The morning call., 1891-08-09
He Was TAKEN
BY TARTARS.
The Strange Experience Of a Young
British Lieutenant.
He Started Out With the Intention Of Cap
turing Pirates, But He Was Caught and
Made Prisoner His Treatment.


pier. We were cruising in Chinese waters
keeping our ewes open for lot of Tartar
pirates, who are the pests of those seas, and
are dreaded by all honest trading vessels.
We were lying at the mouth of the Ho-
Tong, small river or creek emptying into
the Pacific, and Commander Napier had
sent me with boatswain, named Joe Max
ted, and launch's crew of twelve men, up
the creek to hunt for, and, if possible, de-
stroy the stronghold of certain Tartar
pirate who had recently made himself par
ticularly obnoxious.
1t was early morning-about o'clock
when we started out upon our excursion.
We thought to take advantage of the cool
morning air, and, if necessary, rest in the
shade during the intense heat of the day.
Ot course we were well armed. We each
carried a Colts navy revolver; the men
had each rife and cutlasses, and | my
sword. Being fully aware of the possibility
OF losing our way and not getting back to
the boat, we blaZed the trees along our
route and cut fair path through the un-
dergrowth. We also kept lookout for
am5ushes, for there was little doubt that
our pirate knew perfectly well that we
were after him. We were not quite so well
acquainted with the country as he, how
ever. We made the discovery too late and
TO our bitter cost.
ing at the dense undergrowth, and having
reached the belt of pine trees, |
ordered halt, and we sat down
to breakfast For two of our party
1t was their last meal. l do not
know how it happened, for | had risen to
my feet and was again moving onward, ex-
pecting the men to follow instantly, when l
heard
JOE MAXTED's VOICE SHOUTING TO ME:
" Mr.. Martin Lie down on your face!
Flat down, for Gods sake!'
IL saved my life. | just turned an instant
III time 10 see my two poor ablebodied sea-
men on their backs with a dozen arrows in
the body OF each and Joe on his face on the
ground. The whole wood seemed TO be
alive with the most horribly rugged Tartar
villains ever set eyes on. Some had masks
on their faces and all carried javelins and
great swords. Well, threw up my hands.
l couldn't DO less.
In an instant we were surrounded, and
leaving the two dead bodies where they lay,
we were dragged along until we came to a
large clearing about quarter of a mile
away, the existence OF which we had never
suspected. Here was sort of village of
bamboo huts, little more than an encanp-
ment of about so or 100 men. Not more. We
were IN the hands of the pirates we had
come TO exterminatc. There was nothing
for it. They would exterminate us. We
had not a chance. Our men wouldn't come
after US for two days. There was no hope
of release. We might just as well make
up our minds to il.
Up to this time we had been so far apart
separated by our guards, that we could not
speak to each other or suggest any plans.
When we reached the clearing, however. we
we're brought together. and marched before
the most Misunderstanding rascal | ever set
eyes on-evidently the chief of the band.
Joe was flilIng the air with the most lovely
and choice selections from his truly mag
nifcent vocabulary Of Bi!lngsgatc, and call.
ing upon each and every senarate Tartar to
let him have the use OF his hands and his
cullass and meet him on fair ground. What
would they do with US? We were very soon
to know.
With hospitality we could not under
stand, the chief signed us 10 sit down, and
presently great dish of delicious rice was
placed before us and We were, by sign, in
vited to eat. Oar morning trip had
MADE Us BOTH HUNGRY,
Notwithstanding that we had already had
some breakfast, and not even the sad MEM
DRY of the death of our comrades could pre-
vent our pitching In" Then came bowls
of most refreshing, sparkling spring water.
What would come next?
We noticed, as we finished our Tepast, a
perfectly hellish grin spread over the fea-
lures of our host. He made q sign and said
something, which we, of course, did not I'M
deTstand. Two fellows came up and evil
IDENTIFY said all was ready, for at another few
words We were seized, made 10 stand on our
feet, our arms bound securely to our sides,
our ankles tiea together and we were dragged
on. Joe oaths were caution. | wish
could print one of them! They would
frishten Bowery bartender.
Presently we came to n spot where NOT n
tree OF any Kind formed the slightest protec-
ton from the suns rays, and where at dis
large. deep holes
Now. what are they going to do?'
asked Joe.
l had no time to answer for in a minute
we were dumped feet foremost one into
each hole Then the beggars began shovel
ing the sandy soil in on top of us"
They're going to bury us alivew said
Joe.
1t was worse than that That would have
killed US too soon. They only buried us to
the necks, leaving our heads free, but so Sc
curely fixed in the soil that we looked like a
couple of living heads on magician's table.
Great God. what horribly conceived torture
was this! While We were buried HOPELESS
there brute came and with sharp knife
carefully shaved round patch from the
tops OF our heads, then another smeared
some sticky substance thereon. Were they
going to Set tire to us? Worse even than
thati
Do not suppose that all this was done IN
silence. BY no u cans. A horrible, yelling,
1eertng, hooting crowd surrounded US, and
now they came and threw filth of every de-
scrlption at US, spat in our faces and
SLAPPED US WITH PIECES OF BAMBOO.
This went on for couple of hours and
the sun was beating down upon us with
almost unbearable power. Then the flies
came in myrads and bit and stung us.
Then came cry from MaXted which l
quickly echoed:
90 Pm bursting! If this don't stop soon
I'll burstp'
The rice and water we had swallowed was
swelling and the weight of the soil creating
an enormous resistance, our agony was in
tense.
Great God! Why didn't we tell the men
TO come soonerY'
Then poured forth another volley of oaths
and curses from Joe. and the cheerest words
of encouragement, to me, man could think
of:
They'll never obey you, sir. They'll get
anxious and come"
His words were prophetic They were
hardly out of his mouth when we heard the
heartiest British cheer l ever heard ring
through the clearins-then a volley and
the short swapping Of the revolyers-and
then / tainted.
A week later. lying in my little cabin on
the Ticker heard how one of the men,
angry at not being chosen to the inland en-
cursion with me, had followed US short
distance through the forest. He had seen
the attack and Mt once seampered back TO
the boat. Realizing that ten men would be
OF little use against so many Tartars they
had rowed down the river right back to the
Ticker. reported my capture to Commander
Napier, who had come himself with young
brigade to my rescue. with the result that
you have already read.
Every private in that scoundrelly crew
was shot or cutlassed in that attack. Not
one escaped.-N. Y. Recorder.