The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-07-24
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
A Fierce Battle With Ruthless Chi
nesc Pirates-A Tale of Disaster
of Cao-A Cnxvhou,s Naruo

TN the year 1860, writes W. L..
Merton, in the New York Ledger,
piracy had become crime of so
| & frequent occurrence on the east
coast of China that, upon the suppli-
cation of body of ship owners in
Hong Kong, the British Admiral upon
that station resolved to take strenuous
measures for its suppression. A
strong, teek-built bark. the "Rajah, I"
was lying in port, waiting for char
ter; she had been en- East IndIaman,
and though anything but fast sailer,
was sturdy old vessel that would
stand any amount of battering from
the Chinese trading junks of those
days. The Admiral saw the captain
and consignees of this ship and made
arrangements with them that she
should ostensibly be placed on the
berth for Shanghai, receive fictitious
cargo of apparently great value, he
secretly armed and'equipped, and sent
out to be preyed upon by the pirates.
A large quantity of rice was first
sent on board then many long, heavy
cases, supposed to contain machinery,
but really Armstrong Guns and Mimic
rifles; -four barrels hall filed with
powder, and lastly, under strong
guard, fifty treasure boxes, duly
marked MS specie from a well-known
bank; the dollars, however, were
spherical shot and she'll. The blue
peter was hoisted, the vessel duly
cleared and towed through the Ly-ee-
moon passage by small steamer, one
rather foggy afternoon. The last and
most necessary thing now remained to
be accomplished, viz, the shipment
ola crew of ''blue-i jackets" and that,
of course, had to be performed under
cover of darkness, and when the
"Rajah" was fairly out of harbor.
Twas one of the few in the secret of
the expedition, and after much per-
suasion the captain of the bark per-
mitted me to accompany him. Two
days prior to our departure several
heavily armed tai-mungs Grading
junks), of most suspicious appearance,
left port, and we had but little doubt
these would prove our adversaries.
We anchored at given spot near the
entrance to the Ly-ee-moon, and, OBJ
scured from sight by the fog. two
boats, with mufied oars, containing
forty men of-war's men and two off.
GERS, came off to us, and, silently as
possible, we proceeded to the work
OF mounting the guns, and getting
everything ready to give warm re-
ception to our foes. Before morning
broke all this was accomplished we
weighed anchor. and stood out to sea.
Yhe morning breeze lifted the mist
which had enyeloped us, and as we
sailed in, on the port tack, towards
Mrs Bay, we deserted feet of five
large junks lodging about under easy
sail, and evidently edging towards u.s..
We let few ropes hang slack, and
four men laboriously hoisted fore
topmast stddding sail, to give US an
appearance of being a short-handed
and slovenly ship; then hauled it
down again as it would not stand. and
sailed along most unsuspectingly.
Presently the five iunks managed to
hem us in circle, and q heavy shot
hurting through our mainsail bespoke
the real character of our erstwhile
consorts. We Immediately tackled ship
and pretended to fee, but before we
were well out of stays-for the
''Rajah" was slow on her heeI-the |
junks ranged right alongside, and, af-
ter delivering heavy volley, com.
menced to board Us. Then our ports |
fews openr Gacrsshing broudside was
Fpured into the vessels of our assail- |
ants, and the fight began in earnest.
Up went the st. Georges ensign to
the peak, and a ringing British cheer
drowned the cries and imprecations
of our enemies, as a terrific hand.to.
hand fight ensued. The tars were in
their element, and how they did fight
Steady and sure was every blow struck,
and every death-d dealing gun fired.
Our decks were bestrewn with the
corpses OF our foes; three junks went
down beneath the ruddied waves,
bearing the living and the dead; but
still the battle was not ended. The
other two tried to steal of in different
but we followed up the one
and sank her with our heavy metal;
the other would have outsailed ne, but
her main-mast had been shot away,
and we ranged up to her. We called
on her to surrender, but she turnel
like tiger at<bay, snarling her rage
and hatred till she too succumbed to
Neptune.
Lieutenant .Mainwaring, our COM
nander, was a brave, kind hearted
'ailor he had the boats lowered and
tent to pick up many of our foes who
we're swimming around. They would
lot accept the profered succor, but
'hose present watery grave to
yibbet that doomed in the future. 1t
vas logged courage they displayed, s
md l could have pitied any but such
fends as they.
The fight was over, our mission full
lied, and now all that remained was
o muster our crew, clear up decks
md sail back to port. Six of the
blue Jackets" and two of the r
'Rajah's" crew were killed, while over !
J dozen Of the rest, including the ,
econd lieutenant, were more or less !
wounded. The loss on the pirates /,
ide must have been fearful, as each ;
.oat contained over hundred men.