Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-02-02
From The North American Review.
A .Uutanv In the q EdCn Time.


A .Muttny tn the Otdcn Time.
The Hermione, frigate Of the British
Navy, was cruising. on the evening of the
SOL, of September 1907, off the west end
Of Porto Rico. Her commander, Captain
Pigott, was rough officer. whose orders
seemed 10 be inspired by the worst spirit
of .the forecasile, unchastened by the re-
finement of the quarter deck. or the hui
mainly whichis the highest grace alike Of
the sailor and soldier. Some of the men
were reeing the topsails; when he cried
out that he would fog the last man Oft the
mizen-topsail yard. The poor sailors
understood the character of their comman-
der, and felt that this was not an empty
threat, although the chance of punishment
would naturally fall upon the outermost
man, and consequently the most exposed
to danger. Each resolved to escape the
threatened punishment, and two OF them,
who from their position outside. could not
reach the rigging, made spring to get
over their comrades. They missed their
hold, fell to the quarter deck, and were
killed. This being represented to the cap
tain, he is said 10 have made an answer !:
" Throw the lubbers overheard In lit
tie more than twenty four hours, the mutt
ny broke out.-Double headed sho. we-e
thrown about the ship, and other disorder.
ly acts committed. first lieutenant
went below to inquire into the cause OF
the disturbance. He was knocked down
with tomahawk, his throat cut, and his
body thrown overheard. The captain had
already retired to sleep, unconscious OF
danger. His fate we give in the words OF
a witness in court:
Hearing noise upon the deck, he i'm
mediately ran out of his cabin. when, be-
ing badly and repeatedly wounded, he
was at length obliged to return. He had
reached his cabin, and was sitting on a
couch, faint with the loss of blood, when
four men entered with bayonets fixed.
Crawley headed them. Captain Pigott,
weak as he was, held out his dirk and
kept them off. They seemed for mo-
ment appalled, by the sight Of their
commander, when Crawley exclaimed,
What! four against one, pc! afraid Here
goes them and buried his bayonet in the
body of Captain Pigott. He was followed
by the others. who with their bayonets,
thrust him through the port, and he was
heard 10 speak as he went astern.-The
second lieutenant was now dragged across
the deck, stretched out his hands, and
crying, Mercy! mercy after receiving
many wounds. he was drawn up the lad
der by the hair of his head, to be thrown
overheard. 1t was then that his own ser-
want rushed upon him with Ratchet in
his hand. crying out, Let me have cut
at him;' on saying which he dreadfu.ly
wounded his own master. The lieuten>
ant of marines, though sick in his cabin,
was taken and thrown overheard. The
other officers, nine in number were cut TO
pieces.
Confusion now had made his masterpiece
The flag of ST. George descended from
the masthead /; and the mutineers took pos
session of the ship, which they conducted
to the Spanish port of La Guayra, and
surrendered to the government, Spain be-
ing at that time at war with England.
But the doom of the pirate is inevitable.
He is pursued as if by the memorable fate
of the ancients. There is no recess in
the ocean, no pathway on the waters.
where he can find shelter. The arm of
civilization is more searching even than
that Of Rome, in the days of her greatest
power, when the unfortunate victim sought
in vain, OH the distant ,Iurr, Of ti1c Cas-
plan, or far away from the sun, in Bril-
toin IN do " frn IL &c
the emperor. The law of the civilized
world treats the pirate as the common enc.
my of man. 1t fastens on him the VOLTS
head, and he is hunted to the utmost part
OF the sea. One by one, or in small mum.
bers, the crew Of the Hermlone fell into
the hands of the government of their coun-
try, and were brought to trial. Some were
executed at Portsmouth; others IN the port
OF st. domingo; and the remains of MANY
tor long time swung from gibbets on the
sandy keys at the entrance of Port Royal
harbor, in the Island of Jamaica. No long
period elapsed before the frigate which had
been the scene Of this appalling outrage,
by remarkable act of naval hardhood.
was cut out of the harbor of Porto Cavalho
where she was lying under the shelter Of
two hundred pieces of cannon mounted on
batteries, and again restored at the British
navy under the name of the Retribution
Afterwards, at Portsmouth, some Of her
former crew, convicted Of piracy, suffered
death at Ter yard arm.
Love OF HoME.-The Irish are often
rldlculed or condemned for Wanting the
comfortable homes they have left behind
tknsy h.