Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-30
DAILY SHORT STORY

A QUEER CAPTURE

steamer Comet left Bombay 10 reSur-
vey the Maldive islands
The Comet had shipped ten new men
before starting out, all half castles and,
as appeared later on, members or
secret band that had sworn vengeance
on 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 atiDat on
raft, unprovided 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
sailor by occupation and probably as
great a Futfian as could be found in all
India. When a start was made from
Shark harbOr Il 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.
1t was piracy after the old style. ex-
NCpI NAAiA lAiC bll hlI NV NAdiC 1T
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 TO her har-
Dor Of refuge when the Serpent oman
of-war) sighted her 1t was during Il
heavy gale, and nothing could be done
but chase. 1t was three days before
the Serpent fired a 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
10 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 at the
mouth Of the gulf of Manaar. a gun
boat was sent down TO make an in
vestigation 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 Malabar coast
under light breezes. one night in the
middle watch il 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 as no vessel had been
sighted in that direction he was mys-
titled. As the noises continued the
mate awoke the captain. and il was
finally decided that there were men
aflOat in a 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 a yawI crept
up to us 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 a
coaster named the Emerald and while
she was making her way up the gulf
Of Manaar she had been struck by
sQuall and turned turtle. They had
chung 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 afioat 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 10 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 and
begging for his release. When restored
to liberty he was jealous in his duty,
and all suspicious on our part would
have been luIIed but for a discovery
made by one OF the apprentices who
the HindOO language.
Thinking themselves alone in the
forecastle one afternoon, the strangers
plotted 70 take the ship. and the lad
overheard every word and carried the
news to the captain. He passed word
TO the crew. and OF sudden the Hin
docs were fallen upon and made pris-
oners.
Not three hours later the gunbOat
from Bombay boarded US to give us the !
news about the pirates and 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 /
up, and one Of them made a confession. |
Their leader was Dondra himself, and
they had been hiding on an island in
the gulf. Learning that their where
abouts was known. they had put off to
sea in a panic and IN boat stolen from
another vessel. Two OF their number
had been stabbed TO death during