ATTACK BY PIRATES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 82, 23 March 1876, Page 2

ATTACK BY PIRATES.

, The British barque West Indian, Captain Lingard, which arrived here on the 19th Decemher, from the Eaßt Coaßt of Borneo, was attacked by pirates there, on the morning of the )25th, November; The vessel was anchored sat the time between two reels lying between; the, -island s of Babu Rabu arid Pulo Panjangj 'about twenty miles north of the entiance.tp the Brow river Captain Lingard7 with a young man and some of hia crew, w»s aw on a small steam launch on business eaviog'the vessel in charge ot the chiefs officer,; with the second mate and a nepbe* oft' Captai- Lingard, two or three Chinese, and a native crew of ab^ut twenty . men.' At;abput-3 am. on- the 25th Novem-ber.-fgurroVfi^e prahus were observed by the man„on the lookout, as ttiey came near the vessel, they^ were hailed, when they replied with a^volley of musketry. They were constantly reinforced by fresh arrivels, to the numbeij of about thirty bo\ts in all. 'Ihese boafe^were some lorty feet* long, fitted with outnggers, to enable them to remain upright in a Tea way, "and each carried a crew of from six tfif ti?n-m'eri, ; so that there must have bseu npw'aVd's >-^>f '2oo- pirates gathered round the Westtfndiau. { The mate called together his crew, -but the Lascars were paralysed with fear,.japd, with the exception of one te*-. cuany, were perfectly helpless, and could not be induced $o render any assistance. -There were,, .hsweyer,, two or, three Chinftnien on boaf d, willingly exerted themse.ves to assist "in ' 'keeping off the pirate horde The chief and; second officer, with the captain's nephew 'and 'sea-^'u'nny, were armed with B.nidSrsi anWkept; "up a rapid-fire upon the boats, while the Chinamen threw bottles and other missiles at ' the men in the bdais, and ecalded b ■me ''who aitenipted to board the vesßei'by. throwing hot water on «hem. The raui,d fire of the snider rifles doubtless lei the piraj&s fd'ih'irik the vessel was more strongly manned than she really w&b, : for they were kept at bay.-until 6 a m., when they withdrew and went in shorei 'The chief offlcer, thinking tbe.jpiratfs would not abmdon the at'ack 80 eflsUi I ,' to/ik a'd'varitage of their 'ab <ence ' to loojen' all 'the sails; this proved a fortunate precaution j'for about eight o'clock they ' were seen— returning in much larger force, there beings about -.fifty, boats this time, containing probably 'rribre , than • sbO men; As they neared the -essel, a breeze sprang up, and the sails having' been hurriedly sheeted home, the cable w'a_ tlippe'd in fifteen fathoms of water,' and the vessel soon began moving away from •themllat/'a) grind: rate of speed - The nayigattion was exceedingly difficult, as the lay be--tween. two dangerous \reef«,\ but by paying good attention to her course, and at the same time-mtihtid-tingthe piratts by rifle shot, the chiefrofficeriwas able to get clear of hiß pursuers without 1 mishap i The pirates were very/ cowardly, and as they could not keep up withithe vessel without exposing themslvca to the;>aim of- the rifles, they allowed their prey; to ' escapo, and soon put about for the ' ahorejj.Captaiu. Lingard, who was returning to. hid isbip, gave chase after, some of the piratical :boatß in his steam launch. He succeeded 'in 1 'piokine ofl' two .or three of the, pirates with his, rifle, but asdhe boats ran into flhallowwater; where the launch could not follow 'them, tin ylescaped. Captain Lingard jr«gained-'his ahip about eleven o'cli ck that t£or«»o'on;;aiid the West Indinn : experienced moihrthersmoleitatioh. This is. said to.be. on.^'Of the largest piratical expeditions that has- been- Been in those seas for some years. — Slrkits- Times; „