DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 67, 17 November 1855, Page 3

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATES.

The subjoined particulars of a desperate encounter between a detachment of combined American and British naval forces and a largo body of the notorious pirates which infest tho China seas, is taken from the China Mail, of August 9. Last week, we mentioned that a lorcha and three junks (it should have been two lorchas and five junks), under convoy of the steamer Eaglet, had been cut of' by pirates, who displayed such a formidable battery and determined front, that Captain Caldwell wai unable to rescue them, and had to apply to Captain Fellowea of H.M.S. Rattler for assistance. This was readily granted, and the Battler with Captain Caldwell on board, started for Kulan, near which they sighted the pirates, and followed them as far into the bay as the depth of water would permit. The pirates, quiU aware of their advantage in light draught, and conscious of their ability to resist successfully any attempt that might be made on them by the bouts of tho steamer, fired a few harmless broadsides ir defiance, and stood in towards Kulan. Captair Pellowes thereupon returned to Hongkong, anc invited tho co-operation of tho U. S. steamei Powhatan, now in this harbour under repair ; wher it was determined that the Rattler, with three boats and a hundred officers and men of the Americar steam frigate, should form the expedition ; Captair Caldwell volunteering the use of his steamer to toy tho boats up the bay. Accordingly tho Rattler, witi tho Eaglet in tow, and the Powhatnn's boat 9 asteri of her again, left the harbour on Friday, about thro o'clock, the first Lieutenant (Pegram) of the Powh:tan, with Lieutenant Jones and his marines, takug passage in the Rattler, and the blue-jackets in tie Eaglet. The steamers arrived close to Kulan befee midnight, tho Eaglet anchoring a couple of cabla' length in shore of tho man-of-war. At 5 nat morning the launches wero sent alongside the Ratter for the marines, and then, with the Powhatan's cuter and three boats from tho Rattler, besides tho Captaii's gig, made fast astern of the Eaglet, which, everytling being ready, steamed slowly up the bay. At Kuln, only ono junk was to bo seen, and it was feared ho birds had llown ; but Captain Caldwell descriec a lorcha at anchor at tho head of the bay, and stcced in that direction. The lorcha got under wejh, apparently with the intention of escaping, wlen Captain Fellowes despatched tho Rattler's pinncc and Powhatan's cutter* — to intercept her, and tbse had unfortunately got beyond recall before the piute fleet with their prizes, numbering in all some thitysix sail, wero observed at anchor in tho narrow ud shallow passage from which the lorcha had atarod. As the steamer approached, tho junks hoisted teir sails, but without getting under weigh, until sevral congreve rockets, discharged from the Eaglet's quawrdeck by Mr. Pine the gunner and two maino artillerymen from the Rattler, and two or three rdl directed shots from her 32-pounder, fired by M. Randall, her chiof officer, startled them from thcr fancied security ; for up to that time tho pirates hd cither not observed the boats, or thought they woul not havo the temerity to attack them. In this, ho<ever, they soon discovered their mistake ; for to boats, which at first had made for a narrow neckof land, bore up for, and rounded the point, — and tf m from the deck of the steamer was witnessed as bid an attack as wa3 ever made in these waters, 'he piralc-flcct formed a dense mass, tho larger ad heavier armed junks bringing up the rear, every nw and then yawing round and firing their broadsles at the boatß, from which, in reply, tiny puffs of stnko arose, as the howitzers in then* bows discharged teir more deadly contents, the shrapnell bursting over he junks, and making frightful havoc among their cnvs. The boats soon ncarcd tho pirates. Licutennt Pegram and Rolando, with the launches of Hio Powhatan, first by volleys of musketry clearin^ho decks of tho two largest, then boarding and driing tho pirates overboard at the point of the bnyoet. This, however; was not done without a hard strugle, for the miscreants fought -with the fury of despir ; but they had of course no chance against the manes and blue-jackets. Meanwhile tho other boats .'ore far from idle, and though small in comparison rith the launches, performed their share of the work rith the utmost gallantry, officers and men vicing rith each other for the post of danger and of honou, so that five or six moro junks were soon secured, ilr. James, tho boatswain of tho Rattler, particmrly distinguished himself, having, with five seamen ad a few marines, in a whale-boat, dignified with theitle of second cutter, boarded and carried a junk hat seemed fully a match for either of the. launaes. Lieutenant Pegram, in the first launch, wa3 hasteing to their assistance, but seeing the battle nearly 'on, would not interfere with their well-earned laurels^nd turned his attention elsewhere. The pirate clef's junk, after being shelled by the first launch, was boarded almost simultaneously by her crew and Jiat of the Rattler's gig, and Captain Fellowes was fortunate enough to secure the chiefs flng. Tho hiehimself, Lee Afyee, a principal leader of the Wamf poa " patriots," was shot by an English marinoyvho had jumped on deck from the Powhatan's lauch, and four women threw themselves overboardand were drowned. The ammunition on board the p-ate fleet may be judged of from the fact, that this ink alone is believed to havo had nearly 100 kej of English gunpowder, besides, stink-pots, cartridgesjnd loose powder. Up to this tiino only ono serious casualty lad happened to tho attacking force, a young Amecan marine named Adamson having been shot wix a musket-ball in the groin ; but two other ital accidents followed in quick succession. The Ratbr's first' cutter, in charge of pay -master Brownsdon^an alongside of a large junk. Several stink-pots tbron at them missed, but at last ono hove from the raed poop of the pirate by a woman, with a child slun to her back, fell into tho boat, and being follower by others, the crew were compelled to jump over-bcrd, where two were speared, and a third was wouded and drowned. One of these, a marine, who had een wounded by a apear-thrust, called to his comras to save him, and the other being an excellent swiimer, got hold of him for that purpose. The Chinesehen threw a mat over them, and the marine, still holing on by his wounded friend, dived below, and cam up clear of the mat ; but as soon as he was obsefed, several stink-pots were pitched at him, one of viich struck him on the head, and though not much urt, he was stunned for a second or two, and lost ight of the man he had displayed such a detcrminatin to save : the brave fellow's naino is William Rob«on. The other fatal accident was the blowing up of aunk which for a time had offered the most deteraned resistance to the gig, in which were Captain Fellwas and Assistant Surgeon Wilson, with five raen,txlfc which was ultimately taken possession of by LuteDant Rolando and his launch. Either a train l.d been laid before the crew left, or some detennitd scoundrel fired the junk, for she blew up witha tremendous explosion, and both officers and men we

