The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-07-13
ATTACKED BY MALAYS.
A Thrilling Reminiscense of the China
Trade.
BIZ AN EAST INDIA MAN.

IN bn6 mOntn OF April, 1919 dlGeE S6N5rdi
years spent in Manila, engaged in mercan
tile pursuits, determined to return to the
United States. and accordingly engaged
passage on board the ship Forward, then at
anchor in the bay and on the eve OF sailing
for New York.
My preparations We're completed and see-
ing that the Forward had her sailing flag,
or "Blue Peter" as it Ii termed by sailors,
flying at the fore truck, an indication that
she would sail on the following day, went
on board and occupied myself in arranging
my baggage in the state room that had teen
assigned to me, and in making such
preparation for my comfort and conve nience
as would be required during the coming
voyage.
The Forward was clipper ship Of about
1900 tons burden, one Of that class of vessels
that gave to American shipb uilders of 80
years ago worldwide reputation. No
sailing ships have ever been built that could
outsail them, and giving the Forward a
strong breeze abeam, which was her best
point of sailing, but few Of the ocean steam
racers of the present day could equal her in
speed. With the long, black hull setting
low in the water, her lofty spars and snow
white sails, she had the appearance of an
immense yacht, and no man -of-war was
ever kept more scrupulously in order from
truck 20 keelson.
The ships company consisted of Captain
Seabreeze, four mates, and crew of 30 men
before the mast. The former bore the I'M
mistakable characteristic of New England
sailor. A native of Cape Cod, where SO
many successful shipmasters have passed
their boyhood and acquired taste for a
seafaring life he had at an early age become
Injured to the dangers of the ocean, and now
at % had command of one of the finest ships
in the China trade, and was the possessor of
the experience and cool judgement of many
man of twice his years One other name
besides mine appeared on the passenger list
that of Mrs. Seabreeze, the young wife of
the captain, who was making her first
cred less passenger than part of tho
complement of tho ship.
Of the four subordinate officers two were
from the state of Maine who, commencing
at the foot of the ladder,-that is, with the
ratings of boys,-had already worked their
way to the positions of first and second
officers, and were destined ere long to
reach the goal Of their ambition-the COM
mand of q ship. The crew was composed of
representatives of nearly al the maritime
nations of the earth. A few Americans
there were, but the majority had been at
tractod, as at the present day, to service
under the "stars aud stripes" b. better
pay, food and treatment than that to which
they had been accustomed. In spite of the
many elements of which the crew were
composed, more harmonious set of men Is
seldom seen, and they were, withal,
thorough sailors, and ablo to perform their
duty in fair weather or foul
The last lighter load of hemp of which
the cargo principally consisted, had bcen
received, the stevedore's men had gone on
shore, matches were closed and caulked
down, and the usual preparations for sea
were in progress during this last day of our
stay in port. New rigging was sent aloft
in place of old, old sails bent to save the
wear of better ones during tho passage
among the islands where only moderate
winds might be expected boats were
dashed in their cradles, and chatting gear
secured to the ropes aloft wherever damage
was liable 10 occur by the contact of one
rope with another. All was haste and con
fusion, and to one not acquainted with the
nomenclature of the different ropes AMI
sails, or unaccustomed to the strange
orders of the officers as they directed tho
men in their work, it was scene OF the
utmost confusion.
All these preparations were at length
completed, and by nightfall silence reigned
throughout the ship, broken only by the
changing of bells as the half hours were
noted, the regular call of the sentry on
board the Spanish gunboat near by, or his
occasional challenge as boat approache
the vessel At daylight the following
morning was awakened by the clank Of
the windlass as the crew were heaving up
tho anchor, and their accompanying song.
Then came the orders for loosing and set
ting the sails the dull thud of the top5ails
as they fell from the yards, the throwing of
coils of rope on the deck over my head and
the trampling of many feet, followed by the
gentle creeping of the ship as the sails
filled to the breeze; and by sunrise the city
was lost to view in the morning mist and
the Forward, under the influence of the
land breeze, was moving through the water
at the rate of eight knots an hour
The northeast moonshine, or trade wind
of the China sea, which has been blowing
during the previous six months, was about
to change its direction to the southwest at
the time of which l write, and to avoid
the consequent variable or head winds,
Captain Seabreeze, determined to take the
most easterly route leading through the
Sooloo Archipelago and Sea of Celebes,
thence through the Straits of Macassar and
the Java sea to the Indian ocean. On the
morning Of the fourth day after sailing, the
Forward was nearing the chain of islands
of which the Archipelago is composed, and
though one of the narrow passages of
which it was necessary to pass before
entering the Sea of Celeber Few locali-
ties at that time presented greater dangers
to the navigator. Not only was he beset
by treachero1s and uncertain currents, but
in case of disaster was at the mercy of the
inhabitants of the neighborins islands, who
added to the fisherman's craft the trade of
piracy for livelihood. These facts were
well known to all on board, ard it was with
a feeling of satisfaction that observed the
care that was exercised in the navigation
Of the ship, and that a lookout man was
stationed aloft during the day with orders
to report the appearance of any vessel or
native boat, however small or unimportant
it might appear,
On the morning which 1 have mentioned
the lookout had no sooner reached his
station upon the cross-trees and shaken a
hurried glance about the horizon, when the
cry of "Sail-ho'' was heard, and "Where
away?'' came in sharp, clear tones from the
chief mate Mr.. Burton, who was officer of
the deck. This stereotyped question Of the
officer was replied to by the lookout man in
a way that aroused the attention of all who
were on deck and even penetrated the ears
of the lighter sleepers of the watch below.
''There's vessel four points on the lee
bow, sir, that seems to be in trouble. The
water is shoal over there, and | can make
out several native boats near her," was the
reply. The crew understood full well the
significance of these words, and, leaving
the work of scrubbing the decks in which
they had been engaged, they made gen.
eral movement toward the lee-rail, where
they stood looking out over the water and
straining their eyes in the uncertain light.
was awakened by the connection, and
at once became aware that something IN
usual was taking place, although ignorant