The Opelousas courier., 1900-04-21

sea. The idea was appalling, not only
on account of the great height, but
those wicked dorsal fins were cutting
the water about the brig in a way to
make us shiver. The moment finally
came when the first sailor dropped
from the end of q yard, and he was
speedily followed by his companions.
Each struck the water with an awful
splash, went ont of sight, and nothing
further was seen Of them. II they
were stunned by the fall 30 much the
better.
1t was about II 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 muskets, cut
l~asses, capstan-bars, Delaying pins
and other weapons, and while they
were making preparations they kept
up a yelling and whooping which
would have done credit to Indians.
Those who were to remain aboard
detied and tainted us and evidently
considered US certain victims. I don't
think any man of us felt what people
call fear as we saw the thres boats
leave the brig and pull toward us, but
we could be forgiven for doubling
whether we had strength to beat them
of. The boats kept together, and it
was evident that they meant to board
On the same side. This was the better
for us. Our bricks and other weapons
were hastily moved, and while we we're
at this work the captain stood on the
rail and shouted to the coolies and
warned them tokeep of. The answer
to this was a shot from a musket, and
the bullet whistled SO close to his
head that he lost no time in getting
off the rail. We saw that we had got
to fight, and we were as ready as we
could be when they laid us aboard.
Fortunately for US they had no STRAIT
egg 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 Chinese,
even with their muskets, could do us
no damage. We had but one point to
defend, and o score OF brickbats and q
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 a larger job than they could
manage, and they we're g w~ell-scalded
set as they let go and pulled to the
brig.
Thres-ifths of the crowd had been
left on board, and the failure of the
attack was greeted with such yells as
mortal man never heard before. The
boats were not hauled up at all, and
beaten coolies were no sooner
aboard the brig than a terrific fight
took place, which did not stop until 25
80 had been knocked 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,
the plan was finally abandoned.
1t l o'clock the calm was broken,
the breeze which reached us
vas a light one The captain weighed
Ill the circumstances in his mind, no
loubt, and he came to the conclusion
hat it was the best way for us to con-
inue II voyage and hope to fall in
With q cruiser. The coolies set up O
lowl of vengeance as we made sail,
nd that We could not have made i
with them was proved by the /,
ire of musketry which they kept up j
.ntil We were ont of hearing. The .
rig was turning round and round
her keel when last We saw her, aud
ONE of the fellows were aloft trying
D loosen the sails. Thirty hours
tier We met H. NJ. s. Defiance, and {
ave her captain the briggs bearings,
ut it was a full year before I learned 9
ny further particulars. After q cruise
t a week the man-of-war found the Z
'aft bottom up at sea, a long way 4
ON where we left her, with never a
of a human being, dead or alive,
her vicinity. She had probably
cen caught in q squall, and as the
knew nothing of seamanship
le brig had turned turtle and
rowned them to the last man. .
ew York Sun. :