Connecticut western news., 1889-12-04
OUTWITTED PIRATES.

In the year 1859 British steamer called the Fairfax arrived at Shanghai in distress, and upon investigation her damages were found to be so extensive that she was sold to 8 corporation known as ''The Golden Tea Company" It was composed of five British tea houses and it had four coasting vessels in its trade. This steamer was wanted to establish line to the Lioo-Kioo Islands, in the Pacific ocean, but more particularly to the Island of Kiu-Siu, where the company intended to estab- fish branch headquarters.
 The Fairfax was a side-wheeler of 60O tons burden, and noted as being very fast. She was changed about a great deal in making repairs, and when I went aboard of her as wheels man found several things to excite my curiosity. The cabin had been done away with, and in its place was an officers messroom aft, and a com fortable dining-room forward. The space between was used for berths and storage. I noticed that great deal of the interior wood work was covered with heavy sheet iron, which had been painted to resemble wood. The doors were very heavy, and were further protected by metal. The engine room was entirely enclosed, Md when came to the wheelhouse l was surprised to find it so arranged that iron shutters hung on the inside, could be closed so as to make little fortress of the place. Two rifles and pair of revolvers com prised the armament. When came to ask questions of the mate he informed me that they were going among a. law less and desperate lot, and were pre- pared for any emergency. In addition to what had seen he showed me six pound field piece on the promenade deck, and score or more of rifles in 8 room set apart for an armory.
 The steamer made her first and second trips without adventure. The crew in each instance was composed almost entirely of white men-English, American, German, and French sailors, who had been picked up in Shanghai. The cook, steward, and stokers were natives, and on each trip we carried quite a number of native passengers. On the third trip about one-half of the white crew had 10 be replaced by natives, and when we left Shanghai we had sixty native passengers. remarked on the singular fact that all were men, and the mate explained matters by saying it was religious body on their way to a famous temple situated on the island we were bound for. They . looked to me like crafty, villainoui lot, and my fellow wheelsman, who was an American named White, pre-. dicted that we should have trouble with them before the voyage was over We had scarcely left port before wt saw to it that all our weapons were loaded, and we got ssthe hang" of tht iron blinds so that we could shut then quickly. One of us would certainl, be in the whcelhouse, no matter a what hour trouble might come.
 As the steamer only had small loat of freight, and that was all in the hold the party of natives were quartered ol the lower deck. The weather was yer. mild and they did not need covering The distance from Shanghai to KiuSil is about two hundred and fifty miles AS we left port at o'clock in tn morning, and averaged twelve mile per hour until four the next morning we were pretty fairly across the bi: bay or straits created right there b, tho lay of the coast and the location O
 the islands. came on watch at
 o'clock. It was then fairly dayligh and the sea was smooth and every thing very quiet.
 My chum gave me the course, re
 ported that there was nothing new, an
 went off to turn in. He had scarcel
 disappeared when I rose two junk
 dead ahead, and five minutes later til
 lookout on the bows reported them
 Mir. Graham, the first mate. It coul
 not have been more than two minute
 after this when I heard . schrill cry (