The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-03

which Brazil will have to answer to the
Government OF tho United States was
reported yesterday when the SeZurancc
camein with the crew of tho American
bark Nehemiah Gibson, which, since
she was launched from o Boston ship
yard in 1sOShas been commanded by an
American captain, manned by Ameri
can crews and engaged between Ameri'
can and Brazilian ports, was driven
ashore on tho coast OF Brazil, she was
surrounded by a hundred canoes con-
tanning natives from the coast, who
forcibly took possession OF tho bark,
fought her crew until they were com,
PEELED to surrender, and then proceeded
TO loot tho vessel from stem To- stern,
taking everything movable, leaving the
bark a dismantled wreck.
This was not the only outrage COM
mitted upon the captain and crew.
They wore destined for a creator ono,
for when they attempted TO land in the
ships boats they were seized by the
customs officials, turned over to tho po-
lice as prisoners and locked up. Their
boats and tho contents, consisting OF
what few articles Of clothing they man
aged to take from their wrecked vessel,
we're contiscatel.
Notwithstanding that every explains
ton was offered and proofs given as to
the truthfulness OF their story, the
Americans were kept in prison until the
authorities got ready to release them.
The men were harshly dealt with by the
officers.
manderot the Nehemiah Gibson. With
a crew Of nine men he sailed from PEN
sacola, Fla, on June rs, for Rio Janeiro
with a cargo Of lumber.
On the morning OF July 8 heavy
weather threatened. By midday the
bark ran into gale. which increased in
fury toward nightfall, rendering the
bark manageable. She was driven
ashore at s:45 .. IN, on Maria Concep-
cion reef, which is on the Brazil coast,
south OF Pernambuco.
During the night the gallo gradually
decreased, and the great waves which
had made clean breaches over the
stranded vessel became mere swells. An
hour before dawn the weather was mild
and the sea calm.
With the break OF day the weary
crew aboard the bark were startled by
sounds as OF small vessels rushing
through tho water and the splash OF
many oars. A minute later the prows
OF a hundred canoes could be made out
in the gray atmosphere, headed di.
rectly for the wrecked vessel. Almost
before Captain Risley conld muster his
men on the poop deck his ship was sur
rounded by the canoes Each canoe
contained two or more natives OF the
coast, abloodthirsty lot OF salyers, who
do not stop at murder when they make
an effort to take possession OF a strand
ed vessel, which they consider their
legitimate prey.
The Indians, or Brazilieros, rs they
are known. without further ceremony
began to Chamber on d ok, and, despite
the determined resistance made by the
crew, drove the'men att after q furious
hand to hand combat, in which clubs,
oars and Delaying pins played prom
inent parts.
against such overwhelming odds, the
captain surrended. This was the signal
for the beginning Of the piratical work
OF the invading party. With tiendish
wells, the Indians swarmed over the
vessel from galley to topmast, stripping
masts of sails, ropes and rigging, break
ing into cabins and berths, tearing open
lockers and locked chests, selling every
article OF value.
The captains cabin did not escape
visitation by the pirates. They entered
it as unceremoniously as they boarded
the vessel and abstracted charts, barom-
eters and the ships instruments. The
pirates looked with curious eyes upon
the brass instruments, and, regarding
them as articles OF unusual value, began
fighting for their possession.
Two OF tho combatants were killed.
Daring tho confusion resulting from
the fighting tho sailors managed to
lower the two ships boats over tho Ice
side and to quietly fill each boat with
articles OF value, clothing and pro
visions.
Then the sailors manned the boats,
with Mate Rowland in the bow OF one
and Captain Risley in the other, and
and, each with n revolver in each hand,
they moved away from the vessel.
The departure OF the crew, was discov.
cred beforeth mon had gone twenty
Yards. Then tho pirates set UP wild
yolls and brandished their oars. They
began to give chase, when the chief, q
burly six-iooter, ordered tho natives to
Adesist, and the men were permitted to
sail away without further molcstation,
leaving tho savages in complete owner
ship OF the stranded bark.
The coastia rocky and dangerous and
affords no suitable place for landing.
The sailors rowed to the westward,
hoping to strike some seaport town
whore they could find an American
consul and consequent protection.
The sea was choppy, and the wind,
which was quite brisk when they
started, gradually began to make the
frip dangerous. The waves broke over
the low gunwales of their boats, keep
ing tho mon dronched and filling their
boats with water. They were kept con-
stantly busy at bailing.
AT 5 p. M, the Norwegian bark Louise
was seen ut anchor on tho ballast
grounds, and, upon rowing alongside,
tho me were takcn aboard and cared
for during the night. Captain Risley
fscertainod that an American consul
could DO found at Maria Conception,
and bright and early the next morning
the mon again started of in their boats.
Late that afternoon, up to that time
having made little progress In tho
heavy sea, anotllor vessel was sighted
az anchor. When tho Americans came
alongside the mate, who was in COM
mani, demurred against the men COM
ing aboard in tho absence OF his cap
tain, but he volunteered the intorma-