Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-14
DEEDS OF PIRATES.
Particulars of Fierce Battle
at Sea.
HOW THE RIFFS STRIPPED A SHIP
Killed the Skipper and Desperately
Wounded the Mate-the Crew Beaten
and Robbed.

That the powers of Europe should
unite to punish piracy on the Moorish
coast seems an Urgent matter. With
in twenty miles of Gibraltar these in
human savages carry on their in
human fantasies thinking that as Spain
and England do not interfere they can
murder and destroy as they choose.
Last month special dispatches to the
Associated Press reported that the
Dutch brigantine Anna had been at
tackled by Ruffian pirates, the captain
killed, the mate wounded, the crew
forced to seek shelter below matches
and the vessel ransacked by the marau-
ders. Full particulars of the crime
were not published in the United
States. but the Gibraltar authorities
secured from the crew of the Anna a
detailed account of the attack. One of
the brigantine's sailors told graphic
story. A copy of his statements
reached this city yesterday, and is
we'll worth reading.
"We left Bari on March 10th under
the command of Captain Valirs. spoke
the sailor. ''After a slow passage up
the Mediterranean of thirty days to
Sardinia, our leading winds changed to
westerly breezes. which forced us to
tack off the Morocco coast. On Sum-
day we became becalmed seven miles
off the Riff coast and near Alhucemar
Bay. Suddenly boat was seen put
ting off from the shore toward US.
On approaching nearer we saw to our
dismay eight savage looking Moors,
stripped to the waist and heads shaved,
with the exception of huge tuft on
the top. They were armed with Mar
tint Henry rifles and,long knives.
'The pirates ordered in Spanish the
captain to lower sail. This being re
fused they at once began firing on the
vessel and crew. The latter had armed
themselves with hatchets and crow
bars, there being only one firearm (be-
longing to the captain) aboard, ready
for attack. Several other boats full of
pirates now hove in sight. The mate
struck down the first Ruffian who
boarded. This was the signal for an
onslaught, the mate being shot in four
places, in both thighs, abdomen, and
right hand. He fell to the deck, bleed
ing and almost dead. and was dragged
into the after-cabin by the crew.
1.-THE captain now fired on the pir-
ates. but he received an awful wound
in the abdomen and seven other shot
wounds, which nearly killed him there
and then. Meanwhile the savage
horde leaped on board and plundered
everything they could lay their hands
on, including the cooking utensils.
bedding, compasses, the side lights and
most of the sails and flags. They took
all the provisions, except the salt meat.
which they despoiled in the most filthy
manner; the water tank was emptied,
and the clothes torn off the crew 8
backs and shoes snatched from their
feet. The ships boat was lowered
and used to convey the booty ashore.
The sailors were logged and beaten
terribly.
"After the demons had left the brig
antine the crew managed to reach the
wounded and to care for them, but the
men momentarily expected the return
of the pirates and prepared to make a
desperate resistance should the bordes
make another attempt to board the
Anna.
"Crude weapons were placed along
the bulwarks and every man prepared
for hand. to- hand conflict.
sFT1oG;lu xrbi1o tho x1;rafas xyara
ashore at sunset and getting ready to
return to the vessel, probably to kill
the remainder of the crew and scuttle
the ship. thus celebrating all traces of
their fiendish work, the breeze sprang
up and the vessel. in charge of Mr..
Austin, one of the crew and an Eng
lishman, was able to get away from
the coast and head for the Spanish side.
Gan anxious night was spent. Oakum
torches were burned to attract atten-
ton. but only steamer and light,
which eventually proved to be the
Ceuta revolving light, were sighted.
Two of the crew went down into the
cabin to see how the captain was get
ting on later and to state that they
were altering the course. The poor
fellow answered: +" / am sorry, boys.
I can't come to help you" These were
his last words, as he died an hour later
in great agony.
"The mate had been moved to the
bows Of the ship and was tenderly
cared for as much as possible under the
circumstances. A blue bit of cloth
and white cotton shirt were hoisted
at the masthead to show distress, as
there were no flags, during the day.
and at p. M. when off Europa Point
the Gibraltar tug Hercules sighted the
craft and towed her into our bay.
"The mate was at once conveyed to
the Colonial Hospital in critical con-
dition. An inquest was held on the
ooDto;n,s ra,,,o;us His hodv was fear.