Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-04-30

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was moving, and the sun had no soone
gone down than a mist rose from tho sti
waters of the bay, and by 9 o'clock We coul
not see the length ofthe schooner. Althoug
half mile from the shore, we heard all th
sounds of tropical night, and after 10 n
one was allowed to speak above a whisper
There was nothing serious about the situa
ton to us young fellows. ALI we had to d.
was to open on the pirates if attacked ant
drive them eff. The officers took differ
ept view of it. however. There were u,
more desperate men at that time than th
pirates of Borneo and adjacent islands, snt
if they came down on us, they would CON,
five to one. After IL o'clock everybody wa
on deck and at biz station. We lay broad
sides to the entrance of the bay, with tn,
schooner lazily riding to the ground swell
and swinging her head this way and tha
by turus. This was thought to bs an unfa
vorable position, as, if attacked from the
entrance, we could bring only the two por
cannon to bear. 1t proved, however, to bt
our salvation.
It was little past midnight, and every
man on deck was listening for signs of tht
enemy, when we were suddenly attacked
on all sides at once. We had scarcely go
the alarm when full dozen native craft O.
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on Us 1t was clever piece of work. All
had come into the bay from the sea, oul
position had been exactly located, and the
fleet had separated to take US on all sides
and to attack at the same moment. The
best white naval officer could not have laid
his plans more perfectly. A merchant YES
sci would have been in the hands Of the
pirates in five minutes, even if expecting
them. Discipline saved us. There was nc
confusion. Every man knew his station
anG sprang to it. We gave them a couple
of broadsides inside of half minute, and ii
was these which saved the schooner. The
guns were depressed and fired at just the
right moment, and the havoc created was
simply awful. The recoil of the guns gave
the schooner a sheer which upset two OR
three craft. The only attempts to board
were at the bow and stern. l was on the
bow with others, and we each had a musket
and cutlass. 1 blew the whole top of ma
tive's head off as he raised it above the rail
in front Of me, and then used my cutlass.
The fellows just swarmed up the chains,
and they had ropes, with hooks attached,
which they threw over the rails and came
climbing up. In spite of the way we laid
about US, they kept gaining on US, and
had just split fellows head open when q
hook, thrown from below, caught in my
clothing, and I was jerked to the rail, and
over it in three snaps of your finger. 1 fell
upon the heads of several natives and rolled
off into the sea; but almost as soon as l
struck the water a rough hand pulled me
on The raft or catamarap, and in thirty sec
onds my hands ard feet were tied and q
pirate took charge Of me.
Although dazed and confused by my sud
den change of position, knew all that was
going on. I hadn't been on the raft two
minutes when she was backed away from
the schooner, and as she moved dose of
canister from one of the guns killed five
er six natives, who stood over and just be-
hind me. Again, after we were concealed
by the fog, another discharge tore off a
corner of the raft and killed t@o more men.
I could hear the shouts and cheers of my
shipm ates, and knew we were one of the
last parties to withdraw from the attack.
The schooner had come out of it very hand
someIy, having, as soon learned, inflicted
terrible damage on the pirates.
After getting away from the vessel we
were ioined by boats and RATS carrying near
ly hundred men. and a good third of these
were wounded. All made for the entrance
of the bay, and it was only when out of can
non shot that the fury of the pirates over
their bloody repulse broke loose My pres
ence seemed to bs forgotten for the time,
and it was lucky for me that such was the
case. There were several fights among the
survivors on our raft, and 1t appeared that
all those in authority had been killed.
In about an hour after getting out OF the
bay, and all the time progressing slowly to
the north under paddle, we ran into the
mouth Of a creek and landed in a village,
the Inhabitants of which were awake and
alert My feet were united and was rough
ly jerked TO standing position, and when
it became known that prisoner had been
taken the excitement increased to fever
heat. But Tor very OLD man, VINO was
probably a superannuated chief, should
have been cut to shreds at the first rush.
Every body save this old man seemed to
have an instant desire to kill me. and why
he should try to prevent was a mystery to
me. However, by voice and arm he kept
them off until they cooled down ard then
made thom speech. After that was con-
Quoted to hut and guards were placed az
the opening.
Next morning it was made plain to me
why my life had been spared the night be-
fore. An hour after daylight stout-crotch-
ed limb was driven into the ground few
yards in front of my hut Then long,
stout pole was laid in the crotch. 1t worked
exactly like an old-fashioned weil-sweep,
but instead of bucket they were to use
my body. Fuel was gathered and fire
kindled,, and Figured it out that the men
at the other end of the sweep or lever were
to hold me suspended over the fame, taking
due care that my sufferings were to be
drawn out as long as possible. When
came to see villagers by daylight had 10
hope whatever of my life being spared.
They were not only the most viliainous lot
white man ever saw collected together,
but many of those who returned from the
attack were grievously wounded and bent
on vengeance.
It was abouttwo hours after daybreak
that was pulled out of the hut and rough
ly jerked along toward the fire. Every man
woman and child ia the village was in the
circle around me. and the benign old man
of the night before now licked his chops
like hungry tiger and approached to give
directions. My hands were united and two
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