The Straits Times publishes the following special telegrams Penang, 12th July.
The Achinese have raided the steamer Peyu on the coast between Edie and Teluk The chief officer and fourteen of the crew are in the hospital at Teluk Semawe, from wounds received during the attack.
Captain Ross, the master of the Peg, and others were killed.
Eighteen thousand dollars, besides property, were carried off by the Achinese.
The Peg, says our contemporary, is a Penang coaster, which left that port on the 7th instant for Acheen. The ports of call were Edie, Teluk Semave, Segli, and Olehleh. The latter is the capital of the Dutch territory in Acheen Proper. Gartisons are stationed on the coast at Edie, Teluk Semawe, and Sogli, but the Dutch have hardly any power outside the forts. Insecurity prevails ashore. The pepper trade draws ships to these places especially to Edie. The Achinese there are lawless and notorious for piracy.
Captain Ross, who has met his death in this affray, has for many years been a trader with the Achinese, and, at the time that he was murdered, was probably the largest dealer in Achinese popper. Although on two previous occasions he hnd been attacked and seriously wounded by the Achinese, once almost to the point of death, he seemed to have the greatest confidence in himself and in the treacherous natives with whom he was dealing. Frequently he has been warned by the Dutch authorities of the risks that he ran in going practically unarmed into the midst of the native country, and it is probable that on this occasion the Achinese knew well that there wis a largo sum of money on board, and that the Pegu was not equipped for an p; effective resistance against considerable numbers of Achinese pirates.
It is very improbable that the attack on the Pegu was made from outside, and. that this was. piracy on the old-fashioned lines. What is most likely is that at one of tha ports of call a number of desperadoes took passage in some innocent guise and that, given signal, they rose and attacked the crew. "Unprepared as the officers would probably be, their task would not boa difficult one, and after taking away all the bullion and' portable property, it is likely that they Jeff the vessel to take its chance. This was the case with the piracy of the steamer Namoa on the China coast some years ago. The fact, however, that there was much bloodshed indicates that, though probably surprised, the captain, officers, and crew made a desperate resistance.
The Free Press recalls the fact that in July 1893, four years ago, between the same ports, the Achineseaboardofthe Rajah Kongsi Atjeh rose and seized the vessel, murdering Captain J. Woods and Chief Officer, Mr. H. Alexander, and Killing passengers and crew indiscriminately to the number of 24 killed and 15 wounded.—Hongkong Daily Press.
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.