Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-09-25
PIRATES LOOT A SHIP.
DESPERATE AchlNesE BUCCANEERS
NJ CHINA SEAS.
They BOARD Brttish steamer i'm the
Sui>e of Peaceful Passengers Arms
Concealed by = Woman Captain Killed
and rssscnger~ Put To the sword.

the spanish mann reads the account
lust received of the attack upon a
British steamer in China seas, the
murder of many of the crew and the
lcoting of the ship.
of the coast of Sumatra the steam
or Pegu. plying between local Chinese
ports. was attacked by pirates, her
captain slain, number of her crew
and passengers put TO the sword. and
everything of value in her cabins and
hold carried away. The vessel ar
rivci Al Teluk Semawe with score OF
corpses on board and her decks yet
rel with blood.
The Pevu left Penang for Oleh-Leh
on July q with SIS. coo and large
cargo When between Pari Busuk
aud Simpang OHM. Sumatra, the yes
sci was taken possession of 10y eleven
Achinese pirates and one woman, who
had been taken aboard at Edie. The
vessel was steaming along at night,
aud Captain Ross and Chief Engineer
! Cragie were at dinner In the saloon
when suddenly six armed Achinese
rushed in upon them from one door.
while two entered by another. The
officers were taken at a disadvantage,
but they defended themselves as well
as they could with chairs.
The pirates sprang upon them with
drawn swords, and the unweiidy weap-
ons with which Ross and Cragie at
tempted TO defend themselves were
useless IN the unequal contest. The
captain. after Telling two of the Achi-
nese. was slashed about the hands and
arms until compelled to drop his
chair. He fled 10 the upper deck,
where he fell and was despatched at
once When his body was found. after
the pirates had looted the ship and
departed. it had been horribly mutt
lated and dismembered.
CraCie succeeded in fighting his
way through the raiders and reaching
the engine-room, where he hid ano
was not followed.
While this combat was being wageo
in the saloon. the battle had become
general throughout the ship. Stimuli
taneouslv with the attack upon thu
captain and chief engineer, the re
maiuder of the pirates had throwi
themselves upon the mate aud steers
man. who were on the bridge. III
latter made a gallant fight, but wer
soon cut down
The serang. or overseer OF the YES
Z sci. climbed up the funnel stays an
: escaped the onslaught of the pirates
The Pegu carried about fifty Chimes
passengers.
When the attack was made, III
Nongoliaus fled panicstricken. The
were followed by the mercile'
pirates. and. according 10 one a.
count. at least thirty were kille'
!, When the vessel arrived at Telu
Y Semawe. fifteen wounded passenge
were taken ashore and placed IN no
20 pital. where one of them has SIM
= died.
After the short but sanguinary co
a test. the Achinese began looting Il
D. vessel. One Of them was placed
- the wheel 20 steer the Pegu nearer
N land. while others ransacked the cab
aud quarters of the passengers al
20 crew. In the captains cabin tn
- found a repeating rifle and revolvs
= a sum Of money and valuable instr
:. ments. These were all taken. toget
er with the clothing Of the chief OF
Ger. he cAlc NHc ObcAcNs @AN 49,
Ell IL sis. 900 was taken. Having col
"a pleted their work, the Achinese 20
DE their departure in the Pegu's DO;
~ and escaped 10 shore
When the Achinese boarded
as Pecu at Edie, they carried no arm
&C and the supposition Is that the won
ne who came and departed with tn
IA carried the weapons of her male co
tn panions hidden on her person un'
her sarong. She was not search
nd though the officers Of the ship, al~i
re ! suspicious of the treacherous Ac
he nese, made sure that the eleven II
Ter carried no arms before they were I
nd mitted TO come on board.
in The Dutch officials At Teluk SENS
or found the horribly mutilated body
Captain Ross lying in his berth, v
es- his hands clasped over his bre'
ere The body Of one of his crew was ~
on the floor beside the berth {
g. gie's wounds are said 10 be not >
on, Gus. but one stab in the chest
- another in the back had been chez
"a by bones. The seTang was on
bridge with She mate, steersman
another Of the crew when the PR