ATTACK BY PIRATES.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 558, 1 April 1876, Page 3

ATTACK BY PIRATES.

The British barque West Indian, Captain Lingard, which arrived at Singapore on the 19th December from the East Coast of Borneo, was attacked by pirates on the morning of the 25th November, while lying at anchor about twenty miles north of the entrance to the Brow River. Captain Lingard and some of his crew were away in a small steam launch on business, leaving the vessel in charge of the chief officer, with the second mate, and a nephew of Captain Lingard, two or three Chinese, and a native crew of about twenty men. At about three a.m, (says the straits Times) the vessel was attacked by about thirty prahus. These boats were some 40ft long, fitted with outriggers to enable them to remain upright in a seaway, and each carried a crew of from six to ten men, so that there must have been upwards of two hundred pirates gathered round the West Indian. The mate called together his crew, but the Lascars were paralysed with fear, and were perfectly helpless. The Chinamen willingly exerted themselves to assist in keeping off the pirate horde. The chief and second officer, with the captain’s nephew, were armed with Sniders, and kept up a rapid fire upou the boats, while the Chinamen threw bottles and other missiles at the men in the boats, and scalded some who attempted to board the vessel by throwing hot water on them. The rapid fire of the Snider rifles doubtless led the pirates to think the vessel was more strongly manned than she really was, for they were kept at bay until 6 a.m, when they withdrew and went in shore. The chief officer, thinking the pirates would not abandon the track so easily, took advantage of their absence to loosen all the sails. This proved a fortunate precaution, for about 8 o’clock they were seen returning in much larger force, there being about fifty boats this time, containing probably more than 800 men. As they neared the vessel, a breeze sprang up, and the sails having been hurriedly sheeted home, the cable was slipped in fifteen fathoms water, and the vessel soon began moving away from them at a good rate of speed. The navigation was exceedingly difficult, as she lay between two dangerous reefs, but by paying good attention to her course, and at the same time intimidating the pirates by rifle shot, the chief officer was able to get clear of his pursuers without mishap. Captain Lingard regained his ship about 11 o’clock that forenoon, and the West Indian experienced no fuither molestation. This is said to have been one of the largest piratical expeditions that have been seen in those seas for some years.