Evening journal., 1895-05-23
FELL IN WITH PIRATES.
A Brigantine Looted In the Med
iterranean by Riffians.
STIRRING TALE OF THE SALT SEA.

The Captain and Crew Made an Heroic At
tempt to Repei the Boardsrs, but They
Were outnumbered. and the Decks Ran
Red With Gore, just as They DO In Books.
WASHINGTON, May GA stirring tale
of the sea that reads like a romance of
Stevenson OF Pyle comes to the state de-
partment In dispatch from Richard L.
Sprague, acting United States consul at
Gibraltar The story Is all the more sur
prising because the events recorded ocourr-
cd In the well travelled waters Of the Med
iterranean.
According 10 the account furnished to
the department by Mr.. Sprague the steam
tug Hercules on the afternoon OF April
30, towed into Gibraltar bay the Dutch
hrigantine Anna which had been flying
signals Of distress off Europa point. The
experiences OF the Anna according to the
story told by one Of her crew, recall the
worst days OF piracy.
On March 10 she set sail from Bari, a
port in the Adrintio with a cargo OF oil,
and on Sunday. April 30, became beoalm-
ed about seven miles from shore near AL
huoomas bay. In tho Riff country, be-
tween Melilla and Centa. She WAS manned
by captain, a mate three seamen and
cook.
Tho Pirates Open Fire.
About 2 or o'clock that afternoon
boat approached from shore manned by
seven or eight Moors They were savage
| looking fellows, stripped naked to tho
waist, with beads entirely shaved clean OF
hair except long tuft on top Brooch
loading rifles and long knives were their
arms When within hailing distance the
Moors called in Spanish to the brigantine
to lower sail, and on being refused com
menCod firing on the vessel
As the beat came alongside the crew
armed themselves with hntuhets and crow
bars, and ono of the Hifiirrs who at
tempted to board was struck q by tho
lnato with q blow from q orowtar. A vol
Icy was returned, and the mate fell. Seiz-
| ing his revolver tho only frearin on hoard,
Captain Nelvis hogan to use Il on the pi-
rates, but had fred only one shot when he
was wounded In the hand. Meanwhile
the wounded mate had proceeded aft
whore he was fired on and fell Four bull
let's had entered bis body Then tho cap
tain was permanently disabled by shot
wound in the stomach.
About this time several other boats put
out from shore and resistance was out Of
the question. Landing on board. the pi-
rates began their work OF plumber. The
ships boat was lowered, and bedding.
cooking utensils, oompassos side lights,
spare sails, portion OF the cargo, all the
provisions except salt meat and many
other things, even tho cabin door wers
loaded into this and the boats OF tho pi-
rates and taken 10 land. Several trips
were made, tho boats coming and goinf
tho whole afternoon. To complete th'
work the pirates took even tho shoes from
the feet Of the crew and tho clothes from
their backs.
Tho Dutch WIN Investigate.
| When night came, the buccaneers lef
} the ship, and light breeze springng VI
! the sailors endeavored to steer for th
Spanish coast although without compass
or lights. They sailed all that night an,
the next day using an old cotton shirt II
daylight and burning oakum after darl
as signals OF distress, but although sew
ernl vessels passed within sight no alton
ton WAS paid TO the distressed brigantine
At 4 o'clock the next morning Captain
Nelvis died, and after many hardship
tho Anna was sighted about p. m. OF
. April 80 by the Hercules and brough
into the harbor. The mate. W. Smith
who had been badly wounded IN boil
I thighs In tho abdomen and the righ
hand, was taken TO the Colonial hospita
IN a critical condition The Anna hailel
from Old Pekola, In Holland, where th
captain and mate resided. The consul 70
the Netherlands at Gibraltar is invostigat
ing the outrage.