RECAPTURE OF THE BRIG "THREE SISTERS" FROM THE RIFF PIRATES,

BY H.M.S. 'POLYPHEMUS,' COMMANDER J. M'CLEVERTY,

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.