1848.
The empire of Morocco, occupying the north-west corner of the African
coast, and lying between the 28th and 36th degrees of north latitude,
is divided into the kingdoms of Suse, Morocco, and Fey, which again
are subdivided into provinces. The inhabitants of the province of
Riff, bordering on the Mediterranean, have always been notorious
pirates, and are supposed to have destroyed many merchant vessels
which have not been heard of after approaching that coast. They are
a singularly fine race of men, well formed, active, and powerful, and
prove somewhat untractable subjects of the empire. The circumstances
which led to the gallant affair now to be recorded are as follows:--
On the 31st October, 1848, the merchant brig 'Three Sisters,' left
Gibraltar with a cargo of gunpowder and bale goods for Malta. She
was becalmed on the second day off Cape Tres-Forcas, and while in
this helpless condition several boats were observed pulling towards
her from the shore, each boat pulling from ten to fourteen oars, with
extra hands standing in midships with their long muskets, all ready
for action; and large guns on their gunwales. Soon comprehending
their intentions, and that there was no hope of defending his ship,
the master ordered his crew into their boat, and boldly put out to
open sea, as the only chance of preserving their lives. The pirates
fired a volley at the retreating crew, none of whom were touched; and
for about ten minutes one of the boats chased them, the rest
remaining abreast of the ship firing at her from a distance, and
eventually towing her into a bay ten or twelve miles to the westward
of Cape Tres-Forcas. Making towards the Spanish coast, the boat was
picked up by the brig 'Dawn,' and the intelligence conveyed without
delay to the owners at Gibraltar. They immediately communicated it
to Commander James M'Cleverty, of H.M. steam sloop 'Polyphemus,'
requesting him to take such steps as he thought necessary. The same
evening the 'Polyphemus' started to the Riff coast, and at daylight
ran into Al Khoyamich Bay, and coasted from thence close to the shore
towards Cape Tres Forcas, for the purpose of discovering the brig,
should she have been taken to the westward. At eleven A.M., on the
8th of November, on opening the Point of Calla Tramontana, she was
discovered anchored close to the shore, in a small bay, partly
surrounded by an amphitheatre of precipices, high rocks, and ravines,
all of which places were crowded with men, armed with long muskets,
evidently for the purpose of protecting the brig, which lay
considerably within musket-shot range.
Their boats, seven in number, were hauled upon the beach, and in the
mouths of caverns, with a strong party of armed men, lying under
cover for the protection of part of the cargo, which they had landed.
Their whole force appeared to consist of at least 500 men. As the
'Polyphemus' neared the brig, a fire of musketry was opened upon her
from all points, which she returned with grape, canister and
musketry, sending the pirates flying about in all directions to take
up more secure positions. Having dislodged them from, the beach,
Lieut. Alan H. Gardner volunteered to take the cutter, with a hawser,
and weigh the brig's anchor, so as to take her in tow. Just at this
time a fire was opened from a gun, supposed to be a 6 or 9-pounder,
and as the stern of the steamer was unavoidably towards the nearest
point of low rocks, and therefore she could make no return, the
pirates were encouraged to approach quite close, and open a
well-directed fire of musketry, which unfortunately severely wounded
Lieut. Edward Wasey, and slightly two seamen on board the ship; and
one seaman severely in the cutter. Nevertheless Lieut. Gardner
performed his mission gallantly, and having taken the brig in tow,
the 'Polyphemus' steamed to sea. Captain M'Cleverty refrained from
landing to burn the boats, as from the secure position taken up by so
large a body of well-armed men, it would inevitably have been
attended with great loss of life to the British, and they had already
been rendered unserviceable by the fire of the steamer's great guns.