The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-10
FIGHT WITH PIRATES
Sailors of Stranded Steamer
RepulSe Attack of MOOrS.
MAN-O'-WAR TO THE RESCUE
''CrniEhhII" Arrives in New York
HarbOr Bearing Marks of Bullets
and Robbers Carried Most of
Crews Effects To the shore.

New York. March 9.-After one Of the
most thrilling experiences that have be-
fallen ship since the days when the
bold buccaneers roamed-. the Spanish
Main, the steamship CraighiH, of the
West Scotland line. has arrived here.
A dozen bullet marks on hull and fun
mel tell the story Of fierce hand-to-hand
fight with Moorish pirates ia the Med
iterranean Sea, which came to an end
when British torpedo boat and cruiser
went 10 the rescue.
The Craighall ran aground off the
Morocco coast. and for three days lay at
the mercy of 2o0 buccaneers. who drove
the crew below and attempted to carry
off her cargo.
we were two weeks out OF Cardiff,
bound for Italy with cargo Of coal
said Chief Officer Edward Ferguson to
day. Just before we reached the Straits
of Gibraltar d heavy fog shut IN and the
wind fell to a dead calm. As the after
noon wore on the fog thickened so that
il was impossible for ne to see the bow
lights of the ship from the bridge.
struck Reef i'm Fog.
I've were steering by dead reckoning.
and both Capt John Low and myself
thought we were holding to the center Of
the narrow channel We had slowed
down TO five knots, and this probably
caused the trouble A terrific current
was running through the strait, and un-
der our low speed it carried Us well up
on the Morocco coast
AT midnight the captain went below
and / came on deck for the late watch
I stationed extra lookouts forward. but
they could not see ships length ahead
Two hours later all hands were knocked
off their feet by the force Of a terrific
impact.
THE engines were instantly stopped
I rushed to the rail and could make out
"a dim outline to starboard that looked
like land We had run on a reef close
under the Morocco shore.
Armed Pirates BOARD Vessel
There was nothing to do but wait for
daylight As the sun rose, clearing the
fog. a dozen long low boats put out from
the shore. They were proas and bristled
with armed men. In a moment they
were alongside the steamer, and 200 dark
skinned Moors, armed with huge curved
knives and Mauser rifles, swarmed over
the sides Of the ship. The crew of thir-
ty-two men were paHic-stricken and fled
forward.
I'VE were not armed, but Capt Low
stepped forward and demanded Of huge
Moor, who appeared TO be the chief, what
he wanted. The rest of the pirates stood
along the rail with cleaning knives in
their hands.
The pirate chief advanced with an
Interpreter. and said that God had sent
the steamer on the rocks as a gift TO thu
Moors for their devotion. He said they
intended removing her cargo and taking
the crew into captivity as slaves You
can imagine what 'our feelings were.
There was nothing to do. however. None
Of us had arms, and we were resigned to
our fate
MOOrS OVerrun Vessel.
we went below and the Moors over
ran the vessel When they discovered
that she carried a cargo Of coal they
were greatly disappointed, for they had
expected a rich loot OF merchandise.
While we were below an aged Moor
appeared and advised us TO let him send
friendly native messenger to CeUta. and
thence to Gibraltar, for aid He said our
lives were in danger, and that unless a
British man-o'-war arrived soon we would
never see our own country.
Impressed by the friendly act of the
man, the captain signifed his willingness
and a messenger was dispatched. From
Ceuta the authorities sent a wireless mes
sage to Gibraltar, and the British salvage
ship was ordered TO our rescue. She ar
rived in a few hours.
In the meantime the MoOrs were help
ing themselves to the contents of our
larder, and whatever else of value they
could lay their hands on. Then most %
them went ashore, and Capt. Low real
lied that our only chance Of escape. il the
man-of-war failed us, was to get the ship
OF the rocks at once.
Let BuIIets Fly.
"The crew came up the companion
ways, and we backed the engines, in hope
Of slipping the vessel from the reef. But
we were closely watched from the shore.
n an instant ] saw hundreds OF Noors
running down the hills They put out
in their boats. and at the same time
opened a hot FIRE with their rifles
IN the meantime those who were on
the ship drew their knives and drove the
crew below again. The firing continued
for twenty minutes, but no one was IN
jured.
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