Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-14

channel In many spots TO only rev
miles in width One morning, when the
ship had reached the position given, the
wind failed her, and she was left with
out the power Of movement. She had
been holding down the center Of the
channel, and as the wind died away the
current set her to the east, toward the
island Of Chusan By 2 O'Clock in the
afternoon the island was only six miles
away, and finding herself drifting over
O seven fathom bank the ship came to
anchor Every one aboard had been made
anxious when the breeze was lost. The
islands about them were known to be
the lairs of pirates, and the pirate crafts
could be moved in calm by means of
oars From sunrise to sunset OF that long
day q man was kept at the mast head
with glass to watch for suspicious
crafts, and when night came down and
none had been sighted it was hoped that
the ship would pick up breeze in the
morning and get ont of her trouble As
q matter of precaution every preparation
had been made for defense. The cap.
tain s wife had called the men aft and
asked if they would fight. and only one
man of the lot had not shouted, Aye"
and Joined in the cheer That man was
not the cook, as you may have concluded,
but the chief officer, Mr. Waite. He was
q big brawny man and much given to
Dragging and clustering; but, as usual
with such men, a call for real courage
found him wanting. He went about pale
faced and perturbed and the men were
jeering him before noon.
Had breeze sprung up that night or
next morning there would have been no
adventure to write about. 1t continued
a dead calm all night, and the rising
sun shone down Oh surface Us smooth
as glass. There had been no alarm dur
ing the night, though some of the watch
ers were sure they saw two or three
sampans padding about as if spying on
the ship. Breakfast had just been eaten
when the man aloft reported that five
prahus each holding about 20 men, and
each moved by oars, had left the island
and were headed for the ship. 1t was
idle to wonder and speculate. The men
were pirates, coming down to attack the
ship, and if they could not be beaten off
she would be captured and not man
left alive to tell the tale. The chief Of
ficer advised the captain and his wife to
surrender without firing a shot and hope
to receive mercy, and even went among
the men and entreated them not to make
a fight. When scorned and hooted, he
locked himself in his stateroom. At the
first news from aloft the captains wife
passed around the decks and saw that
all was ready for desperate defense. 1t
was a rare bit Of luck getting those Jail
birds at Hongkong. Among them were
several man-of-war's men who were
familiar with big guns, and all were
men of pluck. Mrs. Young took charge
of the after part of the ship, and the
second mate was put in command for
ward Captain Young was almost help
less and great sufferer, but he insisted
ON being propped up and supplied with
firearms. The cook could load a musket,
and he was stationed beside the captain.
From his berth the captain could defend
the stern windows, and he sent word to
the crew that he depended on each and
every man to do his best to beat the pi-
rates off.
At 9 O'Clock, pulling slowly, as if
they felt sure there was no escape for the
becalmed merchantmen, the five prahus
arrived within cannon shot. The men
aboard Of them were estimated at l20,
all armed with creeses, pistols and mus