DESTRUCTION OF A PIRATICAL FLEET BY 11. M. SHIPS OPOSSUM AND OSPREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 319, 1 October 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

DESTRUCTION OF A PIRATICAL FLEET BY 11. M. SHIPS OPOSSUM AND OSPREY.

(rROM TUB CHINA Mill,, JULY 28. ) We have been favored with the following account of the proceedings of 11. M. ships Osprey and Opossum, during L |heir recent cruise in search of pirates : —

11. M. S. Osprey, Commander William Menzles, left Hongkong on the J2th July, 1866, with the gunboat Opossum, Lieutu-nant-commandor Mainwaring, in search of pirates. They proceeded to Nowchou [sland,, ancl then to *Quan Chou Wan, on leaving which place, on the 15th instanl, the O»prey 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, oh going into TyYu- Lin-Kan $ay, information was obtained that 'a number of piratical junks were anchored at Sama or Saiuoy 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 niado signal that several juirks were in sight. A few minutes after the Osprey 'having taken up position, which there was great difficulty in doing, owing to the shallownesa of- the water, commenced the action by opening fire with her 68 port pivot gun, ancl 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 oreek, the sides of which to a great extent protected them from the Qs.prey'B fire. Just before the Opossum commenced the attack two of the heaviest armed j units, one of which afterwards was 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* ke<-piug up "a very well directed fire, from which, however, the high bank to the northward of the piratical raft much protected the O^prey, as only a" portion of their guns could be brought to bear "on her; but the t same cxnse prevented 4b e Osprey from doing as much, execution as slie otherwise would have clone, it being impossible to get her opposite the mouth of tne creek, there being only one and a half fathom of water. Tlie firing was continued on' both sides until 3 p.m., when it was detei mined to lancf and take the villago and junks. A party of about sixty men, bluejackets and marines, were-accoruingly landed from the two vessels, , under the command oi Commander Menzies, accompanied by Mr f4roet, assistant paymaster, as aid-dc camp, Lieutenant Meade, and Mr Sanders, gunner, from H. M". S. Gsprey, and Mr 11. Thomas, boatswain of Opossum. "The landing was effected without opposition about half ji 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 men 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 obliged N to abandon and escape to the other side from the heavy and rapid fire kept up by the bluejacketa and marines, notwithstanding the. efforts of the pirates, to check them by a-well-sustained fire of guns and small arms.

Commander Mehzies then gave orders to board and set fire to the-junks, which was rapidly done. Lieutenant Mcade was most {U'tjye in his duty, and himself fired several. The total -Timber destroyed was twentj'two, ■» in • of them being very large, and the n u liber of mrti was estimated ,at over 700. The execution done was very^great, and it was altogether a most das".iin^ and gallant affair. - Of the junks destroyed, one carried .sewnuen guns, seven were ■of fifteen guns, nine of twelve, and four of fen— a powerful force to attack a sloop of four guns and a gunboat. After the engagement >the villagers stated thai the number of killed amounted to 150, but this "is greatly over the mark — about eighty or ninety would be the probable number. One seaman belonging to H v \£. S. Osprey was severely wounded by the fire from the Chine^ who occupied the top of thi? hill during the last advance ; he was struck in the leg by a musket ball and taken back/ to thb boats which had beeii .left ne.ir the original point of debarkation, ii> charge of Mr Paymaster Scriven and a few men, ancl Conveyed on board the,Csprey. * The Mandarin Lyang, who" accompanied the expedition, was unfortunately mortally, wounded while. gallan f ly trying to cross the creek. He was struck in the. arm and his elbow much injured (compound fracture) ; he, how6yer. persisted in pressing on with a couple ot the Osprey's bluejackets, and they 'had captured four prisoners, when the Lyang received a musket or rifle ball iv the bowels, and. fell. The men in the boat b v r6nght him out of action, but 'before they WiVe clear of the enemy's fire he received a third wound, this time in- the left log, two 'of the prisoners being aljo wounded by the , fire kept up by the pirates. He was at on,ce conveyed out of iht creek in* the same sampan, towards the boats, one of which immediately embarked ami took him to - the Osprey, in order that medical assistance might be afforded. He died on the l veiling of the 21st instant, mdeh to the regret of the officers, by whom he was much liked, anil 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 "Kowluon this morning, where, they were received with all the honor 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 ceune from Mucao and the other from Cochin China. The latter had hauled his N junks into the creek hoping to escape ob-

sorvalion, having been informed of the proximity of 11. M. ships. ,

I he burning of the junks U stated to have been a most picturesque sight. The calibre of the gUns carried varied from lliirty-two to four pounders; each of the junks carried stinkpots at the mastheads.