Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-01-21

rescue the captain. The first craft
was joined by two others later
on, and the three carried at least
100 desperate fellows. The captain
heard and understood enough to
satisfy him that they were an or
ganized gang of pirates and that
they we're also we'll equipped for
their bloody business.
The island mentioned was not
over 20 miles away, AID as the
Java sea was and is great high
wayit did rot seem possible that
men would take such a risk as
those pirates had. The trader
said that no less than three friend
ly sails were 10 sight when he was
a tackled, but all too far away t."
signal, even If he had been warn
ed in time to do something. Owing
to the shoals surrounding the 49,
land our craft could not approach
neal enough to use her guns aud
shell the fellows out, and we we're
not strong enough to land IRON
our boats aud deal With them. The
sight of all armed vessel nOsing
around would put the pirates on
their guard, aud so 1t was resolved
to pay them d Yankee trick. We
ran lutoa bay on the coast and set
to work.
You are probably aware of the
fact that an English man of. war,
no matter how large or how small
Is pattern of neatness and reg
al ,tlOn, aud the cut OF her sails
will alone establish her Identity
while her hull is yet below thr
water line. We had therefore tOI
uIdO aud overhaul a great deal.
We put everything in zee ming
confusion alOtt, disguised her bull
as much as possible, aud when We
lett the bay the Shark had the
look of a merchantmen which had
been through typhoon and was
too short handed to make repairs.
The Dutch captain died on the day
after we found him. aud his last
words were pray er that we might
fall IN with aud punish the pirates
1t was Just at daylight that We
appeared off the north coast of the
island and anchored on bank
aboIt three miles from the beach.
Mem were sent alOft aS If Engaged
iu repairs, boat was got down a IS
il to work on the hull, aud the
bulk of the crew remained in hld
ing below. No doubt the fOllewS
ashore hal a lookout III some trees
and provided with good glass he
could sse Overy thug gong on
abroad. 1t was hardly sunrise
when a small native craft with
four men IN her, came out to make
an investigation. Oar captain
hailed them and they replied with
gestures to siguify that they would
return TO the shore for help. Tney
evidently took us for what We
pretended to be, aud we we're pip
cd to breakfast feeling that oar
ruse would succeed.
About s O'Clock, with the wind
bretEng up lively, three native
sail craft put out for US. A man
aloft with a glass reported that
each craft was crowded with Ia
uves, and 1t was now our plan to
weigh anchor and make q little sail
and pretend to be standing away
from them as If alarmed. The Oh
lect was to draw them as far away
from shore as possible. and we had
aided mile or more TO the dis
tance whom the foremost boat came
within hail. She hadn't a gnn OF
any sort 10 sight, out she had 4S
desperate looking villains in plain
Isw and every one Of them had u
cutiass aud pistol. While her
captain was haillng up in u lau'
suage no one could understand she
was slowly edging along down our
starboard quarter. AT the same
lime second craft was drawing
ahead on the port side, and the
third kept 10 our wake.
Only seven or eight men We'e in
sight on our decks, and the natives
seemed TO have no suspicion of a
trick. The breeze was little bit
too strong for their maneuvering
at first, hut six miles OF shore the
two suddenly closed in to board
us. Our captain had been closely
watching them and waiting for
this move, and OF sudden the
drum beat to quarters and our
decks were alive with men.
was captain of No. 3 gun crew
and had the honor OF firing the nrsi
.bot IL rwoa o aolfd hail opd 1.