The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-07
ita Wholesale 4 Manufacturing Houses.
CAPTURED BY MALAYS.

sd" N q SlngSpore paper the other day
the statement that no less THAI five trad
Ing vessels hailing from that port werc
long overdue from the Java sea, and thai
there were grave reasons to fear they had
fallen into the hands Of the Malays. Such
statement has an odd sound 70 the reader
who Is not well posted in the locality and
Its surroundings. The Java sea. which
separates Borneo from Java, contains over
q thousand islands, great and small. Mac.
assar straits, to the east Of Borneo, con-
tains almost as many more. From Bat
avla, looking north, the Chinese sea Is
studded with islands for two thousand
miles. 1t is an old saying among sailors:
When Nature created Borneo she meant
that every man who ever lived on the Is and
should be pirate"
That four-ffths OF the coast people have
for the last 200 years been engaged in this
business, no one doubts. The Malays hold
the sea front, while the Dyaks and other
tribes holds the interior. While piracy by
organized fleets no longer exists, every Ma
lay craft stands ready 10 do business on its
own hook. l was captured by single
craft, and small one at that. and will
now give you the particulars.
The English firm of Warner & Hill, at
Batavia, employed three or four small
trading schooners to cruise among the isl
ands after fine woods, furs, shells, hides.
roots, dyestuffs, etc. was left in Batavia
off an English steamer, my father having
died on the voyage, and the firm spoken OF
gave me birth on the Orient, one of their
schooners. She was Of ninety tons burden,
and carried a captain, mate, cook, two
foremost hands and boy.
The captain stood his watch turn and
turn about, and the cook was on call as q
sailor. This gave us three hands to a
watch, which made handling the craft an
easy matter. We took cut axes, matches,
powder, lead, hoes, seeds, shoes and vAri-
Gus trinkets, and more or less money, and
as an armament we had seven or eight good
muskets. This was my third trip, and we
left Batavia for an island called Anello.
This Is situated about forty miles south Of
the southeast point of Borneo, and at that
time was an island containing about 200
people. We reached il after a pleasant run.
and for the next week were anchored in a
bay on the north side. In this time we had
secured about half a cargo, and at the end
or the week were ready to up anchor and
sail for another island 10 the south.
The king Of Anello wanted TO prove his
friendship for us, and therefore made a
banquet to which all were invited. No
doubt all would have gone. but that after
noon | accidentally cut my foot. and it
panied me so much that begged to remain
aboard as shipkeeper. All others went
ashore at shutdown. We lay within 200
feet of the beach, and the village was right
there. Several large fires were built. and
| could see and hear almost everything. 1t
was warm, balmy night, and after a
while lay down on deck, and despite the
noise on shore weat 10 sleep. When l
opened my eyes again some one was tying
my wrists, having already neatly per-
formed that job on my ankles As tried
TO sit mp received a smart tap on the head
rom club, and voice which knew be-
onged 10 n Malay warned me 20 be quiet.
had picked mp enough Of the lingo TO I'M
ierstand what he meant, and rs I caught |
light Of five or six other figures on deck, |
md also realized that the schooner was in |
notion, lay back and kept quiet
The craft was in the hands Of the Malays. |
They had sneaked into the harbor under l
over Of darkness, cut her hempen cable.
nd she had drifted out with the tide. She /
must have been mile off shore when I /
woke, for they now proceeded to get her
ead around and give her all sail In about /
n hour the leader OF the gang approached !
ne and cast Off my bonds, and motioned
ne into the fo'castle was glad enough
o 60, for was in a terrible fright. / had
cen Malays about Batavia often enough.
ut had been told that the real residents OF
'OrneO were n cruel and savage lot, and
hat an Englishman unfortunate enough
D fall into their hands could hope for no
Mercy.
There was a fine and favorable breeze,
nd the fellows on deck knew how 10 ham
lie the craft. She was kept going all
light, and 50 clustered was that my eyes
ID not shut for minute. About q O'Clock
/ the morning we ran into n harbor on
be south side OF the island OF Laut. which
on the southeast coast Of Borneo, and
,parated from the mainland by narrow
lanneL As the anchor went down I was
-dered on deck We we're In a land
'cked barbor. and not over 100 feet of the
zach. Right opposite was "a large village,
I'd several hundred people had rushed
own to the shore 20 veil and cheer. A
1zen sampans were soon alongside, and
TO one Of these ! was placed and taken
shore. A white man was no great curios-
y 70 the natives, even at that day, and |
a scarcely noticed A. ] was conducted
trough the crowd to hut in the center
the village. There was only a mat hang
z at the door, but they well knew that |
} guard was need ed 90 keep me there.
IL was noon before they gave me any
ing TO eat or drink, and then | was told
at l might walk about the village II !
sired. / didn't care 70 take advantage
this offer. but sat in the door Of M hut
I'd saw them haul the schooner ashore
ID land her cargo. There were over two
Indred men engaged about her. While
me broke out the cargo others went
ripping her Of sails and cordsge Before
rk there was nothing left but a bars
I'll and two masts- The bowspEis and !
pgallant masts were sent ashore, aud ,
was taken out except the bal :
u. doa't think they left foot Of rope
chain. and every board or beam they
nd get 1t was taken away. The last
ing was emitting away the masts Soon
ter they went overheard the hull foAtsd
the sand. and they then tONed her cut
the bay and lcgIti ed her.
As fast a. the eargo ysaS landed II wa
ken 20 two large siorshOGs1s II the CO
: Of the village, ard bad our o&cssln Ar
ed a; sEndown in Dursgit q bs cT2ft be
'uld have found nothing whatever %
? bezrh % tel him what had occurred
oogt dark q Ncr.An brought me food /
q driak, ard see.rg thai / was ia pain I
- H. 1Ocs- sze bT~ar1-ht WATT All /
lsbed u and then bound = Up With soma
1ised leaves q soothing natBrs. she
tie Won ~ hear b. her klndae~z, AID
= led 70 hope that ny iot might lot -
wrstched after all A. far ~ eould
DO guard Vas placed q; tie door. DOR