The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-01-15
Through Dangerous Sea

i
0T IKE most savages, MaIays are
II very superstitious," began Cap
tain Ira. "Tf they run into anything
which they don't understand their first
| impulse is to get away and hide from
it. BY that, don't want you to think
they are towards. When it comes to
physical bravery, there are no better
men In the world than these same
Malay pirates which you have asked
about"
MALAY pirates continued the Cap
tain" have built up bad name for
themselves. Some Of their chiefs
have been so powerful, and so dread
ed, that the people Of those parts
spoke of them only in whispers, and
that in fear and trembling. Strange
things have happened. Men have gone
away and have not been heard of
again. Entire ships. crews and all,
have vanished, leaving no trace.
knowing this you may be able to
tell something Of how l felt the first
time it came my lot to sail those wa
ters. ! was cabin-bOy and general
turnkey aboard an old tramp sailor,
the 'BIue-Nose Lucy.
This time we had been long
spell becalmed at sea, and the fresh
water tanks were getting low. After
talking it over with the two mates,
our Captain decided to put in for
water at one Of the islands of the
lower archipelago. This was done.
Soon we lay at anchor near a great.
wooded mountain, and in the lea of
a sheltering island which partly closed
the throat of the harbor.
There was a Malay village across
the bay from us, and to it the Cap.
tain made his way in our ships long
boat. / was taken with him, to carry
a parcel up Of glass beads and some
other finery, which he meant to give
the Malay chief in order to gain his
good will But we were received with
scowls instead of smiles, and our
gifts were scorned
at seems there had been several
slight earthquake shocks felt in the
village Of late, and the natives were
full of fear and distrust.
After the Captain regained the ship.
plans were made to send several boats
crews. with fresh-water casks. up
the bay in search of water. This,
though, was never done.
about that time one Of the deck
watch spied a fiotilla of war canoes
putting out from the village and head
ing straight for us.
I'm the carved PROV OF each canoe
stood a stalwart Malay, ready with a
boarding-ladder.
Several of our crew, at sight Of
the oncoming horde. lay down behind
the bulwarks with pistols ready and
prepared to sell their lives as dearly
as possible. IT is helpless to try and
fight them, said the Captain.
1T was tense moment as the Ma
lays. from all directions, began to
swarm over the rail. Swarthy. tur-
baned heads, with eyes flaming madly,
came into view. And clenched In
white teeth shone scores Of glitter
ing dirks. thought myself as good
as dead.
Suddenly. great, wailing cry went
up from the village. The Malay war
riors stopped. One among them took
up the cry. 1t leaped from man to
man. They turned about. Over the
rail they returned. back into the
canoes. then padded toward shore
like furies.
"Soon we saw what they fled from
1t was a great wall Of water, taller
than our ship, and with side as
steep almost as a house. 1t was a
tidal wave.
"a moment later 1t hit us. We did
not get the full force of it, for the
island partly sheltered us, But our
ship was torn from her mornings.
We We're engulfed and swept halt
across the bay. How the 'Blue-Nose
Lucy ever weathered it, can't fig
ure. But she did, although four of our
crew were washed overheard.
sThe entire Malay canoe fleet was
overwhelmed, and the survivors were
few. 1t took a tremendously power.
full swimmer to live in that weller
of seething water. Even the lower
part of the village across the harbor
was partly swept away.
"And now, boys" went on the Cap.
tain. ''that shows what insane fear
and distrust did TO those savages. II
they had behaved In natural way to
us. the chances are that few of them
would have been harmed by the tidal
wave. They would have been home,
taking their afternoon siestas. instead
Of on the sea. Fear and distrust al
ways go hand in hand. Keep away
from both They can 90 you much
harm