The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-06-16
A Queer Capture

as appeared later on, members Of
secret band that had sworn vengeance
OH anything British. These men mu-
tinted and, having got possession of
the brig, ran her into Shark bay, on
the northernmost island. The captain
and other officers were set afloat on
raft, unproyided with sail, water or
provisions, and no doubt they persisted
in the storm that swept over the wa
tiers next day
The leader of the half castles was
man known as Dondra. He was Il
sailor by occupation and probably as
great rutIian as could be found in all
India. When start was made from
Shark harbor a course was laid for
Geylon, and during voyage lasting
four weeks the Comet captured seven
coasting vessels. In each and every
case the crews We're put to death, the
cargocs transshipped and the craft
scuttled.
1t 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
mcn-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 to her har-
Dor of refuge when the Serpent IMAM
of-war) sighted her. 1t was during a
heavy gale, and nothing could be done
but chase. 1t was three days before
the Serpent fired gun. Just as even
ing was coming OH on the third day
and after the mutineers had refused to
surrender she crept up and fired
broadside into the brig and sent her
to the bottom 1t was supposed ut
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
boat and REACHED an island Mt the
mouth Of the gulf of Manaar. A gun
boat was sent down to make an in
yestigation and 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 AIalabar coast
under light breezes. One night in the
middle watch it fell 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 to
the east, and rs 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
af1oat III a small boat mile or SO
away. We burned flare to guide
them and heard shouts in reply, but
it was two hours before yawl crept
up TO us out of the darkness. The lit
tie craft contained five half caste Hin
docs, and they We're 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 we'll, was
that they were part of the crow of
coaster named the Emerald and while
she was making her way up the gulf
of Manaar she had been struck by Il
squall and turned turtle. They had
chung to hef 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 been
erased.
When questioned separately the sto-
ries of the men did not agree. but as
we had heard nothing about the pirates
we could not make out what the fell
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 sobcred him up. and presently
he was as humble as you please and
begging for his release. When restored
to liberty he was jealous in his duty,
and all suspicious on our part would
have been lullcd but for a discovery
made by one of the apprentices who
understood the Hindoo language.
forecastle one afternoon. the strangers
plotted to take the ship. and the lad
overheard every word and carried the
news to the captain. lie passed word
to the crew. and of Il sudden the Hin
docs We're fallen upon and made pris-
Oners.
Not three hours later the gunboat |
from Bombay boarded us to give us the
news about the pirates ;Ald ask that we
keep our eyes open for them. Great |
was the surprise of her commander to |
find that we had prisoners aboard who
answered to the description of those he |
was after.
The Hindoos saw that the game was |
mp. and one of them made confession |
Their leader was Dondra himself. and |
they had been hiding on an island in |
the gulf. Learning that their where
nbouts was known, they had put off to
sea in panic and in boat stolen from
another vessel. Two of their number
had been stabbed to death during a
quarrel and their bodies thrown over
hoard. The five survivors intended TO