Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-11-17

I tho navy OF the
young republic had held Its own against
fhe strongest powors Of the timc-Grcat.
britain and Franoe-and against the buc.
eancars of tho Mediterranean, II not al
ways coming Off first best In battle yet re-
Gseming every potty defeat by q stunning
victory. 1t wasn't In boast OF tho finest
ships nor of the greatest guns that the
Yankee tar became bumptious, for Uncle
Sam had neither. 1t was tho sand and sap
of tho virgin man, tho natural ycarning
% test ones mettlo In q contest for place
Paul Jones and Perry Lawrence and
Hull, Bainbridgo md Stewart In their day
and generation had been first, and there
must be no backward step for their sue
cessors. To keep In practice oil that wns
needed was chance; the disposition wns
mover wanting, and so when tho warlike
and pirntical Malays outraged our flag In
1881 swift and terrible punishment fol-
lowed at the hands Of single fight
ang crew of sailors. Some natives OF
Quallah Battoo on the western coast of
she island Of Sumatra, trcacherously at
sacked the crew OF the merchantmen
Friendship, intending to capture tho ship
and her treasure Tho deed WAS done while
che vessel lay in the haTbor on n trading
visit, presumably under protection OF the
authorities Of the island or province. On
che morning of Feb. Z the ship rode at an
Dhor few hundred yards from the town,
and the captain, with four seamen, went
iAshore to superintcnd tho weighing Of u
cargo of pepper, which was carried from
she depot tn the vessel in small boats row.
I'D by natives. The first boat to leave the
depot, which was located on a river near
she pepper plantations above Quallah Bat.
Zoo, stopped ON its way down stream and
Btealthily exchanged Its crew Of oarsmen
for double tho number OF armed men, thcn
proceeded to the anchorage ground of the
Friendship and commenced unloading her
cargo. The natives not required In un-
hoading the boat climbed aboard tho ship,
and although ordered by the mate In COM
nand To return to their own deck they
fingered about the decks OF the Friendship.
Watching IA chance, one of them plunged
mis- scmiter through the body of the mate
while his back WAS turned, and several 9TH
ers attacked the sailors in like manner
-Four of the latter escaped, and jumping
bnt0 the wator swan to safe distance
and reached land undisturbed by the Ma
Bays. Instantly tho pirates on the deck OF
abe Friendship put up signals, and several
boatlOads Of armed men pushed OF from
shore. Meanwhile the Americans at the
depot had watched the Roings on, power
ness to prevent them, but nevertheless fully
warned and put OH their guard. Tho cap
tain and his four companions stepped into
y boat and showed her off just as party
of natives, drunken with delight over the
news signalcd by their confcdcrates on
tho Friendship, were rushing to attack
khem. A Malay Rajah from neighboring
province, I'o Adam, sprang after the boat,
hcclaring that he would go with the Amer
hcaDs, adding, "If they kill you, they must
kill me first, captain" The allegiance of
Po Adam probably saved the captain. His
outlass was the only weapon In tho boat,
which was intercepted by hostile Malays
at tho mouth OF the river. With the cut
aass In tho hands of stnlwnrt Yankee
BailOr, who hrandished 1t ficrccly over the
brow as tho little craft dashed through,
ehe assailants were kept ut bay until tho
party was well to sea. Then tho captain,
guided ly Po Adam, stccrcd for harbor
90 miles south, where otlcr American
vessels lay, picking upon the WAY the four
sailors who had lcaped from tho deck of
tho Friendship mt tho time OF tho attack.
Next day thrco ships returned TO Quail
1ah Battou and demanded from the chief
Rajah thu release Of the Friendship. His
reply being tho characteristic boast III
you want her, come and take her." the
vessels ranged up and opened fire. After
u short tonibardm,nt tho Americans man
med their boats and pulled toward tho ship,
intending 10 board her. But the Malay
crew didn't relish nm open fight, even
awith the odds in their favor. They jumped
into the water and made for shore, but
when the Americans got on board of their
vessel they found her stripped Of all valu-
4bles, including treasure in specie of
$4,000 When tho news OF the piracy
reached Washington, tho frignte Potomac,
~ guns, lny In New York harbor under
orders to join tho Pacific squadron by IA
goyuge via England. The orders were
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sa6gs9, - ezsaA.- d.