While H.M.S. 'Ringdove,' Commander Sir William Hoste, Bart., was
cruising off the island of Balambangan, he chased three
suspicious-looking prahus, till the brig had shoaled her water to her
own draught. He then lowered his boats, and despatched them in
pursuit, under Lieut. Norcock. That officer having boarded them,
shortly after they had run on shore, and were deserted by their
crews, found them to be laden with rice and other products of the
country--while they had no guns or arms of any sort below.
Imagining, therefore, that they were trading-vessels, he returned
towards the 'Ringdove,' upon which the crews immediately regained the
prahus, and were again making off from the shore, when a second order
from Sir William Hoste, despatched by another boat, directed Lieut.
Norcock to bring one of the prahus to the brig, in order that the
Commander might himself judge of her character.
One of the prahus was accordingly taken possession of. and brought
alongside the 'Ringdove,' the crew willingly rowing it themselves.
During the long pull, they appeared perfectly satisfied with the
excursion, and chatted good-humouredly, through the interpreter, with
the marines and seamen. As a precaution, however, a guard, of three
marines and several seamen, was placed over them. At first, while
being made fast alongside the brig, they remained perfectly quiet.
Suddenly, however, without the slightest previous warning, the
pirates, (for such they were, they having skilfully concealed their
arms,) arose, and flew simultaneously with their krisses upon the
seamen and marines, when before they could defend themselves, one
marine was killed, and two marines and a seaman severely wounded,
they being indeed the only English on board the prahu at the time.
She was, it must be understood, under the quarter, and touching the
counter of the brig. The chief of the pirates, it is said, himself
killed the marine placed sentry over them, with his kriss, and as the
unfortunate man fell into the hold of the prahu, he seized his musket
and fired it at the officers standing at the gangway. Another
desperado lunging his spear through the after-port of the 'Ringdove,'
mortally wounded the master, who was standing near. The pirates then
cut the hawser adrift, and seizing their paddles, made off for the
shore.
As it was at this time nearly dark, their desperate manœuvre might
have succeeded, had not the boats of the brig been quickly manned and
sent in chase. The prahu was overtaken and boarded in less than ten
minutes, upon which, the crew retreated below, and with their long
spears through the bamboo flooring, made a desperate defence, and
finally, refusing all quarter, they were slain to a man, and the
prahu was sunk by the gun of the pinnace.