By the arrival of the Dutch schooner Swallow, we have received particulars of one of the most daring and murderous attacks of pirates we recollect ever to have heard of, or read. It appears that the Dutch war schooner Chamelion, commanded by Lieutenant Von Hougenyuizen, carrying sixteen guns and about sixty men, was sailing in company with a Residency schooner of six or seven guns. The Chameleon had on board a quantity of treasure from Minto, destined for the East Coast. The pirates would appear to have been aware of the fact of there being treasure on board, and they formed a plan of attack to capture the vessel. In the afternoon of the 26th April, when becalmed near Marawan, in the Straits of Gaspar, about forty prows, having in all nearly 1200 men, well armed, suddenly attacked the Chamelion, and the Residency schooner in company, but directed their efforts chiefly to the former vessel. The officers and crew of the Chamelion fought gallantly, but such was the determined, heavy and constant fire kept up from the pirate boats, that the war schooner was disabled, her sails and hull were completely riddled. The pirates now succeeded in capturing and securing the treasure on board the Chamelion, when they stabbed such of the gallant fellows as resisted (which every man on board did till the last) and sunk the vessel. The Residency schooner also sustained some injury and loss, but a favourable breeze having sprung up, she succeeded in escaping to Minto, and communicated the sad intelligence to the authorities. Straits Times.

SG 22 Aug 1846

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