Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-01-22
A STORY OF THE SEA.
Singular and Startling Experience
Of Sailor.
The WeII-LaId Plans OF the MutInOu1
Crew and COrean Pirates Thwarted
by Goodness and BraVery-R0tEl-
button with Vengeance.


In the year 1859 a British steamer
called the Fairfax arrived at Shanghai
in distress, and upon investigation her
damages were found to be so extensive
that she was sold to corporation known
as 1.-The Golden Tea Company" IL was
composed of five British tea houses and
it had four coasting vessels in its trade
This steamer was wanted to establish a
line to the Lioo-Kioo Islands, in the Pa
cific ocean, but more particularly to the
island of Kiu-Siu, where the company
intended to establish branch head
quarters.
The Fairfax was a side-wheeler of
about 600 tons burden, and noted as
being very fast. She was changed about
a great deal in making repairs, and
when 1 went aboard of her as wheels
man found several things to excite my
curiosity. The cabin had been done
away with, and in its place was an Off
GERS messroom aft and a comfortable
dining room for the mon forward. The
space between was used for berths and
storage. ! noticed that great deal of
the interior wood work was covered with
heavy sheet iron, which had been
painted to resemble wood. The doors
were very heavy, and were further pro-
tected by metal. The engine room was
entirely enclosed, and when I cano TO
the wheelhouse | was surprised to find
1t so arranged that iron shutters hung
on the inside could be closed 10 mako d
little fortress OF the place. Two rifles
and pair of revOlvers comprised til.
armament When came to AK Ques
tons Of tho mate he informed mo that
we were going among q lawless and dos
poraLe lot, and wore prepared for any
emergency. In addition to what had
seen he showed mo a six.pOund field
piece on the promenade deck and score
or more OF rifles In room set apart
for an armory.
The steamer mado her first and second
trips without adventure. The crow in
each instance was composed almost Oh
tirely OF white men English, American
German and French sailors, who had
been picked up in Shanghai. The cook
steward and stokers were natives, and
on each trip we carried quite a number
OF native passengers. On the third trip
about one-half Of the white crew had u
be replaced by natives, and when We
loft Shanghai wc had sixty native pas
sengers I remarked on the singular
fact that all were men, and tho mate
explained matters by saying it was
religious body on their way to a famous
temple situated on the island we wore
bound for. Thoy looked to mo like a
crafty, villainous lot and my follow
wheelsman, who was an American named
n "a,
trouble with them before tho voyage
was over We had scarcely left port
before we saw TO it that all our weapons
wern loaded, and wo got Tho hang" Of
tho iron blinds so that wo could shut
them quickly One OF us would Ger
tainIy be in the wheelhohse. no matte,
NJ what hour trouble might come
As tho steamer only had small lead
OF freight, and that was all in the hold.
tho party Of natives wero quarterod on
tho lower dock. The woathor was very
mild and they did not need covering
Tho distance from Shanghai TO Kin Stu is
about two hundred and fifty miles As
w6 loft port at six o'clock in the morn
ing. and averaged twelve miles por hour
until four the next morniRg, VIC were
pretty fairly across tho big bay or
straits created right thore by the lay OF
the coast and the location of tho islands
] came on watch at four o'clock. II was
then fairly daylight and the sea was
smooth and ovory thing worry quiet
My chuHi gavo me the course, reported
that there was nothing now, and went
oil to turn in. lilo had scarcely disap
pcarcd whom ] rose two junks dead
ahead, and i've minutes later tho lookout
on the bows reported them TO Mr. Ora
ham, tho first mate II could not have
boon more than two minutes after this
whom heard shrill cry OF Murder
followed by two pistol shots and rust
of foot, and realized that trouble was
at hand. rang tho koIl for the engineer
to stop and then shut and secured my
blinds, and I was not a moment too
soon The wheels had scarcely ceased
to revolve when heard tho patter OF
feet outside, followed by EXPLANATIONS
OF anger aud disappointment Then /
used the speaking tube to warn the EN-
gineer. and he speedily informed me
that he had made himsel: a close pris-
onor.
My iron shutters wero provided with
portfolios. and when looked down
UPON INV 0ONR a ooW SuS OO1A
bodies OF the mate and lookout lY.
ing there and covered with blood
from numerous knife wounds. None OF
the natives were in sight, but directly a
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 a quarter of an hour. Then
about half dozen of them came up and
demanded my surrender. From their
dialect / knew them to be COreans
They called to me in that language,
saying they had full possession of tho
steamer, had killed oil but two of the
crew, and that my life would be spared
il promisedto do as they directed. l
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 l then informed the pirates
that could not think OF surrender, and
as they began battering at the door with
capstan bar showed the muzzle OF a
revolver out and killed one and wounded
another before they could get out OF
Eange.