Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-10-04

J. WATSON WEBB.
z.-.-@--@
The MurINY OF THE BRAoASzA.-Ihe
following letter, which we copy from the
Philadelphia Gazette, written by the owner
Of the Braganza, and describing the mutlny
OH board that vessel, the first account of
which reached us through the English papers,
will be interesting to many OF our readers,
when they are informed that tho writer ID no
other than Captain Dchl, who stood in such
high favor with the travelling public, while in
the command of the steamboat Independence,
plyiDg between New York ana South Amboy.
Communicated for the Philadelphia Gazette. ]
LIVERPOOL, Sept. 6, 1898.
| Dear Brother,-We arrived here on the
Both ult. from Greenock. ! wrote you n
the lst inst. by the Scotland, enclosing a
detailed account OF the loss Of the Braganza;
at foot give you an abbreviated statement.
purpose leaving here for home on the 9Th
instant by the Algonquin, aud hope to be
with you by the middle Of October.
! We proceeded ON our voyage to Genoa
without any remarkable circumstance until
the 9Th Of August, when at 2 o'clock A. NJ.
being in lat. between 81 and 80 north, and
Ion. between I3 and IA west, IN alarm Of
inutiny by the crew was given by the first
mate the captain and second mate ran upon
deck but were soon overpoweIed and thrown
overheard; the second mate regained the
deck and rctreated to the cabin, completely
disabled by blows from a handspike; the
captain was drowned the first mate was
literally cut TO pieces, but succeeded in
gaining the cabin. The only efficient weap-
on on hoard was a cutass which the captain
had. The ladies' and myself were in the
cabin, expecting every moment they would
come down and murder US, having no means
whatever of defence bot 10 our surprise,
ediately on their getting possession Of
the deck they closed the cabin companion
way aud skylight by mailing and placing
heavy chains over them. After daylight they
threatened to close the cabin headlights il
we did not give up every thing of value in
the cabin, which we were forced to comply
with knowing that we should smother it they
put their threat in execution.
On Tuesday, the 9Th, early in the morning,
we discovered smoke proceeding from the
hold, and expected that they had set fire to
the vessel upon our asking the cause OF the
smoke, they said they were satisfied there
was more property IN the cabin, and unless
we gave it up, they would smoke us TO death.
| had great difficulty in convincing them that
We had given them all, but eventually auc.
ceeded, ard they withdre W the fre-tor some
time the smoke was SO dense, that we were
nearly sutfocating. Nothing material oc-
CURED on the 9Th, 9th or 10Th, though we
were in molnentary expectation that they
would come before and murder US, from the
constant uproar and confusion they kept up
day and night inme diately over our heads.
On tho iti,, they demanded parley with
me over the taffral. and proposed that we
should leave the brig in the jolly boat and
endeavor 10 gain u vessel they stated was in
sight from the mast head, 10 which objected,
as in the first place ! did not believe they
saw a vessel, aud secondly, knew that the
Jolly boat would not swim with us ten min
utcs.
Alter few moments conversation togeth-
er they requested Mrs. ID. and myself to
come OH deck, TO which we consented, think.
ing that matters could not well be worse on
our reaching the deck they all stood at the
companion way with their knives in hand,
but did not attempt to iDjuro us, though they
had previously observed that il was neces.
sary To destroy us TO save themselves. Aiter
we had been on deck about an hour they
proposed that we should leave the brig in the
long bont, (Which they previously fitted out
for thcRsclves.) to which we consented, and
about 3 o'clock the second mate, Mrs. Turley,
Mrs, d., myself and the cook (who had been
confined in the iorecastle,) left the brig in
what they considered themselves lat. al n,
long. IL W., $50 pes from land. Previous
to leaving the brig we urged that they would
allow US TO take the first mate along with US,
although he was in q wretchcd condition from
his wounds, which they refused, stating That
they would take care OF him themselves.
On leaving the brig we stccred for the
Portuguese ccast all TINT day aud night ; at
daylight we discovered two vessels. chased
one of them until 10 o'clock, but could not
reach her and gave it up-at that time saw
another steering towards us, pulled for her,
and at 3 p. NJ. she discovered and bore up
for us, aud at half-past three were received
on board the brig Hcbden, Capt WIN. Is.
Fowler, Of Scarboro, Eng, bound from Sicily
to Grcenock, where we arrived on the 25th
ult. The American consul at Greenock of.
fered us no assistance or protection whatever
and had it not been for the unbounded kind.
ness Of Capt. Fowler, it is difficult to say to
what extremties we would have been forced,
having no clothes, except what we stood in,
aud not cent OF money.
GEORGE N. DlEHL.