Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-09-19
TAKEN BY TARTARS


ed by First Lieut.. NOW Captainl
Charles Napier. We were cruising in
Chinese waters, keeping our eyes open
for lot OF Tartar pirates who are the
pests OF those seas, and are dreaded
by all honest trading vessels. We
were lying &5 the mouth OF the Ho-
Tong, a small river or creek emptying
into the Pacific, and Commander
Napier had sent me, with boat
swain named Joe Maxted and a
launch's crew OF twelve men, up the
creek TO hunt for and, If possible, de-
stroy the stronghold of a certain
Tartar pirate who had recently
made himself particularly obnox-
ions.
We got into the creek and rowed up
about five miles without finding any
thing or anybody, and without being
molested in any way whatever.
Then | thought we had gone far
enough, but being young and painting
for glory, determined TO reconnoitre
a little further inland. So taking
with me Joe Maxted and two men,
and giving orders to the men left in
charge of the boat that If we did not
return in forty-eight hours they were
to come in search of us, we started
upon what was undoubtedly a very
foolhardy trip.
The whole river bank on either side
was dense jungle for about half a
mile, breaking into a belt OF pine for
est and then into the open. Here and
there were narrow cuttings down TO
the river side-the river was only
about eighty feet wide, about the
width of a fairly wide street-and oc-
casionally one came upon tiny viii
lage with clearing and small rice
farms. The inhabitants OF these vii
lagos, We suspected, all took a hand
in the piratical excursions which the
Ticker was endeayoring TO suppress,
but on the present occasionit was the
head man OF a small tribe, which even
attacked the village pirates them
selves, that we were after.
IL was early morning-about 5
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. OF
course we were well armed We each
carried a Colts's navy revolver, the
men had each a rifle and cutlass and
Imy 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 aud cut a
fair path through the underground
We also kept a lookout for mbushes.
for their was little dodht that our
pirate knew perfectly well that we
were after him. We were not quite so
well acquainted with thecountry as he.
however. We made the discovery too
late and to our bitter cost.
After about two hours cutting and
hacking at the dense underground a nd
having reached the belt of pine trees /
ordered halt, and we sat down to
breakfast. For two OF our party it
was their last meal. do not know
how lt happened, for | had risen to
my feet and was again moving onward
expecting the men TO ollowinstantly,
when | heard Joe Maxted's vioce
shouting to me:
"Nlr. Martin! Lie down on your
face! Flat down for Gods sake"
II saved my life. Just turned an
instant, in time to see my two poor
ablebodied seamen 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
withthe most horribly rugged Tartar
villains lever set eyes on. Some had
masks on their faces and all carried
Javelns and great swords. Well,
threw upmy hands. / couldn't do less.
In an instant we were surrounded,
and, leaving the two dead bodies
where they lay, we We're dragged along
until we came to alarge clearing about
a quarter OF a mile away, the existence
OF which we had never suspected.
Here was a sort offs village of bamboo
huts, little more than an encamp-
ment of about eighty or hundred
men. Not more. We were in the hands
of the pirates we had come to exter-
There was nothing for it.
They would exterminate us. We had
not chance. Our men wouldn't
come after us for two days. There
was no hope of a 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 were brought
together, and marched before the
most villainous looking rascal | ever
set my eyes on--evidently the chief OF
the band. Joe was filling the air with
the most lovely and choice selections
from his truly magnificent vocabulary
of Billingsgate, and calling upon each
and every separate Tartar to let him
have the use OF his hands and his cut
lass and meet him on fair ground.