The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-02-27

10 "HeeIs nad scarcely cease,
10 reFolve when heard the patter o
1eet outside, followed by exclamation
Oh anger and disappointment. Then
used the speaking tube to warn the en-
glheer, and he speedily informed m,
Ihat he had made himself a close nris
oner. r -
MY iron shutters were provided with
portholes, and when I looked dowr
upon her bow deck I saw the dead
bodies of the mate and lookout lv
ing there and covered with blood
from numerous knife wounds. None OF
the natives were in sight, but directly a
herce yell arose from the lower deck.
IoHoWed by pistol shots, and l knew
tnat the saffron-faced wretcbes were
numbering the white men as fast as thew
could get to them. They left me alone
Tor about quarter of an hour. Then
ABOUT half dozen of them came un and
demanded my surrender. From their
dialect l knew them to be Coreans-
They called to me in that lanpuaoe
saying they had full possession of the
steamer, had killed all but two of the
crew, and that my life would be spared
II promised to do as they directed. I
communicated with the engineer. found
that he was all right and he added that
the captain and some of the crew were
IN the armory and prepared to hold out
TO the last | then informed the pirates
mat could not think of surrender. and
as they began battering at the door with
capstan bar l showed the muzzle of
revolver out and killed one and wounded
| another before they could get out of
range.
There was only gentle breeze blow
ing, and that was at our backs. The two
Junks were coming down slowly. having
to make frequent tacks, and when about
mile and half away saw that they
were loaded with men. 1t was a put-up
JOB between the two parties, and all the
details were thoroughly understood. The
engineer had been blowing off steam to
prevent an explosion, and l asked him
to hold fast and give me show to carry
out plan which had suddenly suggest
ed itself. Fortunately for us the native
stoker had just fred up before they got
the signal. They had murdered the
chief, who was an Englishman, as also
the oiler, who was a German, and had
left the furnace doors shut as thew
rushed up on deck to join in the mur-
derous melee. The boilers were there
fore making steam at lively rate. AS
soon as the engineer understood what I
wanted he started ahead, and | took the
wheel and brought the steamers head
in line with one oflthe junlzs. We were
headed about north. One of the iunks
was headed southeast on her tack, the
other southwest They were, therefore.
nearly broadside on to me- We went
ahead at moderate speed, as I did INot
want to alarm them. The natives on
board gathered in the bows and began
waving cloths and hats as a warning to
the junks. The people on the latter
must have argued that the steamer was
in the hands of their friends, for thew |
fired their jingals and waved their cloths |
in reply.
held for the junk headed to the south
east, and she at once lowered her sail |
to wait for the steamer to come up. |
When within quarter of mile of her
l rang the bell for the engineer to go /
abe ad at full speed, and the steamer |
started off like wild locomotive. we |
were almost upon the junk before the
people OWNED our object, and they had /
only time to utter one long-drawn shout
of terror. held the steamer for her
broadside, and she divided that Junk like
the two halves of an apple falling away
from knife. expected great shock,
but there was none. 1t was no more than
as if we had run down yawl. believe
she held at least fifty men. A great cry
went up as we passed, and when I had +
headed the steamer around not more
'han half dozen of the poor wretches
we're in sight, and those were clinging
to fragments of the wreck and tossing
about. gave the engineer information
If how we had succeeded and told him
to serve the other junk the same
way. The natives aboard the steamer
eemed helpless and terror-stricken at
irst, but when they realized my plan they
moved to prevent it. They ran down and
opened the furnace doors to lower the
team. and gang of six or eight attacked
he wheelhouse. A second party made
N attack on the engineers room at the
anne moment.
The second junk, seeing the fate of
he first, had gone about, and was stand
ng due north with all sail set. The
Wind was light, however, and we could
un five feet to her one. We had .
arge reserve of steam, and after 1 had
Ter nose pointed for the junk gave the !
'ang outside little attention. They !
we're hanging at the door and the shut !
ers with the capstan bars, and ,
wounded two of them before they would
esist. The engineer, also using a re-
oliver, killed one and wounded two j,
The fellows then drew off, beaten at /,
very turn and disgusted with the Job, !
nd now was close up with the junk. !
he also held about fifty desperate look i.
ng fellows. Aware of my intentions,
bout twenty of them who were armed !
18th muskets gathered aft and peppered !
way at the pilot house, but the few :
ullets which hit it fell harmless. When :
he bow of the steamer was within :
able length of the stern of the junk =
very native began to howl and wall, :
nd most of them threw themselves
~,