The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-10
MUTINY ON BOARD THE ESSEX.

MUTlNY ON BOARD THE ESSEX.
While tho Essex was living at the Mar.
quesas Islands, recruiting her crew from
one of the long and arduous cruises in the
Pacific, Commodore Porter was informed
through a servant of one of the officers, that
q muiny had been planned, and was on the
eve of contamination. That il was The inten-
ton of the mulineers TO rise upon the OFF,
cers-take possession of the ship-and, af-
ter having remained as long as they found
agreeable al the island, to hoist the black
flag and cruise on their Owl account. -
Having satisfied himself of the truth Of the
information, Commodore Porter assembled
TO the quarter deck, and ordered all the crew
TO be summoned aft. Waiting till the last
man had come from below, he informed
them that he understood that muIiny was
on foot, and that he had summoned them for
the purpose of enquirIng into its truth.
"Those men who are in favor of standing
by the ship and her officers" said the Com
modo:e, "wil 90 over TO the starbuard side
those who are against them will remain
where they a:e.''
The crew 10 a man moved over 10 the
starboard side. The ship was still as the
grave. Fixing his eyes on them slernly for
a few moments the Commodore said
"Robert Whiie-siep out "
The man obeyed, standing pale and ag-
ialed-guilt stamped on every liGeament
of his CONFERENCE.-THE front of his COM
rades. The Commodore looked al him
moment-then seizing a cutlass frcm the
nearest rack, said in a suppressed voice. bW
in tones so deep that they are rung like
knell upon the ears Of the guilty among the
crew
Villain you are the ring leader of this
mutiny-jump overheard =
The man dropt on his knees, imP!onng
for mercy--saying that lie could not swim.
"Thcn drown, you scoundrel J" said the
Commodore, springing towards him to cut
him down." overheard instantly !" And
the man Jumped over The side Of the ship.
lie then turned 10 the trembling crew,
and addressed them with much feeliug--ihe
tears standing upon his bronzed check as he
spoke. He asked them what he had done,
that his ship should be disgraced by mu-
tiny. He asked whether he had ever dis
honored the fag-whcther he had ever treat
ed them with other than kindness--wheth'
err thev h I'd ever been wanting for any thing
TO their comfort. that discipline and the
rules ofthe service would alow--and which
it was in his power TO give. AT the close
of his address, he said
Men !-before came on deck, laid a
train 10 the magazine and ! would blown
all on BOARD 10 eternity before my ship
should have been disgraced by SGcc1;;is! 1l
mutiny-I never would have survived nc
dishouor of nv ship !-go TO your duty"
The men were much affected by the
Commodore's address, and immediately re-
turned 10 their duty, showing every sign OF
contrition. They were good crew, but
had been seduced bv the alluremehts of the
islands, and the plausible representations of
villain. That they did their duty to their
flag, it is only necessary 10 say--ihat the
same crew fought in the ship afterwards a
gainst the Phebe, and Cherub, in'the harbour
Of Valparaiso where, though the American
flag decended--it decended in blaze OF
glory, which will long shine on the pages Of
history.
But mark the sequel of this mu'iny--nnd
let those who, in calm security Of their fire.
sides, are so severe upon the course Of con-
duct pursued by officers in such critical sit
nations, see how much innocent blood would
have been saved, if White had been cut
down Instantly, or hung at the yard arm.-
As he went overheard, he succeeded in
reaching canoe, floating at little distance
and padded ashore. Some few months af-
forwards, when Lieutenant Gamble of the
MARINES was at the islands, in charge of one
OF the large prizes, short handed and in dis
trcss, this same White, at the heud Of par
ty of natives, attacked the ship, killed two
of the officers and number Of men, aud IL
was with great difficulty that she was pre-
vented from falling into their hands. The
blood of those innocent men, and The lives
of two meritorious officers, would have been
spared, if the wretch had been put 10 instant
deaih-as was the Commanders intention.
-SatGrddy Courier.