The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-18
BUNKER HILL AFLOAT.
BY M. QUAD.


| The good ship Ranger had been char
tered by the Chinese government to
carry 100000 in silver from Foo-Chow
to Japan. and her crew of fourteen
| Americans were reinforced by thirty
| Chinese soldiers, and two heavy cannon
were mounted on our decks to bid de-
| f1ance tO pirates.
/ On the morning of cur second day
| out, which happened to be on the Sd Of
! July, we found a suspicious locking
| junk bearing down on us from the west.
She ran down to within mile of US,
apparently established our identity to
her satisfaction, and then laid her
course parallel with ours AS we had
| a light breeze all day, rhe junk held ee-
own, and just at Sun1Own TWO mere
craft of ner size came down on us from
the lee of the Chin Chin Islands. Word
must have been sent on at least three
days ahead of us that we were treas
ure ship.
junks a mile to windward, and each
of them held it's position through the
| long hours. We could have gone off
to leeward and made stern chase Of
it. or we could have turned and hoped
that they would not dare to follow.
mo, I'll be hanged if [ 1o!'' shouted
Captain White, when the crew gather
ed aft and asked him if ne should take
that course. I'm bound foT japan un-
der charter, and if there were six junks
instead of three I wouldn't vary a point
from my course. Durn an American
who'll run away from anything. They
won't attack till morning, and tomor-
row is the glorious Fourth Wen dress
the ship and then dress the pirates
We would have daylight at 4 o'clock.
and wnen the first signs of dawn came
stealing over the waters there was
wind enough to do with the Ranger rs
we saw fiji.
Every flag we had aboard, no mat
ter what the nationality, was hoisted.
a ND n
was ordered to make other flags of
the cabin sheets ana table cloths, and
every blue or red shirt IN the mems
chests was likewise converted into
The old craft must nave had a queer
look to the pirates. and when she het-
aided the day with a salute of cannon
and small arms, followed by three
rousing cheers the fellows must have
wondered what sort of II mena gcrie
they had been following during the
night. The cook had breakfast at opCe
and by sunrise we were waiting FOR a
move on the part Of the junl1s. Then
the native officer was sent for and Cap
tain White asked:
We'll, are you going to fight?'
eff not too many come" was the re-
@Too many, you slab-sided son OF a
gun! What difference does it make
to us how many there are? Tro. out
your gang while give them a word or
two.
The Chinese soldiers came shufflIHg
forward and one glance was enough
to show that they had no heart for
fight.
You miserable. cowardly trash.
shouted the captain, as he caught one
of the gang and lifted him off his feet
and cracked his neels together. Now
then. are you going to help us? Wake
up here and listen to me! You'll either
fight like devils or we'll chuck you
overheard to the sharks. Mates, take
hold here and help me to kick some grit
into their cowardly hearts,
It was the funniest scene ever wit
messed before 4 battle. For ten min
utes we booted The ,oldiers UP and
down the decks WIZ the crew laugh
ing and cheering, and we ceased kick
ing only when they promised to do
their full duty. They feared our boot
toes more than the cannon of the jCnks.