The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-10-04


the strongest powers of the time-Great
Britain and France-and against the buc-
cancers of the Mediterranean, if not al
ways coming off first best in battle yet re-
deeming every petty defeat by a stunning
victory. 1t wasn't in boast of the finest
ships nor of the greatest guns that the
Yankee tar became bumptious, for Uncle
Sam had neither. 1t was the sand and sap
of the virgin man, the natural yearning
to test ones mettle in contest for place.
Paul Jones and Perry Lawrence and
Hull, cambridge and Stewart in their day
and generation had been first and there
must be no backward step for their sue
cessors. 10 keep in practice all that was
needed was chance; the disposition was
never wanting, and so when the warlike
and piratical Malays outraged our flag in
1881 swift and terrible punishment fol-
lowed at the hands of single fight
ing crew of sailors. Some natives of
Quallah Battoo, on the western coast of
tho island of Sumatra, treacherously at
tackled the crew of the merchantmen
Friendship, intending to capture the ship
and her treasure. The deed was done while
the vessel lay in the harbor on a trading
visit, presumably under protection of the
authorities of the island or province On
the morning of Feb. the ship rode at an.
Choir few hundred yards from the town,
and the captain, with four seamen, went
ashore to superintend the weighing of a
cargo of pepper, which was carried from
the depot to the vessel in small boats row.
ed by natives. The first boat to leave the
depot, which was located on river near
the pepper plantations above Quallah Bat
too, stopped on its way down stream and
stealthily exchanged its crew of oarsmen
for double the number of armed men, then
proceeded to the anchorage ground Of the
Friendship and commenced unloading her
cargo. The natives not required in un-
loading the boat climbed aboard the ship,
and although ordered by the mate in com
mand to return to their own deck they
fingered about the decks of the Friendship.
Watching chance, one of them plunged
his scimiter 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
into the water swan to a safe distance
and reached land undisturbed by the Ma
lays. Instantly the pirates on the deck of
the Friendship put up signals, and several
boatloads of armed men pushed off from
shore. Meanwhile the Americans at the
depot had watched the goings on, power
less to prevent them, but nevertheless fully
warned and put on their guard. The cap
tain and his four companions stepped into
boat and showed her off just as party
of natives, drunken with delight over the
news signaled by their confederates on
the Friendship, were rushing to attack
province, Pc Adam, sprang after the boat,
declaring that he would go with the Amer
leans, adding, IF they kill you, they must
kill me first, captain.' The allegiance of
Pc Adam probably saved the captain. His
cutlass was the only weapon in the boat,
which was intercepted by hostile Malays
at the mouth of the river. With the cut
lass in the hands of stalwart Yankee
sailor, who brandished it fiercely over the
PROV as the little craft dashed through,
the assailants were kept at bay until the
party was we'll to sea- Then the captain,
guided by Pc Adam, steered for a harbor
20 miles south, where other American
vessels lay, picking up on the way the four
sailors who had leaped from the deck of
the Friendship at the time of the attack.
Next day three ships returned to Quail
lab Battoo and demanded from the chief
Rajah the release of the Friendship His
reply being the characteristic boast, IF
you want her, como and take her, the
vessels ranged up and opened fire. After
short bombardment the Americans man
ned their boats and pulled toward the ship,
intending to board her. But the Malay
crew didn't relish an open fight, even
with 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-
ables: including treasure in specie of
$12, 900. When the news Of the piracy
reached Washington, the frigate Potomac,
Al guns, lay in New York harbor under
orders to join the Pacific squadron by
voyage via England. The orders were
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