The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-21 00:00:00

MUTINY AND LOSS OP LITE •T BLACKWALD

One of the most shocking occurrences that has
occurred in the 'Thames for many years took place late on
Thursday night, or early yesterday morning, the
mew of the Peruvian corvette Arica, quartered aboard
the hulk Venus, which had been lent by the authorities,
lying in the river off Blackwell stairs. The affray, which
lasted through the greeter part of the night, was of the
roost desperate and suiguinary character, resulting, it is
said, in the death of two officers ad several of the men.
The Arica has beet for some time past in the West India
Docks fitting oat. On her arrival in the river the
mew were triuisferred to the Venus bulk. They numbered
about 160 men, of whom, it is understood. 90 were soldiers.
They were under the command of Captain Guar Ecurria.
It appears that on Thursday the soldiers were
allowed to go on shore, when a somber of them got intoxi-
cated, and upon returning to the hulk at night
contrived to smuggle • quantity of liquor on board. A
some of disorder and riot soon ensued, and the soldiers re.
fused to obey the orders of their officers. The latter,
finding that all their effort. to enforce discipline were
without avail, called out the sailors to secure the mat dis-
orderly, and to clear the decks. This apparently roused
the soldiers to frenzy, and they resisted with fury. A fear-
ful affray ensued over nearly the whole ship. The sailors
were armed with waken, and bayonets, but were, it
would seem, without ammunition. Whether the soldiers
were possessed of their side-arms we have been unable to
ascertain, but it is alerted that they made use of all the
weapons they could ley hands on. The tumult and dis-
order on the mein deck were fearful, the soldiers, maddened
with drink, sadeavouring to overpower the sailors ; but the
latter, by the free use of the bayonet, drove them down
between decks. Here • kinclot.hand to hand struggle
took place, and the soldiers for a length of time managed
to prevent the sailors following them. At this juncture
Captain Ecurria, who happened to be at his lodgings ashore,
was sent for, and epeedily arrived. The fight still con-
tinued, and the sailors were openly defied and kept at bay.
The captain, with drawn cutlass, dashed down amongst the
mutineers, and the sailors seising the moment followed. A
fearful encounter mate, and the yells and shrieks of
the excited and drunken ewe could be heard ate consider-
able distance. For • time it was difficult to say which side
would prevail, and it was no doubt during this terrible
period of the content that one of the officers, Ensign Fran-
cisco Vidal, was thrown overboard and perished, and it is
feared that others who are reported to be mining met with
a similar fate. The glass and framework of the portholes
were broken out, and the weaker of the combettinta were
seen to scramble over the side of the vessel into the boats
alongside. This state of things continued until towards
daybreak, when the soldiers were somewhat overpowered,
although the uproar was by no mesas silenced. When order
had been to a certain extent restored, and some of the ring-
leaders secured and placed under • gnard, an examinatioa
took plea of the deck, end it was found that two soldiers
were lying dead and several ethers was seriously if sot
maeglly wounded. In the cabin ware fined the remains of
a midshipman named Guardia Marina, who bad died
while the fight was at its height. It appears that be had been
ailing, and it is believed that the excitement consequent on
the fearful WON around him brought on his death. The
two soldiers who were killed were named Pablo
Vasquez, 25 ears of age, and Simon Garcia, aged 24.
Both received bayonet wounds, and one of them had
sustained • fearful blow on the head, apparently from the
butt end of • musket. The three wounded soldiers were
discovered to be seriously injured with punctured wounds
over the head and chest. The doctor attached to the ship
was soon in attendance on them, but owing to the dreadful
confusion that prevailed it was difficult to administer aid.
Shortly after daybreak the Thames police put themselves in
communication with Captain Barra, and measures were at
nuns taken for the greeter security of the ringleaders. The
Peruvian minister sad anal were apprised of the outbreak,
and they immediately repaired to the ship and instituted an
inquiry into the circumstances. In the course of the day
Dr. Braunfield, the surgeon to the police of the district, was
requested to visit the ship, to see the dead and wounded
men, and advise the medical officer of the vessel as to the
treatment of the sufferers. Hopeless accounts are given as
to the state of two of the sufferers. The last reports from
the ship state that the men had become calm, bat mast
stringent measures have been takes to prevent a renewal
of the outbreak : additional heavy frees were sent down to
the ship from Lades. Last night the bodies of the deceased
soldiers were braced on shore in boats, and conveyed to
Poplar deadbeats to await as inquest, information having
been forwarded to lir. Humphreys, the coroner.