The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-15

JOnn III Orutr to TtdCH INC java Sed.
Molly's steamer was now anchored in
the port Of Zamboanga, the residence
of the governor, to whom and to whose
subordinates Capt Willis first applied
for information OF any vessel wrecked
on the coast of Mindanao, but SO far as
the Spanish authorities were, concerned
they reported that no such disaster had
taken place within five years.
But these reports did not cover the
independent portions of the island in
babited by savages against whom the
charge of cannibalism had been sub
stantiated and who would naturally
make every effort TO conceal the facts
of any such disaster on their coast.
Many of these Malays follow the avoca-
ton of corsairs, and are ready to pursue
any luclSless merchantman driven into
their waters to escape the gales. Whom
they capture they destroy, and whether
such had been the terrible fate of Capt.
John and his companions was some
thing which would never come to the
ear of the governor. Capt. Willis didn't
hesitate to penetrate into these won
derful forests of tamarind, bamboo,
mangrove, ebony, mahogany and iron
wood in order to reach the interior vii
lagos in the hope of finding some bit or
shred of proof that the Dreadnaught
had gone to pieces on these reefs or
that some one or more of her crew had
fallen into the hands of these islanders.
The exploration of the Philippine
archipelago lasted two months and a
half, after which Willis made search
through the Bassilan group to the
south of Zamboanga, and then sailed
for the Sooloo archipelago, which he
reached February 25, 1880.
This Is q veritable nest Of pirates, and
the jungles of the many islands lying
between Mindanao and Borneo are alive
with savages. But one port is ever fire.
quented by vessels crossing the China
sea and Malaysian basins. and that is the
port of Bevoan. Here the Molly's Hope
cast anchor. Willis scattered presents
with lavish hand among the inhab-
itants of these islands, but nothing that
was brought to light served In the
slightest to clear up the mystery Of the
Dreadnaught. Although the steamer
had coaled at Mindanao, yet at the end
of this cruise her bunlers were pretty
well emptied. However, there was APP
parently enough left to enable her to
cross the Celebes sea and make the port
of Banjermassin in the southern part
of Borneo.
In spite of the fact that the Celebes
sea is shut in like a lake, It is visited by
terrible wind storms, and in the night
OF February 2s to 30 gale Of great i'm
petuosity overlook the steamer, rolling
up violent sea and emptying hundreds
Of tons OF water upon her deck and
flooding her hold, but her compart-
nents resisted the strain and kept the
water from reaching her engine rooms,
q piece of great good fortune, for her
fires once eytinguished and screw rem
lered useless she would have been pow-
,rless to make head against the gale.
Neither captain or crew lost their
'elf-possession for a moment during the
ong hours of this terrible night. On
he morning of March 2 the staunch
teamer, Molly's Hope, sighted the Mar
ltoubas islands off the coast Of Borneo.
A fortnight was devoted to ransack-
ng these waters for some proof that
he Dreadnaught had perished in just
uch gale as had overtalsen the steam
r; but although rich presents were dis
ributed among the chiefs nothing was
ut is very possible" said Capt. Willis
o his mate one day, "that the destruc-
ion OF the Dreadnaught was due to a
udden attack of number of piratical
raft, and this would account for our
lot having been able to discover any
race Of her. These pirates make no
'oast Of their exploits, and when a ves-
el disappears they have but to lay It to
he fury of the gale"
"You are right, captain" replied the
iate. These waters swarm with
rates, and we must redouble our Wig
ance in passing through Macassar
trait"
Very true" answered Willis, ''but
here's no chance Of their being able to
vcrtake us. Not so a sailing vessel.
With irregular and shifting winds a
ailing vessel is more or less at their
lercy. But so long as our engines are
! working order we shall have nothing
fear. Still we can't be too careful"
For two months, from March Is 20
ay Is, Capt. Willis busted himself
aking close search of the eastern
'ast of Celebes island. The fantastic
itlines Of this island have led some
eographers to compare it TO a huge
but the very fact of this bent
I'd twisted coast line makes il favor
? refuge for pirates.
Whenever the ships boats were occu-
ed in searching the coves and inlets.
pt. Willis lay to as near the coast as
ssible with steam up, ready at a mo-
ents notice to cover their retreat.
iving once traversed the strait, all
niger was at an end, for the southern
rt of Celebes is under Dutch rule,
icassar being the capital city, and
re under the guns Of Fort Rotterdam
Molly's Hope came TO anchor on
,y17. {
4 Capt. Willis had thus far discov-
d no trace Of John Allaire and his q
wv OF the Dreadnaught. he was now
stlncd TO Qot nj last Soma ,,oeftiva -.