Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05

- HE adventure I am about to relate
happened such a short time ago
that I have not yet fully recovered
from its effects, and it will be long
while before can erase the details
from my memory. Even since first went to
sea, in 1909, have been employed by COM
pany in Bergen, Norway, and in their service
I have been to every corner of The globe
Naturally, have seen bit OF life and round
myself in some tight places, but can safely
say that this pirate business was the narrowest
escape from death that have ever expert
enced.
Since 1926 have been chief officer of the
steamer Botnia, small cargo vessel engaged
in carrying salt up and down the China coast
My captain at the time of the events am
about to relate was Axel Haarland, veteran
Of Sc and as fine seaman as I ever sailed
under.
Our crew consisted of nine Chinese deck
hands and compradore, or combined cashier
and interpreter, for dealing with the natives
Capt Haarland and were the only white men
on the ship. We carried one or two small Chi
nese boys for odd jobs but for practical purposes
there were IL able-bodied men. However. that
statement needs qualification, as you will see.
We were carrying full cargo of salt north
ward from Haichow to another small port
Owing to the treacherous currents and sand
bars that abound along the route. we had en-
gagged Chinese pilot.
THE day our trouble started was wednes-
Il day. About noon felt the ship slide gen.
tly onto sandbar. This was not at all un-
usual and we promptly reversed the engines
but for a full hour we failed to bulge the ship
The most troubled man aboard seemed to be
the pilot, who kept jumping around as though
H. had tremendous weight on his mind. AS
things turned out, have suspicion that ne
had
Running aground on one of the shifting bars
that abound along this coast was nothing to
get really worried about. Both Capt. Haarland
and laughed at the pilot for taking it so to
heart but it happened. as events transpired
that the joke was on us.
Then, after another hour of strenuous effort
the Botnia still remained fast on the bank
we began to think the affair was not quite so
humorous AS night would soon be on us and
we had no desire to remain marooned out there
unprotected, the pilots suggestion that he
should go back for some soldiers to act as
guard was decidedly welcome. We had often
heard that there were pirates In those waters,
but We imagined they would not be so fool
hardy as to attack IL well armed men. How
ever, the thought of having government
guard was reassuring, and very soon the pilot
disappeared in our motor boat to fetch aid.
Meanwhile we had noticed a large war-junk
pass us, huff up against the wind, and return.
There was not soul visible on her decks, and
we thought nothing of the incident until she
drew very close to us. Then, through my
glasses, noticed long row of eyes watching
our every move from behind false boarding
that ran along the vessels side.
This looked suspicious. I PROMPTLY informed
the captain and we lost no time in breaking
out the .38-caliber pistols with which we were
provided for emergencies. Then left the chart
house to muster the crew and arm them, but
not soul could find except the compradore,
who explained that the others were terrified
at the nearness of the junk and now hid
ing behind Ifeboat in the stern.
went to the boat and found that the COM
pradores story was only too true; have never
seen a worse scared batch of fellows. 1 was
E6lGst starting to demonstrate with them with
the idea of putting some pluck into them.
WASH. .theu SHADOW, ,of the junks big sail fell