The Red Cloud chief., 1913-02-20

Woru piracy Ia adventure OF the first order,
and that was what was looking for.
FRANK Norton, who had Interested me I'm the
CHINA sea. said we would need the Leckwith
ana two ships to carry on the business to the
best advantage. so selected the Surprise. an
american brig. and the Florence a topsail
schooner, both stout fast ships | put Loren.
sen on the Leckwith as sailing.maste George
brown on the Surprise, and old Bill Heather
on the Florence. The Surprise took on n gen.
erai cargo for Japan and was ordered to rem.
devious at Hong Kong, while the Florence
ioaded FOR Singapore. Norton and followed in
the Leckwi,h
We reached Singapore more than month
ahead Of the Florence Our scheme was IN
prey on the pirates who infested the China
sea' ana particularly that part of Il lying be-
tween singapore, Sumatra and Borneo which
was dotted with Islands and beautifully suited
py nature to their plundering profession. and
mehy We're the good ships that ended their
cruises there along with their passengers and
crews. Ihe British government had been try.
Ing Tor years to put an end 10, their operations.
Out the undertaking was gigantic one II was
not until years after that It was officially an.
hounced that piracy had been suppressed. and
piracy Is still being carried on even 10 this
day though In small and desutory way.
The chief of large section OF the Chinese
pirates was old Moy Sen rich Chinaman who
lived In handsome home In Canton and posed
as a peaceful trader.
Norton argued that the pirates were hound
10 Keep on robbng and burning and numbering
In spite Of anything we could do, >and thar we
could derive plenty of excitement and large
prohts by robbing them. Incidentally, he con-
tended we would put lot OF them out of busi
ness for good and all. thus contributing 10 the
end desired by all nations
lt was arranged that I should pose as Dr.
Burnet, rich English physician who was cruis
ing III his private yacht for his health The
Florence and Surprise were to carry some
general cargoes from port to port among the
Islands. but were so tn shape their cruises that
we could keep closely in touch with them.
lhey were to be given large crews and SO
heavily armed as to be safe from piratical at
tacks. The Leckwith was to do all of the prey
ing on the pirates, and tho loot we took from
them was to be turned over to the other ships
AT tue meeting places. II was arranged that
the bulk OF our loot should be sent TO a firm of
Cinnamon 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 first experience was profitable one When
near the hunting grounds we lowered the
sinokestack, got up our canvas and sailed
along awaiting Developments We were get.
Junk which had Just looted and scuttled rich.
ly laden Brazilian barkentine We made n pre.
tense or trying to get away but in reality we
eased our sheets to hasten matters along When
she was close astern Of us, with the wind
apeaH, We luned up. got out guns ready for
action IN jify and. as we crossed her bows
raked her fore and aft with our carronades
which were loaded almost to the muzzle with
slugs and nails
Taken completely by surprise and with more
than half of their number lttering the red.
dened deck the pirates were panicstr,cken
i'eiore they could regain their senses we came
"oout again and gave them another broadside
which put them at our mercy AS we ranged
Alongside, Keeping up a rihe-flre but disdain.
ing any further use Of our guns they managed
TO launch a couple of boats. and all who could
get into them pulled for the nearest island
we took out OF the junk fully one hundred
thousand dollars worth of specie. silk. tea,
porcelain and drugs. and then set fire to her.
leaving her to bury her own dead
After that easily won victory we trapped
ana and sank half dozen proas and feuccas
IN the same way, though with more spirited
resistance In some cases
We had turned our cargo over to the Flor.
ence, along with number of wounded men.
and were back among the islands. when early
one evening fulrigged ship hove in sight
she passed us, but was not more than six
miles away when We saw flashes that told us
she had been attacked and We lost no time In
going to her assistance.
AS we closed In we saw a Malay felucca on
each side OF her and the pirates swarming on
her decks, with the crew putting up n brave
hght. Running the Leckwith up on her star.
board quarter. we threw our men aboard and
they went at the pirates savagely from the
rear. led the boarding party
Ihe Malays outnumbered us more than two
70 one, but We went at them with fury that
was new to them and were slowly forcing them
BACK toward their ono good bost-we had
smashed the other one to bits when we
slammed aiongside-when beautiful white
yacht came tearing up on the port quarter and
sent three boatloads of men to our assistance
IN smart style They cambered over the bows
under command of a stockily built young officer
wearing what looked like the uniform OF a
naval captain. and we had the pirates be.
tween us.
! Understood later. when learned who and
what they were. why these reeniorcements,
instead OF discouraging the Malnys caused
them to fight with renewed desperation. bu.