DESTRUCTION OF A PIRATICAL FLEET BY H. M. SHIPS OPOSSUM AND OSPREY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 903, 5 October 1866, Page 4

DESTRUCTION OF A PIRATICAL FLEET BY H. M. SHIPS OPOSSUM AND OSPREY.

{From the China Mail, July 28.) We have been favoured with the following account of the. proceedings ofH. M. ships Osprey and Opossum during their recent cruise in search of pirates H. M. S. Osprey, Commander William. Menzies, left Hongkong on the 12th July, 1866, with the Gunboat Opossum, Lieutenant-Commander Mainwaring, in search of pirates. They proceeded to Nowcliow Island and thence to Quan Chou Wan, on leaving which place, on the loth instant, the Osprey unfortunately got on shore, owing, it is stated, to incorrectness in the chart supplied, but being under steam, with the assistance of the Opossum and the rising tide, was got off again without accident. They then continued their cruise to Hainan, searching several bays and creeks, as well as overhauling some junks met with at sea, but without success until the 18th instant, when on going into Ty-Yu-Lin-Kan Bay information was obtained that a number of piratical junks were anchored at dama or Samoy Bay. The Osprey immediately got under weigh, and, followed by the Opossum steamed in search of them. At about a quarter to 1 p.m. the Opossum made signal that several junks were in sight. A few minutes after the Osprey having taken up position, which there was great difficulty in doing, owing to the shallowness of the water, commenced the action by opening fire with her 68 port pivot gun, and almost immediately after with her 7-inch Armstrong pivot gun. The Opossum, from her lighter draught of water was able to get nearer the enemy, and at 1 p.m. opened fire. The junks were in an admirably defended position, being anchored in a creek, the sides of which to agreat extent protected them from the Osprey's fire. Just before the Opossum commenced the attack two of the heaviest armed junks, one of which was afterward found to carry sixteen large guns, opened on the Osprey with shell and rockets, and shortly afterwards the other junks commenced firing on both vessels. The action was briskly sustained on both sides, the junks keeping up a very well directed fire, from which, however, the high bank to the northward of the piratical raft much protected the Osprey, "as only a portion oftheir guns could be brought to bear on her, but the some cause prevented the Osprey from doing as much execution as she otherwise would have done, it being impossible to get her opposite the mouth of the creek, there being only 1:J- fathoms of water. The firing was continued on both sides until 3 p.m., when it was determined to land and take the village and junks. A party of about 60 men, bluejackets and marines, were accordingly landed from the two vessels, under the command of Commander Menzies, accompanied by Mr. Greet, assistant paymaster, as aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Meade, ana Mr. Sanders, ganner, from H. M. S. Osprey and Mr. H. Thomas, boatswain of Opossum. The landing was effected without opposition about half a mile from the creek, the guns of the two ships (which were manned by various idlers and boys, as of course the best men were selected for landing) still engaging the junks. The landing party passed over a slight undulation of ground and approached the village and creek in which the junks were anchored, from the westward. A hill above them was occupied by a party of Chinese who kept up a fire until dislodged by some told off for the purpose—passing round the base of the hill the men rushed on with a cheer and drove the enemy from the village to the junks, which they were also obliged to abandon and escape to the other side from the heavy and rapid fire kept up by the blue jackets and marines, notwithstanding the efforts of the pirates to check them by a well-sustained fire of guns and small arms. Commander Menzies then gave orders to board and set fire to the junks, which was rapidly done. Lieutenant Meade was most active in this duty, and himself fired several. The total number destroyed was 22, some of them being very large, and the number of men was estimated at over 700. The execution done was very great, and it was altogether a most dashing and gallant affair. Of the junks destroyed, 1 carried 17 guns, 7 were of 15 guns, 9 of 12, 4of 10—a powerful force to attack with a sloop of 4 guns and a gunboat. After the engagement the villagers stated that the number of killed amounted to 150, but this is greatly over the mark—about 80 or 90 would be the probable number. One seaman belonging to H. M. S. Osprey was severely wounded by the fire from the < hinese who occupied the top of the hill during the first ad ranee; he was struck in the leg by a musket ball and taken back to the boats which had been left near the original point of debarkation, in charge of Mr. Paymaster Scriven aud a few men, and conveyed on board the 1 >sprey. The Mandarin Lyang, who.-accompanied the expedition, was unfortunately mortally wounded while gallantly trying to cross the creek. He was struck in the left arm and his elbow much injured (compound fracture); he, however persisted in pressing on with a coupleof the Osprey's bluejackets, and they had captured four prisoners, when the Lyang received a musket or rifle ball in the bowels, and fell. The men in the boat brought him out of action, but before they were clear of the enemy's fire he received a third wound, this time in the left leg, two of the prisoners being aiso wounded by the fire kept up by the pirates. He was at once conveyed out of the creek in the same sampan, towards the boats, one of which immediately embarked and took him to the Osprey. in order that medical assistance might be afforded. He died on the evening of the 21st instant, much to the regret of the officers, by whom he was much liked, and who appreciated his brave conduct. The Osprey left Sama Bay on the evening of the 20th with the Opossum gunboat in tow, and'arrived here on the 23rd. The Opossum landed the mortal remains of the Mandarin Lyang at Kowloon this morning, where they were received with all the honour due to the rank of the deceased- They will be sent to Canton to-morrow for interment. Since writing the above we have learned that the piratical fleet consisted of three separate squadrons. Two of the chiefs came from Macao and the other from Cochin China. The latter had hauled his junks into the creek hoping to escape observation, having been informed of the proximity of H. M. ships. The burning of the junks is stated to have to have been a most picturesque sight. The calibre of the guns carried varied from 32 to 4 pounders ; each junk carried stinkpots at the mastheads.