The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-07

Ono night, when the brig was hall way
across to the Galapagos, 600 miles from
Ecuador, the peon, who was on deck asleep;
was suddenly seized, pitched down into the
fo'castle, and the scuttle closed. Here he
was left alone till dawn and then ordered
on deck, aft.
The captain pointed q pistol at his head
and threatened to shoot him dead II he ever
spoke Of what had happened in the night.
The man promised to be secret and was
paid $50 and put in the mates watch.
He saw numerous blood stains On the
after deck and soon afterward was told by n
OF the hands hat all the four passengers
had been murdered and thrown overheard.
The captain, mate and crew. II appeared,
had first made ready a boat, provisioned
and lowered IL.
They made some noise which aroused the
male passengers, one Of whom came on
deck to see what was the matter. He
was at once seized, but being a powerful
mar made a most determined fight.
His friend rushed up from below with a
revolver in his hand and shot two OF the
assailants dead and wounded the mate.
But they were assailed on all sides, shot
at and struck with various weapons and
NAACh " ONCADOuAN w AAO"hs
Then the pirates, after a hurried con-
sultation, went below, and forcing open
the girls' cabin door ruthlessly shot them,
carried them on deck and cast them over
the side. 1t had been their intention to
send all four away in the boat, but the
resistance made &c enraged them that
they murdered them instead.
For some days the pirates kept on a due
west course toward the Galapagos. A
barrel Of spirits was preached and night
and day captain and crew were drunk,
When Albemarle Island was sighted
every one except the peon end a Chileno
boy was more or less int A boat
had been lowered and was towing astern'
for what purpose the peon did not know.
At night it fell a dead calm and a strong
current set the brig dangerously close in
shore. The captain ordered some oil the
hands into the boat to TOW the brig out
Of danger. They refused, and shots were
exchanged, but after a while peace was
restored.
The peon and the Chileno boy were then
told to get into the boat and bale her. as
she was leaky. They did so, and while
30 engaged a squall struck the brig and
the boats towline either parted or was
purposely EAST of.
When the squall cleared the peon and
the boy in the drifting boat could see
nothing whatever Of the drifting brig
she had probably Capsized-and the two
o after daylight found themselves
so close to the breakers OF Marlborough
Island that they were unable to pull her
cloar, she being a very heavy boat. She
o struck, and rolled over and over, and
the Chileno boy drowned. The peon ais
received internal injuries. but managed
to reach the shore.
The people on board the Revels did all
they could for the poor fellow, but he only
survived a few days.
In another article Of this series l ave told
Of my f~ruitless efforts to induce some OF the
Book Island cannibals to recruit with me. 1t
was on that voyage l first saw a party Of
New Guinea head hunting pirates, and l
shall never forget the experience.
l. After leaving Rock Island we stood over
to the coast Of German New Guinea and
sailed along it for 800 miles to the Dutch
boundary longitude II east of Greenwich).
for I was in hopes OF getting a full cargo OF
blackbirds from some Of the many islands
which stud the coast. No other labor ship
nAQ ever DtCu 30 lhA hOAbht ohN NAOACt NAO
skipper, and l were keenly anxious to find
q new ground.
We had a fine vessel, with a high free
board, a well armed and splendid crew and
had no fear Of being cut on by the natives.
I may here mention that | was g~rievousiy
disappointed, for owing to the lack OF a
competent interpreter l failed to get a single
recruit. But in other respects the voyage
was a success, for 1 did some very satisfac-
tory trading business.
After visiting many Of the islands we
anchored in what is now named in the
German charts Krauel Bay, on the main
land. There were a few scattered villages
on the shore and some Of the natives boarded
us. They were all well armed with their
usual weapons, but were very shy, distrust-
full and nervous.
Early one morning five large canoes ap-
peared in the oflng, evidently having come
from the Schouten Islands group. about
ten miles to the eastward. The moment
they were seen by the natives on shore the
villages were abandoned and the people
hed into the bush.
In a most gallant style the five canoes
came straight into the bay and brought to
within a few hundred fathoms OF our ship;
and the first thing We noticed were a num-
Der Of heads hanging over the sides Of each
craft as boat Tenders are hung over the
9lnwales Of a man Of war cutter. This was
Intended to impress the white men.
We certainly we're impressed, but were yet
quite ready to make short work Of our
visitors IL they attempted mischief. Our
ships high freeboard alone would nave
made il very difficult for them to rush US,
and the crew were so we'll armed that, al
though we numbered but twenty-eight, we
could have wiped out 500 possible a~ssailants
with ease had they attempted to board
and capture the ship.
Some Of the leaders Of this party Of pirates
came on board our vessel, and Morel and I
soon established very friendly relations
with them. They told US that they had been
two months out from their own territory
in Dutch New Guinea, had raided over
thirty villages, had taken 215 heads and
were now returning home well satisfied.
Morel and l went on board one Of the great
canoes and were received in 9 very friendly
n and shown many heads, some
partly dried, some fresh.
These head hunting pirates were not can
nibals, and behaved in an extremely decor
Gus manner when they visited our ship. A