Evening star., 1900-06-23
FreAI>AT QUALLAH-BATToo
THE AMERICAN NAvY's ENGAGE
MENT WITH MALAYs.
Force Aboard the United States FRI
rage-A Long Voyage.

| The battle of Manila was not the first in
| which our navy ;engaged in eastern waters.
| AS long ago as February g. 1892. the battle
| Of Quallah-Battoo, Suslatra was fought be-
| tween a force of $50 men from the United
| States frigate Potomac and the piratical
| Malays of that place, resulting In a loss OF
| over 15Omen the destruction of five forts Of
| the ruling rajahs and the capture of colors.
arms. etc.-a severe chastisement Of the
| pirates for attacking and looting the Amer
| lean ship Friendship a year before. The
Potomac's loss was two killed and eleven
wounded.
In the pepper trade with the west coast
Salem was the pioneer. he having in 1913
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 reef in the
West Indies. On returning to Salem the
owners of the vessel were informed by
Captain Carnes of the new channel OF
trade vessel of $50 tons, called the
making his way to the forts in the northern
part of the island. where he secured a cargo
which, on arrival at Salem, was sold at 100
per cent profit.
There was much secrecy upon the part
of Captain Carnes and the owners of the
vessel as to where he procured his cargo.
but IN a 1eW years THE secret was out. OCE-
ers followed in his wake and the trade in
creased.
An Unknown Coast.
The western coast of Sumatra was at
the time comparatively unknown and the
numerous islands and coral reefs made nav
igation extremely hazardous. and the
natives (Malays) being given to pi-
racy and plunder it required just
such ventursome spirit Is
th, in
the trade. Such were the profits that num-
bers of vessels. mostly frcm Sa.em. en-
gagged in it, others being deferred by the
savage nature Of the Malays and the re-
ports of pratical attacks made in that
quarter. Some of the returning vessels
would report prosperous voyage and
shortly after there would be news of an out
rage committed.
February o. 1881. the Friendship of Salem
Capt. C. NJ. Endlcott. when taking a cargo
of pepper at Quallah- -Battoo. was seized by
the natives. who killed the chief officer.
Charles Knight, and John Davis and Geo.
Chester Seamen. and wounded three other
seamen. seized and looted the vessel and
took possession. Capt. End.cott, with his
second officer and two seamen. were ashore.
and when they saw the natives aboard they
escaped from the shore and rowed toward
the ship when the pirates fired upon them.
Capt Endicott rowed away for help hav
ing with him friendly Malay. and find
ing three vessels at Mucker returned and
opened fire the Maays on the Friend
ship The looters deserted the vessel In
| which the lawful owners set cut for Salem.
The United States frigate Potomac built
at the Washington navy yard in 1S19-21.
was still there in the early part of 1881
when she selected to relieve the
Guerrere on the west coast OF South Amer
lea, ana fitted out for that purpose. her
armament being fOrtN-four guns. with JtD
officers and men. under Commodore John
Downes. She was visited by President
Jackson, Secretary of the Navy Woodbury.
and OF hers bpfITIi ShtT W off
boro, May 81. where other stores We're
placed aboard. Owing to her draft her
sea stores we. e. rot all shipped till she
reached Norfolk, whittier she was towed by
two steamboats,. While in Hampton Roads
general Instructions were given her COM
mander by the Secretary of the Navy to
| proceed to New Fork by August and re-
ceive Martin Van Bnren. the minister to
England. with his suite. and convey him 20
some port on the British channel, and then
proceed to the Pa cifc Before her arrival
in New York. puly 81, Information had been
received of the Ratach ibn the Friendship =,
Sumatra. causing much excitement In the
country. and public sentiment was unani-
nous in CALLING f''r speedy-'red-ess, The Po-
torlac was Ge signateI forsthat service
Mr.. Van Buren felinquished his purpose
| of taking passagei in the vessel for Eng
| land that the frfgate might proceed at once
| to punish the pirates. Commodore Downes
was thereupon ordered to proceed to Su-
matra. ascertain If the Information receiv-
| ed was correct. and If so demand of the
| rajah or other authorities of Quallah-Bat-
| too restitution of the property and indem-
| nifty and the immediate punishment of
those concerned In the murders. If COM
! pliance was delayed beyond reasOnable
| time Commodore Dewnes was directed to
Flndicate the wrongs committed by cutting
| off opportunity to escape while making de-
mand and to seize the murdcrers and send
| them to the United States for trial as
| pirates; to recover the stolen property: de-
| stroy the boats and vessels engaged in the
| piracy and the forts and dwellings near
| the scene used for shelter and defense and
| give the population to understand that If
! full restitution was not made and forbear-
ance exercised thereafter other ships of
| war would be dispatched to inflict ample
| punishment. Under these orders the Poto-
mac sailed on August 26.
The Ships Officers.
| When the frgate left New York she had
aboard Commodore John Downes, Lieuts
| Irvine Shubrick, S. B. Wilson, Reuben R.
Pinkham, Henry Hoff and Jonathan Inger-
soil. Surgeon Samuel Jackson, Commodore's
| Secretary n. X. G. Oliver. Sailing Master
John Barry. Chaplain John w. Grier, Pur-
| ser w. A. Slacum. Assistant Surgeons ].
NJ. Fatty and H. D. Pawling. Passed Mid
shpmen II. Tooy. jr., and Sylvanus Co
den ,,sn Midshipmen Mid F p Hoban; W. May,
George Sinclair, H. C. Hart. j. H. Poprle
ton. w. 7. Cooke, James l.. Parker. c. w.
Morris. G. NJ. Totten. Charles Hunter, Jas.
| ID. 1-t"is W. NldtbDIilt, EuStile IDpS IL anu
| Levi Lincoln. Masters Mate Chas. De
SEEDING. Schoolmaster F. Warrener. Cap
tain's Clerk Erskne Stansbury, Boatswain
John McNelly, Gunner John r. Covington
| Carpenter w. E. Sheffield, Sailmaker
Christian Nelson, marine officers, Iieuts.
Alvin Edison and George Fl. Terrett.
Sailing Master B. J. Totten, Assistant
Surgeon Cornelius Moore and Midshipmen
w. p. Taylor, ]. c. Walshe and A. B.
Davis We're also aboard. en- route to join
the Dolphin. Included were forty-two ma
rines and twenty eight boys. Numbers OF
her officers and crew were well known in
the District, some Of them being natives
of the city. and not few were taking their
first lessons In the navy and In after life
were distinguished. Among the midship-
| men were c. w. Morris. afterward COM
| modore; Charles Hunter and Eugene Boyle
of this city. who as lieutenants distin-
| guished themselves in the Mexican war;
Masters Mate Charles De Selding, Boat
swain McNelly, Gunner Covington and
Lieutenant Terrett with Joseph Carroll.
James Beans. Thomas Koockegy. Charles
| Brandt. Henry bavyal Lewis Stenchcomb,
Robert Hamilton John Robinson. Thomas
Walsh. W. Baxter. Nelson Moulder, John
Simonds, Joseph Newman. James Dries
dale. John Benson, F'.oFuss. Thomas Jones,
L. r. Ellis. P. Cafteret, James Dobbins, D.
Ridgway and w. Jones, all Washington
| boys: Casper Enders was the leader Of the
band of the friRate 30