San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-01-16

tne sen was bnlOOtn ana everything quiet.
My chum gave mo the course, reported
that there was nothing new, and went
of to turn In. He had scarcely disap-
peared when | rose two junks dead
ahead, and five minutes later the lookout
on the bows reported them TO Mr.. Gra-
ham, the first mate. II could not have
been moro than two minutes after this
when heard shrill cry Of "Murderr'
followed by two pistol shots and rush
of feet, and l realized that trouble was
at hand. | rang the bell for tho engi-
neer to stop and then shut and secured
my blinds, and was not u moment too
soon. The wheels had scarcely ceased
to revolve, when heard tho patter of
feet outside, followed by exclamations
Of anger and disappointment, Then ]
used the speaking tube to warn tho en-
gineer, and he speedily informed me
that he had made himself u close pris-
oner.
My iron shutters were provided with
portfolios, and when looked down upon
her bow deck I saw the dead bodies of
the mate and lookout lying there and
|
wounds. Mono of the natives was in
sight, but directly u fierce yell arose
from the lower deck, followed by pistol
shots, and knew that the saffron faced
wretches were numbering the white
men as fast as they could get to them.
They left me alone for about quarter of
an hour. Then about half dozen Of
them came up and demanded my sur
render. From their dialect knew them
to be Coreans. They called to me in
that language, saying they had full pos
session of the steamer, had killed all but
two of the crew, and that my life would
be spared if promised to do as they
directed. communicated with the en-
gineer, found that he was all right, and
he added that the captain and some of
the crew were in the armory and pre-
pared to hold out to the last. | then in
| formed the pirates that could not think
of surrender, and as they began batter
ing at the door with n 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 o 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 a mile and half away saw that
they were loaded with men. 1t was
put up job between the two parties, and
all the details were thoroughly under
stood. The engineer had been blowing
off steam to prevent an explosion, and
asked him to hold fast and give me a
show to carry out plan which had sud-
denly suggested itself. Fortunately for
us, the native stokers had just fired up
| before they had got the signal. They
had murdered the chief, who was an
Englishman, as also the oiler, who was
German, and had left the furnace
doors shut as they rushed up on deck to
join in the murderous melee. The boil
ers were, therefore, making steam at a
lively rate. AS soon as the engineer
understood what | wanted he started
ahead, and took the wheel and brought
the steamers head in line with one of
the junks. We were headed about north.
One of the junks was headed southeast
on her tack, the other southwest. They
were, therefore, nearly broadside on to
me. We went ahead at moderate speed,
as did not 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 they fired their jingais and
waved their cloths in reply.
l held for the junk headed to the
southeast, 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
ahead at full speed, and the steamer
started off like a wild locomotive. We
were almost upon the junk before the
people divined 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 a knife. expected a great
shock, but there was none. 1t was no
more than as if we had run down a
yawl. l believe she held at least fifty
men. ~ great cry went up as we passed,
and when l had headed the steamer
around not more than half a dozen of
the poor wretchcs were in sight, and
these were clinging to fragments Of the
wreck and tossing about. l gave the
engineer Information Of how VIC had
succeeded and told him | proposed 10
serve the other junk the same way. The
natives aboard the steamer seemed help
less and terror stricken at first, but
when they realized my plan they moved
to prevent it. They ran down and
opened the furnace doors TO lower the
steam, and a gang Of six or eight attack
cd the wheel house. a second party
made an attack on the engineers room
gt the same moment.
The second junk, seeing the fate of the
first, had gone about, and was standing
due north with all sail st. The wind /
was light. however, and We could run
Eve feet ~ her ono. We had large re 1
serve of steam, and after | had her nose |
pointed for The junk gave the gang out ,
side p little attention. They were bang {
ing at the door and the shutters with tire T,
capsian bars. and ! WOUNDED two 81 =
.Lem before they v0ull dcsisL Tie en-
zineer, ala9 using revolver. killed one I
lnI wounded two. The fellows then e
drew OF. b.4teu 20 every turn and dis q
zusted aitl the i1b, and now was close J
lp with tie junk. 5in alao held ailuf.
iny de.perafe boxing fellows Aware c
g my iuienfi1us. about twenty q them. r
who uere arnei with niu i-ct-. gathered !,
~ All peTFerei away a. tie pilot ].
louse. but tls fc1v buulis which Lii u
I'D IarrIas. WIsea the bow 81 ths