Evening journal., 1905-04-10
A Queer Capture
[copyrlght. lg0s. by 7. c. Meclure.l

ltlo neat Nd1s
The leader Of the half castes was
man known as Dondra. He was a
sailor by occupation and probably as
great q rufiian as could be found IN all
India. When a start was made from
Shark harbor a course was laid for
Ceylon. and during a voyage lasting
four weeks the Comet captured seven
coasting vessels. In each and every
case the crews were put TO death. the
cargoes transshipped and the craft
scuttled.
II was piracy after the old style. ex-
cept that the brig did not dare at
tack larger vessels. Her acts finally
reached the ears OF the authorities, and
men-of-war started from Bombay and
Calcutta to overhaul her.
After sailing part Of the way up the
coast Of Ceylon the Comet put about,
and she was halfway back 70 her har-
Dor Of refuge when the Serpent (man-
of-war) sighted her. Il was during a
heavy gale, and nothing could be done
but chase. IL was three days before
the Serpent fred gun Just as even
ing was coming on on the third day
and after the mutineers had refused TO
surrender she crept up and fired a
broadside into the brig and sent her
TO the bottom. II was supposed at
the time that everybody aboard was
drowned. but two months later news
reached Bombay that Dondra and four
other half castles had got away in a
boat and reached an island at the
mouth OF the gulf of Manaar A gun
boat was sent down TO make an in
vestigatiOn and a reward Of $1,000
offered for the five men.
In the month Of September Of the
year mentioned the bark Southland
bound from Liverpool TO Bombay. was
making her way up the Malabar coast
under light breezes. One night IN the
middle watch It fell a dead calm, and
this state OF weather continued all
next day and night At midnight on
the second night the officer of the deck
heard faint shouting and singing 10
the east and as no vessel had been
sighted in that direction he was mys-
titled As the noises continued the
mate awoke the captain. and it was
finally decided that there were men
ahoat in n small boat a mile or so
away. We burned a flare TO guide
them and heard shouts in reply, but
It was two hours before yawl crept
up TO MS out of the darkness. The lit
tie craft contained five half caste Hin
docs. and they were suffering terribly
for the want of food and water. There
was but one oar and no sail.
The story told by the men, all OF
whom spoke English fairly well, was
that they were part Of the crew OF q
coaster named the Emerald and while
she was making her way up the gull
Of Manaar she had been struck by O
squall and turned turtle They had
clung TO her bottom for several hours
but had finally managed to loosen the
boat and drift out TO sea. They claim
ed to have been afloat for three days
We had no room TO stow their boat
and it was cast adrift. but not before
we had seen that her name had beer
erased.
When questioned separately the sto
rles Of the men did not agree, but az
we had heard nothing about the pirates
we could not make out what the fel
lows had been up to. Their leader was
an impudent swaggerer, who would
not promise to do any work In return
for his passage TO Bombay, and he had
not been aboard two days when the
captain ordered him into irons. This
action sobered him up, and presently
he was as humble as you please ant
begging for his release. When restored
to liberty he was Jealous in his duty
and all suspicious on our part would
have been lulled but for a discovery
made by one Of the apprentices wh'
understood the Hindoo language.
Thinking themselves alone in thI
forecastle one afternoon. the stranger
plotted to take the ship. and the Lac
overheard every word and carried thi
news to the captain. He passed wore
to the crew, and Of a sudden the Hin
docs were fallen upon and made pris
oners.
Not three hours later the gunboa
from Bombay boarded us TO give us tn
news about the pirates and ask that w
keep our eyes open for them. Grea
was the surprise Of her commander q
find that we had prisoners aboard VIII
answered to the description of those h.
was after
The Hindoos saw that the game wa
up, and one Of them made a confession
Their leader was Dondra himself, ant
they had been hiding on an island Il
the gulf. Learning that theis where
abouts was known, they had put oT &
sea in panic and in a boat stolen iron
another vessel. Two OF their numbe
had been stabbed to death during
quarrel and their bodies thrown over
board. The FIVE survivors intended Z
fall upon our crew Of eleven men an
murder us all.
OF course the men were surrcnderc
to the gunboat and upon being take
to Bombay proof sufficient to- han
them was easily obtained. and withl
three months Of their boarding us 4
midocean they were dangling at III
ends Of h9ngmans ropes. We had don
little or nothing 10 bring about thei
capture, but the government OF Indi
> paid us the reward and added Il
] thanks to the money. NJ. QUAD.
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