Shocking Piratical Outrage.

Hastings Standard, Issue 407, 24 August 1897, Page 4

Shocking Piratical Outrage.

Further particulars with regard to tin- looting of the British steamer Pegu by pirate-", between Edie and Sumatra, phew that the Pegu teft Jvlic for Ttluk Semawe on July 8 with eleven Aehine:-e passengers a.-ui one woman on board. At 7 p.u:.. while Captain Ross and Mr Craigie, the engineer, were at dinner in the saloon eight of the Achinese suddenly rushed upon them. The master and engineer kept the assailants off with chairs until their hands were slashed. They then dashed for the decks. Mr Craigie reached the engine-room, whither he was not pursued. Captain Boss also reached the deck, but the pursuit was so close that the Achinese overtook him. One of them, who had laid hold of a carving knife, -which ho found on the dinner table, stabbed the captain in the stomach as he struggled towards the bridge. Whilst he lay there helpless they all hacked at and disembowelled him. The Achinese then went to the bridge, where they killed the mate and the steersman, but a serang escaped from them up the funnel. Returning to the deck, they killed two of the crew and three Chinese passengers. More of the passengers also perished at their hands, while, others jumped overboard. Upon this, one of the Achinese steered the vessel. They robbed the captain's cabin of a revolver and repeating rifle, and opened the safe and took out £15,000. Then they lowered two boats, and went off with their plunder, which consisted of a considerable amount of property besides the specie. The serang now took the vessel in charge and steered it to Teluk Semawe, where she was boarded by the port authorities, and soldiers were stationed on board to guard her. The serang, whose hands were terrible burnt, just managed to steer the vessel for Teluk. He then dropped as it he were dead. His state and the condition of eight others are very serious. Mr Craigie is doing fairly well. The Dutch authorities disinfected the vessel, which presented a terrible spectacle. There were fifteen men taken to the hospital, who were found on board, and one of them has since died. Captain Ross and the others who were found dead on board were buried on July 9. How many passengers and crew left Edio it is impossible at present to say. The Achinese who raided the vessel got their weapons on board, concealed in the dress of a woman who accompanied them, and who was not examined. It seems that it had been Captain Ross's custom to search the passengers for arms, but he did not think it necessary to examine the woman.