The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-21
ONE OF OUR
EARLY WARS
The Famous Fight at
QuaIlah-Battoo.
YANKEE TARS AND MALAYS
Force Aboard the United States
Frigate Potomac Ayenges
an Outrage.

an outrage
The battle Of Manila was not the first
In which our navy engaged In Eastern
waters. AS long ago as February 6. 1s52.
the battle OF Quallah-Battoo. sumatra.
was fought between force OF go men
from the United states frigate Potomac
and the piratical Malays Of that place.
resulting In a loss OF over $50 men. the
destruction Of five forts OF the ruling ra-
jahs and the capture Of coiors. arms. etc.
"a severe chastisement Of the pirates for
attacking and looting the American ship
Friendship year before. The Potomacs
loss was two killed and eleven wounded.
In the pepper trade with the west coast
% Sumatra Captain Jonathan Carnes Of
salem was the pioneer, he having in 1928
sailed IN a schooner for that island and
procured at Pedang cargo of pepper.
which he was so unfortunate as TO lose
by the wrecking OF his vessel on a reef
In the West Indies. ON returning TO Sa-
lem the owners OF the vessel were in
formed by Captain Carnes of the new
channel Of trade. A vessel OF 80 tons,
called the Rajah. being built. he return
ed In 1876, making his way TO the forts
In the northern part Of the island. where
n
salem, was sold az 200 per cent profit
There was much secrecy upon the part
OF Captain Carnes and the owners of the
vessel "a to where he procured his cargo.
but In a few years the secret was out,
others followed In his wake and the
trade Increased.
AN UNKNOWN COAST.
The western coast of sumatra was at
the tine comparatively unknown and the
f. a..
navigation extremely hazardous, and the
natives (Malays) being given to piracy
and plumber u required just such ven
turesome spirit az II found In the Ameri-
can sailor 20 engage in the trade. Such
were the profits that numbers OF vessels,
mostly from Salem. engaged In II. others
being deferred by the savage nature OF
the MaIays and the reports OF piratical
attacks made In that quarter. Some of
the returning vessels would report
prosperous voyage and shortly after there
would be news OF an outrage committed.
February O. 1891. the Friendship of Sa-
lem, Capt. G. 81. Endlcott, when taking
a cargo OF pepper at Qualiah-Battoo, was
seized by the natives. who killed the chief
officer, Charles knight. and John DpVis
and George Chester. seamen, and wound
ed three other, seamen. seized and looted
the vessel and took possession. Capt. En-
dicott. with his second officer and two
seamon. were ashore. and when they saw
the natives aboard they escaped from the
shore and rowed toward the ship. when
the pirates fred upon them. Capt. En-
dicott rowed away for help. having with
him one friendly Malay, and finding three
vessels at Mucker returned and opened
FIRE on the Malays on the Friendship. The
hooters deserted the vessel. In which the
lawful owners set out for Salem.
The United States frigate Potomac.
built at the Washington navy yard In 1873
"a. was still there In the early part or
1884. when she was selected TO relieve the
Gusrriere on the west coast OF South
America, and was fitted out for that pur-
pose. her armament being forty-four guns.
with 600 officers and men. under Commo-
dore John Downes. She was visited by
President Jackson, Secretary of the Navy
Woodbury. and others before she was tow
ed on Giesboro. May 81, where other
stores were placed aboard. owing TO her
draft her sea stores were not all shipped
TN she reached Norfolk. whittier she was
lowed by two steamboats,. While In
Hampton Roads general instructions were
given her commander by the Secretary OF
the Navy TO proceed TO New York by
August 1 and receive Martin Van Buren,.
the Minister TO England, with his suite,
and convey him 20 some port on the Brit
ish channel. and then proceed TO the Pa
cinc. Before her arrival In New York.
July "a. Information had been received OF
the attack on the Friendship In Suma-
\ ira. causing much excitement I'm the
country. and public sentiment was unani-
nous In calling for speedy redress. The
I Potomac was designated for that SER
vice.
\ AR. Van Buren, rellnquished his pur-
| pose Of taking passage In the vessel for
\ England that the frigate might proceed
10 Sumatra. ascertain u the Information
received was correct. and II so demand
Of the rajah or other authorities of Quail
Iah- Battoo restitution OF the property and
indemnity and the immediate punishment
Of those concerned In the murders. II
compliance was delayed beyond reason.
able time Commodore Downes was direct
cd 20 vindicate the wrongs committed up
I cutting OF opportunity to escape while
making demand and 70 seize the murder
ers and send them TO the United States
for trial as pirates; to recover the stoleI
property. destroy the boats and vessel
engaged IN the piracy and the forts an,
dwellings near the scene used for shelte
and defense and give the population q
understand that II full restitution was no
made and forbearance exercised thereaft
or other ships OF war would be dispatched
90 infict ample punishment. Under thes
orders the Potomac sailed on August 26
THE SHIPS OFFICERS.
when the frigate left New York she ha
aboard Commodore John Downes. Lieuts
Irvine Shubrick. s. Is. Wilson, Reuben II
Pinkhana. Henry Hon and Jonathan In
gersoli. Surgeon Samuel Jackson. Com
modore's Secretary N. X G.. oliver, Sail
Ing Master John Barry. Chaplain job
w. Grier. Purser W. A. Slacum, Assist
ant Surgeons J. NJ. Fatty and III. ID. Paw
irg. Passed MIdshipmen III. Tooly. Jr
sad Syivanus OGDEN. Midshipmen +. T
4 Hoban. w. May. Allen McLane. j. q
Stanley. J. w. Taylor. George Sinclair
N. G. Hart, J. N. Poppleton. w. T. Cook
James T.. Parker, G. W. Morris, q. y
Totten. Charles Hunter. James Il. Levi
NJ. Claiborne, Eugene Boyle and Lee
IIorofp Naater'a Mafa Chaa ne Geidfni