The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-29

frank Norton, who had interested me in the
China sea, said we would need the Leckwith
and two ships to carry on the business to the
best advantage, so selected the Surprise. an
American brig, and the Florence, topsail
schooner both stout. fast ships. I put Loren
sen on the Leckwith as sailing-master, George
Brown on the Surprise, and old Bill Heather
on the Florence. The Surprise took on gen
era cargo for Japan and was ordered to rem
devious at Hong Kong, while the Florence
loaded for Singapore. Norton and followed in
the LeckWith
We reached Singapore more than a month
ahead Of the Florence Our scheme was to
prey on the pirates who infested the China
sea, and particularly that part of it lying be-
tween Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo which
was dotted with islands and beautifully suited
by nature to their plundering profession, and
many were the good ships that ended their
cruises there, along with their passengers and
crews. The British government had been try
Ing for years to put an end to their operations,
but the undertaking was gigantic one. 1t was
not until years after that 1t was officially an
nounced that piracy had been suppressed, and
piracy is still being carried on even to this
day, though in a small and desultory way.
The chief of large section of the Chinese
lived In a handsome home in Canton and posed
as peaceful trader
Norton argued that the pirates were bound
% keep on robbing and burning and numbering
In spite OF anything We could do and that we
could derive plenty Of excitement and large
profits by robbtng them. Incidentally, he con-
tended we would put lot of them out of bust
ness for good and all, thus contributing to the
end desired by all NATIONS.
Il was arranged that | should pose as DR.,
Burnet, rich English physician who was cruis-
Ing in his private yacht for his health The
Florence and Surprise were to carry some
Z general cargoes from to port among the
4 Islands, but were so f. cape their cruises that
we could keep clost in touch with them.
Iney were to be g large crews and so
! heavily armed as to - afe from piEatical at
sacks- the Leckwith was to do ell Of the prey
lng on the pirates and the loot we took from
hem was to be turned over to the other ships
at tne meeting-places 1t was arranged that
lae bulk Of our loot should be sent to firm of
ehlnamen at Singapore, who dealt largely in
dishonest cargoes
with the Leckwiths bunkers stuffed with
coal, we headed for the islands in search of
pirates.
our hrst experience was profitable one. When
near the hunting grounds" we lowered the
sMokestack, got up our canvas and sailed
aohg, awaiting developments. We were get
wig IN among the islands when we met big
.uaA winch had just looted and scuttled rich
" aauen Brazilian barkentine. We made a. pre-
selse 81 trying to get away, but In reality we
sassa our sheets to hasten matters along. When
sas was close astern of US, with the wind
se.sin' we luHed up, got out guns ready for
as =. ID a JHy and, as we crossed her bows,
faxed . ner fore and aft with our carronades,
Nalch We're loaded almost to the muzzle with
slugs and nails
!, taken completely by surprise and with more
aaa haf Of their number littering the red
" ueaea deck the pirates were panic-stricken.
s.elofe they could regain their senses we came
s ayou. again and gays them another broadside,
i. .lieh put them at our mercy. AS we ranged
Sopssiae Keeping up a rifle-fire. but disdain-
". - aAs iurtner use Of our guns, they managed
sa a,a couple Of boats and all who could
NJ n. .A'o Them pulled for the nearest island
n ~ stooh out OF the junk fully one hundred
,asu, dollars worth Of specie, silk, tea.
ls.ceialh and drugs, and then set fire to her.
s "a her to bury her own dead
alter that easily won victory we framed
aau y, ana sank half dozen proas and feluccas
~ ane same way, though with more spirited
ss 81 in some cases
~. nad turned our cargo over to the Flor
49, ~ elohs With number of wounded men,
~ eeie PACK among the islands, when early
~ ssehlhg fullrigged ship hove in sight.
mn. passed US, but was not more than six
aha s. a@ay When We saw flashes that told us
eo,a aaa oeen attacked, and we lost no time in
sung to her assistance.
ss,h ~ cosed In We saw Malay felncca on
n s sue OF her and the pirates swarrning on
arht a. with the crew putting up brave
hara nunnlng the Leckwith up on her star
thsr . quarter, We threw our men aboard and
rsas vent at the pirates savagely from the
~. ied the boarding party.
\ !. = Malays outnumbered us more than two
~ .s, gut We Went at them with fury that
bac. ~ y 20 them and were slowly forcing them
snss, eoWard their one good boat-we had
slamr,aa ene other one to bits when we
yacht ~. aiohgslde-when beautiful white
seat !, sa'ne tearing up on the port quarter and
Ii snsa use .. ooatloads of men to our assistance
pnsa aaIe style They clambered over the bows
sear,ns naand OF stockily built young officer
aayal What looked like the uniform Of a
sseen us 80 We hao the pirates be-
Mat .hasod later, when learned who and
asta,s We're, why these requirements
DAN !. q discouraging the Malavs caused
nsAs With renewed desperation, but