The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-14
THE SLAVE TRADE.
A Hand Fight with an Arab
Graft.

A few days ago. says The london
Standard, the lords of the admiralty
promoted Lieut. Fred F. Fegen. r N, to
be commander. to mark their recognl-
ton of his gallant conduct in as bril-
liant and thorough areal sea-dog exploit
as ever graced British naval annals. Last
May Lieut. Fegen. who was on board her
majesty ship Turquoise, then stationed
at Zanzibar, set out on board an ordlna'
ry pinnace, with seven men all told 70
patrol that portion of the East African
coast and watch for Arab slaves. on
the morning Of May 80 the pinnsce was
lying snugly anchored within Fungal
gap, Pemba, an island to the north OF
Zanzibar. The crew of the pinnace
comprised five bluejackets, one marine,
one interpreter. and Fegen. AT day
light the lookout reported that dhow
was entering the gap AS far as could
be ascertained she seemed peaceable
trader making for port under crowded
sail. Only man or two could be seen
ON deck, and there was nothing to lndl-
cate the craft was full of slaves and
armed men. The lieutenant had IT.
tie dingy with him, and in this, as
matter of duty and precaution. he sent
his coxswain. the marine, and the inter-
preter to hail the stranger and see that
she was all right. Stoutly the little
djpey was rowed toward the dhow to
intercept her as she ran along.
When within one hundred yards OF
the Arab the interpreter hailed them,
but received no answer, nor could he
see ANYBODY on board, for the huge sail
screened her crew. Pi,ing their oars
with more vigor. they made to board the
strange craft, when instantly score OF
faces rose above the gunnel, and vol
lev from Snider rifles was poured into
the dingy. Fegen shouted orders to
his men to turn the nine-pound gun
with which the pinnace was armed TO
bear on the dhow. while at the same
moment one of his men opened hire on
them with his Martini Henry. The
marine from the dingy had already got
to work with his weapon, and was evil
| IDENTIFY doing execution. The SLAYER,
hold ng the dingv as too insignificant.
changed her course and bore down full
upon the pinnace, clearly intend ng to
run aboard her. Fegen and his four men
had their anchor tr pped in trIce.
made sail. but their was no time to get
under weigh when down upon them
came the dhow. The lieutenant called
"Prepare to resist boarders. " ''Stand
to them. my lads" and setting that ex.
annie which in warfare, at any rate, is
before all precept. jumped forward to
renel the attack as the two vessels
bumped together. With the character
istic ferocity the savers-some thirteen
Arabs and seven bloodthirsty half-breed
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to spring
aboard the pinnace. Fegen shot down
two with his revolver and ran third
through the body, when he in turn
would have fallen under fierce blow
from an Arabs blade had not Pearson,
an A. B. run the man through with his
cutlass. AS it was. Fegen received a
severe wound on the right arm, but
still the fight went on, for he could use
his pistol with his left. Three of his
men were cut down, and were by this
time living seriously wounded in the
bottom of the pinnace, while nine Arabs
had already been slain by our sturdy
tars, Still Fegen battled on. shooting.
pushing, and showing with the help OF
his crew and now one man, both of
| them receiving fresh stabs and wounds.
j. Guys and Fred Russell, leading sea-
men. had stood by him like steel. fight
ing with courage and determination OF
those who have immortalized our navy.
Russell fought on needless of his many
wounds until he sank from sheer loss oil
blood. At length the dhow slipped
mast and sheered off. not to escape,
however, for, wounded as all on the pin
mace were they fought and held on with
the tenacity of bulldogs. With those
still in the dingy they maintained fire
on the dhow and followed her up. The
SLAYER replied with their Sniders, and
Fegen. seeing his men in the dingy ex'
posed, held the pnnace to the wind to
obtain the weather gauge and cover
the punt" The protracted fight at
tracted a number of Arabs to the shore.
and thew in turn began FREEING at the
two, to them, hated British craft. A
lucky shot from one of the Martins
killed the slaver's helmsman, and the
dhow broached-to in shallow water
and capsized. The remainder of the
rascally crew plunged into the sea,
which was about two fathoms deep al
the spot, and swan for the shore, foul
or five only succeeding in reaching the
land alive. Most of the penned slaves
managed to scramble out and hang or
to the dhow, their heads alone visible
out of the water. Fegen got his mer
from the dlngy on board the pinnace,
and with few shells from the nine
FOUNDER drove away the beligeren
Arabs on the shore. This done, he SEN
the dingy to the rescue of the slaves
and succeeded in saving the lives O.
fifty-three unfortunate negroes. I'm
fortunately twelve had been drowned
by the capsizing of the dhow, the mum
Der of slaves on board having been six
tv-five. A sailor named Benjamin
Stone, an A. B.. was the only one kill
ed outright on our side during thu
plucky little sea fight So far as know
up to the present the wounded blue
Jackets were all doing we'll