WRECK AND PIRACY.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 760, 7 January 1871, Page 2

WRECK AND PIRACY.

[From the Fencing Argus.]. A gentleman belonging to our Island, who has returned from a tri; to Acheen, speaks very 'favorably « the climate and. soil of the North-east of Sumatra. The country*, 1 he'H;fllnkß, is immensely rich both in mineral and agricultural wealth. The inhabitants are ignorant' and indoletit, i fcish caj)ital and British industry are required to develop the resources^of ths country. f^j. The intelligence of the total loks of the British barque St. Michael, belonging to Messrs Grourlay and Co., of Glasgow, in'the Indian Ocean, in. latitude 10.27 north, longitude 85.50-east, has just come to hand. ..She. was 352 tons burthen, and left Coconada with a cargo of cotton and, Jaggery for London on the sth of June, and on the 18th.-she,iwaß ( struck.w|th;heavy squalls which made her leak very •much'. On, the 25tb, ;fiajjng>/,fihe bad, eleven feet of water in the hold, and ■wai graduaUy,osettKngo4:Owni Captain Anderson and the crew abandoned her to their; boats. ? t ,Qm [the- 26th they landed at Euta Punch, in Sumatra, and were decoyed in^a,'creek by a chief, whom Captain Anderson supposed; to-.bo a" rajah, from [the great respect that his following seemed to pay him., ■ N. o sooner . safely brought to that spot than the natives jumped into the boats and seized, - ( 4 very thing that was in them. The property lost ib estimated at £6OO. The wrqtched crew was put into a leaky boat, and without a single instrument to guide them in their route they were orderec

to put off immediately. for the ship-wjj&keib mariners that at noou the same day they sighted the Calcutta bound to—Bombay. Captain AnaetseiP requaatied l that this- occur-i-engej gbguhi) b,e,,Xai4; o%iaily .before the Straits Government; and we unthat.a cppy of, the statement v bjj- tdie ship-wrecked, crew has been placed'' in the hands of Colonel Anson. •It seemsthat Captain Anderson made several' attempts to obtain an interview withitbe Bajah of Acheen during his stay in that port, but owing to the (serious illness oi-the Eajah and his son he was nut received- ■ Whether ne vvould.haveobtained redress for the injiiriesihis men aaid himself suffered it is impossible to say, but there cannot be a moment's doubt on our minds 'that Sir. Harry :,Ord will'need take steps to bring the guilty parties to account.! The Aeheens seem to have taken the place of the Nicobarians, in plundering'any one who may by #iisfortune be thrown on their coast. The ■.residents Sffl Acheen. Have the greatest dread of those pirates, and we hope to hear that redress has been sought and obtained for the outrages ..committed upon onr countrymen. It was stated on. good authority at Acheen that the Sultan and his son had died, from slow poison administered to them by/the leaders of a party •which -is l beeoming very • strong at Acheen. The grandson of the late Sultan will ascend the throne.