirates was counted on
with as much certainty rs change OF
weather. Between 1855 and 1853 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 1856 the pirates attacked a Russian cor
vctte which had anchored in the Straits TO
repair damages, and although she finally
beat them off, it was only after conflict in
which she lost half her crew. They became
so bold before they were driven out that
nothing was too big for them to attack, and
they were utterly reckless as to danger
Well. sirs, in the summer of 1855 was a
foremost hand on the Liverpool ship Castle
Groat. bound through the Straits and be-
yond, and we came within sight of Acheen
Head without having noted a suspicious
craft We had six cannon, plenty of small
arms, and full crew aboard. and for the
last two days we had been ready for any
thing which might turn up. / can remem-
Der that we rather hoped for scrimmage. for
we knew what a murderous set they were
and wanted revenge, but it was the opinion
of the officers that we ShoIld 30 through
without shot. The pirate feet seemed to
be away on some expedition, and the best
glasses aboard failed 10 make out any thing
of suspicious character.
We came up with Acheen Head about
four O'Clock in the afternoon, and the wind
all at once died away. The tidew against
us, and the ship was allowed to drive over
within mile of Penang Island before being
shx1o .brN,.o
die ground, which gave the iron good hold
in FIVE fathoms. 1t was proposed to wait
here for the tide to turn and for a favoring
breeze, as the channel was not then thor
oughly surveyed; but in less than half an
hour the clouds began TO bank up, and it
was seen that storm was AZ hand. Just
before shutdown we got it from dead ahead,
and it came with great fury. The heaviest
gale could not have kicked up much of sea
in that spot, and as We hadevery thing snug
aloft, no one felt any uueaSineSs. Ten min
utes after the storm struck us aud while
every body but the watch on deck was under
shelter from the downpoGr Of rain. was or
dered out on the jibhoom to secure the fly
ing jib, which had been earelessly slowed.
felt as safe as do this moment sitting in
my chair. but l had not yet performed nv
task when a sudden heave of her bows &C
compsnied by shake to starboard and port,
as if the ship was an angry horse, lcosened
my hold and dropped me into the boiling
sea. One can never tell how these things
occur but personal carelessaess is at the
bottom of them. was in the water before
realized that had let go my hold. 1t was
raining and blowing tremendously hard,
and if l cried out, which have no recollec-
ton Of ioing, no one on deck heard it / was
swept away from the ship in an instant In
deed, when l fought my head above the
foam and sprang up in the water to look
around, the rain and spray had hidden the
ship from sight.
! had no doubt that was driving straight
out into the Indian Ocean, but do not re-
call that was frightened or In despair
Sailors take more close shaves than any
other class of men IA tkk world, and, as
rnle, they depend more on luck to bring
themsafely through. turned on my back,
being COED swimmer, shipped as little