The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-13

ing and screaming! Tho bodies Of the dead sail
ors wero stripped naked, kicked about the decks
and mutilated in the most horrible manner. and
then flung overheard. AZ the very first splash
we saw at least a dozen sharks make for the spot
and after that their dorsal fms were cutting the
water in every direction
AS told you before, three OF the briggs crew
escaped instant death by running aloft where
they were for the time forgotten. They went as
high as they could go and concealed themselves
as well as possible They dared not shout TO
us, but they implorcd us by gestures TO come
TO their relief. and gave us 10 understand that
the coolies supposed our bark to he loaded with
Chinese also, and that we would be attacked
In an effort to set them free They also made
II clear the night being almost light as day,
that the fellows had score OF muskets and we
could easily understand that sharp cutlass
in the hands OF n desperate coolie would be a
wicked weapon.
Down with you lads, and prepare TO defend
the ship with your lives. called tho captain, and
every man responded with alacrity.
AS we had no firearms Of any consequence
everything which could DO used as missile or
weapon was speedily gathered, and every utens
in which water could be heated was placed
the stove in the cooks gallery. We opened the
midshp hatch and broke out OF the cargo a lot
OF pressed brick which had been ordered by
contractor at Singapore They weighed about
five pounds each. and piled up a thousand
or moro at different points on the deck We
still handling the bricks when tho Chinese sud
denly remembered tho three sailors in the rigging
OF tho brig, and eight ten started aloft after
them The sailors called out TO our captain for
Gods sake to come 10 their relief and he answered
them that own position was 40 full Of peril that
he did not dare send of boat The coolies wero
very agile fellows and as they drew the
sailors we saw the latter were preparing TO leap
into the sea The idea was appalling, not only
on account Of the great height but those wicked
dorsal fms were cutting the water about tho
brig in way to make us shiver. The moment
finally came when the first sailor dropped from
the end Of yard and no was speedily followed
by his companions Each struck the water with
an awful splash. went out Of sight, and nothing
further was seen Of them. II they were stunned
by the fall so much the better
1T was about IL o'clock when the coolies made
ready to attack us The brig had three boats
which they could get at and each boat was crowded
with men. They had muskcts. cutlasses, cap
stan bars, Delaying pins and other weapons and
while they were making preparations they kept
up yelling and whooping which would have
done credit to Indians. Those who were to re-
main aboard defed and tlunted us and evidently
man OF us felt what people call fear as we saw
the three boats leave the brig and pull toward U.S.
but we could be forgiven for doubling whether
We had strength TO beat them off The boats
kept together. and II was evident that they meant
to board on the same side This was the better
Tor us. Our bricks and other weapons were hast
lily moved, and while were at this work the
captain stood the rail and shouted to the coolies
and warned them TO keep of. The answer to this
was shot from musket, and the bullet whstled
80 close to his head that he lost no time in getting
off the rail We that we had got to fight
and we were as ready we could be when they
laid us aboard. Fortunately for us they had no
strategy about them. but the three boats pulled
together for our bows and hooked on in a crowd
The bark had very high bulwarks, and the Chi
nese, even with their muskes. could do us no dam.
age. We had but one point to defend and a
score OF brickbats and a couple Of pals Of hot
water took the SAND out of the crowd pretty quick
In three minutes after getting under our bows
they realized that they had cut out larger Job
than they could manage, and they were we'll
scaded set as they let go and pulled to the brig
Three fifths Of the crowd had been left on board
and the failure OF the attack was greeted with
such yelis DIS mortal man never heard before
The boats were not hauled up at ALL and TIE beaten
coolies were no sooner aboard the brig than ter
twenty-five or thirty had been knock ed on the head
and flung over to the sharks About midnight
the boats were filled with men to attack us again,
but there was great iabbering and gesticulating
and the plan was finally abandoned All o'clock
the calm was broken. though the breeze which
reached us was n light one. The captain weighed
all the circumstances in his mind, no doubt and
he came to the conclusion that II was the best way
for us to continue our voyage and hope to fall in
with cruiser, The coolies set up a howl Of ven.
geance as We made sail and that we could not
have made friends with them was proved by the
fire OF musketry which they kept up until we were
out Of hearing The brig was turning round and
round on her keel when last we saw her and some
OF the fellows were alof trying loosen the sails
Thirty hours later we met II. N. s Defiance and
gave her captain the briggs bearings but ii was a
full year before learned any further particulars
After cruise Of a week the man of war found the
craft bottom up at sea, n long way from where we
left her, with never a sign Of a human being
dead or alive, in her vicinity. She had probably
been caught in squall, and rs the coolies knew
nothing Of seamanship the brig had turned turtle
and drowned them TO the last man"
GOT AFTER r. BENJAMIN ANDREWS.