Complex sentence: The crew were upset about the fire and Captain Pollard swore vengeance on whoever had set it, fearing a whipping, it was to be some time before Chappel admitted to being the culprit.
Split into simpler sentences: The crew were upset about the fire and Captain Pollard swore vengeance on whoever had set it. Fearing a whipping, it was to be some time before Chappel admitted to being the culprit.