* The former under command of Lieutenants W>y nntl Greer, and Hr. Lomax (mate); the latter of ?r. McCauley (master) and Assistant Surgeon Schrbr — the English marines having been first transferd to the Amorioan launches.

hurled into tho water. Three of the men were killed, and several others frightfully scorched, one of whom died the same night, while another is not expected to live; but the officers miraculously escaped, though Lieutenant Rolando was burnt, and Captain Fellowes injured by the falling spars. The survivors were, however, all picked up by Mr. Craig, master's mate of the Powhattan.who had luckily gone into the boat the moment before the explosion took place. In this junk was an immense quantity of treasure, said to amount to 200,000 dollars, and the desperation with which her crew fought may be judged of from the fact, that even after tho Americans gained the deck, they were encountered hand to hand. One man made himself particularly conspicuous, and, notwithstanding several wounds, continued to throw stink-pots, but ultimately ran below, and is believed to havo fired the train which blew up the vessel.

Tho time thua occupied in securing the larger junks, enabled sixteen smaller ones to get so far ahead as to render pursuit hopeless : while but for the unfortunate absence of tho pinnace and cutter, as above mentioned, the whole would probably have been captured. The men in these boats tugged manfully at the oars, and pulled a distance of fifteen miles iv three hours ; but, notwithstanding their utmost endeavours, arrived too late to take part in the fight, though they assisted in destroying the captured junks while the other boats returned with their wounded men to the Eaglet. There Dr. Pritehard, with Mr. Pine the gunner, were prepared to receive them, and everything was done by the t]u*ee surgeons (Pritchard, Schriver, and Wilson) that humanity could devise or medical skill perform. Ten junks were destroyed, fivo of which more than ordinarily deserve notice. They were built of the 'most substantial materials, evidently for war purposes, as they differ in many respects from tho common trading junks. They carry very large guns— 32, 24, and 12 pounders ; a 68-pounder was found in one of them ; another had no less than 21 guns mounted, the weight of one of which, carrying only an 18-pound shot, was estimated at not less than 50 cwt. Two lorchas and seven junks that had been detained by the pirates, were released; two of which, howevor, had to be burnt to prevent their falling again into the hands of tho piratical junks that escaped, time and an adverse wind and tide not allowing them to be brought away. The officers employed estimate the number of guns taken at 200, large and small, and the pirates at 1,000, 500 of whom were killed.

Both parties unite in extolling the coolness and intrepidity of their leader, Captain Fellowes ; but in paying a merited tribute to the gallantry of all the officers and men concerned in this bloody affray, we piust not forget Captain (late General Interpreter and Police Superintendent) Caldwell, without whom the expedition would to a certainty have proved a bootless one, and who, by voluntarily tendering the use of his steamer to accompany the expedition, ha 9 laid the public under another obligation. We shall really be astonished if on this, as on other occasions, his services are allowed to pass unnoticed j for wo cannot bring ourselves to believe that Government will bo mean enough to accept such service gratuitously from one whom they have already treated shabbily, and to their own injury.

