The Southern herald., 1912-07-05


and that was what was looking for.
Frank Norton who had interested me in the
rhlna sea. said we would need the Leckwith
and two ships to carry on the business to the
mast advantage so selected the Surprise, an
American brig. and the Florence, a topsail
schooner both stout fast ships. l 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
eral 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 1t lying be-
tween Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo, which
was dotted with islands and beautifully suited
By nature to their plundering profession, and
many we're 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 It was officially an
nouneed 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 a large section Of the Chinese
pirates was old Moy Sen. rich Chinaman who
lived In a handsome home in Canton and posed
as peaceful trader.
Norton argued that the pirates were bound
70 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 robbing them. Incidentally he con-
tended we would put lot of them out Of busi-
ness for good and all, thus contributing to the
end desired by all nations
It was arranged that l should pose as DR..
Burnet, rich English physician who was cruis-
ing in his private yacht for his health. The
Florence and Surprise we're to carry some
general cargoes from port to port among the
islands, but were so to shape their cruises that
we could keep closely in touch with them
They were to be given large crews and 80
heavily armed as to be safe from piratical at
tacks The Leckwith was to do all Of the prey
ing on the pirates, and the loot we took from
them was to be turned over to the other ships
at the meetlng.places 1t was arranged that
the bulk Of our loot should be sent to firm OF
Cinnamon at Singapore, who dealt largely In
dishonest cargoes.
With the Leckwith's bunkers stuffed with
coal, we headed for the islands In search oil
pirates.
Our first experience was profitable one When
near the hunting grounds" We lowered the
smokestack, got up our canvas and sailed
along, awaiting Developments We were get
ting in among the islands when We met big
Junk which had Just looted and scuttled rich
iy laden Brazilian barkentine. We made pre-
tense Of trying to get away, but In reality we
tased our sheets to hasten matters along When
she was close astern Of us, with the wind
abeam, we luffed up, got out guns ready fol
action in a jiffy and, as we crossed her bows
raked her fore and aft with our carronades
which were loaded almost to the muzze witt
shgs and nails.
Taken completely by surprise and with mor'
than half Of their number littering the red
dened deck, the pirates were panic-stricken
Before they could regain their senses we CAM
about again and gave them another hroadside
which put them at our mercy. AS We range
alongside, keeping up a rife-fre, but disdain
Ing any further use Of our guns, they manage
to launch couple of boats and all who coul
get into them pulled for the nearest lslano
We took out Of the junk fully one hundre
thousand dollars worth Of specie, silk, tel
porcelain and drugs, and then set fire to hel
leaving her to bury her own dead.
After that easily won victory we trappe
and and sank half dozen proas and felucca
IN the same way, though with more spirlIe
resistance In some cases.
We had turned our cargo over to the FLO
ence, along with number Of wounded mel
and were back among the islands, when ear
one evening full-rigged ship hove in sign
She passed us,-but was not more than 81
miles away when we saw flashes that told '
she had been attacked, and We lost no time
going to her assistance.
AS we closed In we saw Malay felucca
each side Of her and the pirates swarming
her decks, with the crew putting up pray
night Running the Leckwith up on her sta
board quarter, we threw our men aboard al
they went at the pirates savagely from u
rear led the boarding party.
The Malays outnumbered US more than "
to one, but we went at them with fury tn
was new to them and were slowly forcing the
back toward their one good boat-we nj
smashed the other one to bits when
slammed alongside-when beautiful Wni
yacht came tearing up on the port quarter a.
sent three boatloads Of men to our asslstan
In smart style. They clambered over the boz
under command of stockilt built young ono
Wearing what looked like the uniform OF
naval captain, and we had the pirates
tween us.
understood later, when learned who
Ehat they were, why these reinforcement
instead Of discouraging the Malays, caus
them to fight with renewed desperation,