The following are the names of tho officers engaged, Officers in the Boats.— British— Commander W. A. Fellowes, Lieutenants C. J. Wrey and T. n. Grreer, Paymaster R. Brownsdon, Assistant Surgeon T. Wilson, Mate Or. G. Lomax. — American — Lieutenants R. B. Pegram, H. Rolando, and J. H. Jones, U.S.M. ; Assistant Surgeon A. Schriver, Master E. Y. M'Cauley, Assistant Engineer M. Killogg, Master Mato S. R. Craig, Boatswain GL Bailey.

A Lesson from Royalty. — Koyalty may b« quoted at a premium in England at present. Prince Albert ha 3 recovered his popularity, much perilled last year by the public suspicion that ho interfered in foreign politic. The Duke of Cambridge having shown, in the Crimea, some of the gallantry in which, truth to say, none of his family have ever been deficient, has won the heart of John Bull, and it loudly cheered whenever lie is recognised in public. Queen Victoria, casting away some of the etiquette which has hitherto too strongly drawn a line of demarcation between the sovereign and the people of England, has distributed, with her own hand, the war medals to tho naval and military combatants of all ranks, from tho general to tho drummer, who distinguished themselves in the present war. Tliis may or may not be set down, according to tho temper and feelings of the person who reflects, to o royal desire to win popularity cheaply. Not so an incident related by the English newspapers, and which, alike creditable to tho position and sex of tho person, we have pleasure in drawing attention to here. Tho royal household at Buckingham Palace ineludos a large number of domestics and other attendants, many of whom are married. It came to the knowledge of Queen Victoria, that of a large proportion of their children the education was very generally neglected. She had suitable premises fitted up as a school near tho palace, and appointed as teacher a gentleman of tried experience and known ability. Already as many as 66 children of both sexes are being educated in this establishment, and an evening school has also been got up for the instruction of the elder children, who are unable to attend during tho day. The wholo expense of these schools is defrayed by tho Queen herself. The cost may be but small. The example is great and good. When the Sovereign thus personally interests herself in tho elevation of the youthful mind, by educational means, other influential parties in England — a country where imitation of oven royal vices has been carried to excess — aro not likely to lag behind. The example will be generally followed, no doubt, and nothing but good can result from it. What Victoria has done in this matter deserves praise, as kind, proper, and womanly. It may appear a small matter, but will probably exercise a large influence ; it is a thoughtful and a kindly act, gracefully and suitably performed. No bucli thing had ever been attempted by any of her immediate predecessors on tho throne. None of them, in truth, possessed the high moral and religious feeling which appears to have actuated her on many occasions. George I. was a profligate and a spendthrift, who, every now and then, went to the Parliament with a begging petition that his debts might bo liquidated out of the national treasury, who imprisoned his wifo on tho slightest grounds of improper conduct — who at the same time used to parado in public with three mistresses. George 11. suppressed his father's will, made his mistresses the companions of his wife, and so perpetually was quarrelling with his eldest son as to hear of his death not with apathy, but actual satisfaction. Even George 111., with many domestic virtues, the ostentatious parade of having " a virtuous Court," and sundry other pi-etensions for being considered (in the words of the Englshi Liturgy) a " most religious and pious King," made no provision for the moral training of the persons in liis immediate service, while the notoriously bad conduct of his family, male and female, was productive of great injury to all within its influence. George IV., the most notorious profligate of his time, closed half a century of vice in companionship with tho wife of one of his own intimate friends. William IV. advanced his illegitimate children to the ranks of the nobility, and his consort, Queen Adelaide, limited her care of the royal household to the issue of an ukaso ordaining that the household must wear cotton instead of lutestring dresses ! Victoria, against whose moral character even suspicion has never raised a whisper, takes the pnins to inquire into tho educational want 3of her household, and promptly provides the suitable remedy. At the present crisis, when, as it appears to us, tho political-social position of" England is on the eve of, if it has not already entered into, a transition state, it is a good thing to find the Sovereign gracefully and spontaneously devoting herself, even in such a comparatively small matter a 9 that which we record, to the moral and intellectual advancement of a class of persons with whom, from a relative position, she is in some way connected as a sort of materfamilias. This is not a matter of State policy. It; is a thing wholly personal to the individual, and, we are free to admit, not unwarranted by the personal antecedents of the lady who reigns but does not govern | in England. — New York Daily Times.

Ikheguiar Cataley from India for the Ceimea. — It is stated that the Directors of the East India Company have made an offer of a largo force of irregular Cavalry for Service in the Crimea. The movement is consequent upon several troops of that splendid service having voluntarily tendered their services to aid the forces in tho Crimea. Tho men are principally from the northern provinces of India.