The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-19
! MUTINY IN THE OLDEN TIME.

The Hermione, a frigate of the British Navy,
was cruising, on the evening of the 30th Septem-
Der, 1897, off the west end Of Porto Rico. Her
commander, Captain Pigott, was rough officer,
whose orders seemed to be inspired by the worst
spirit of the forecaste unchastened by the refine
rlent Of the quarterback, or the humanity which
is the highest grace alike Of The sailor and sol
der Some Of the men were reeting topsalls,
when he cried out that he would fog the last
man or the mizzen-topsail yard. The poor sail
ors uulessteod iAe ahasactef at their commander.
and felt that this was not an empty threat, all
though the chance of punishment would natu-
rally fall upon the outermOst man, and conse-
quently the most exposed to danger. Each re.
solved to escape the threatened punishment, and
two Of them, who from their position outside,
could not reach the rigging, made spring TO
hold, fell on the quarterback, and were killed.
This being represented to the captain, he is said
to have made answer, throw the lubbers over
board" in little more than twenty-four hours
the mutiny broke out. Double-headed shot were
thrown about the ship, and other disorderty acts
committed The first lieutenant went below to
inquire into the cause of the disturbance He
was knocked down with a tomahawk, his throat
cut, and his body thrown overheard The Cap
tain had already retired to sleep, unconscious OF
danger. His fate we give in the words Of wit
ness in court:
Hearing noise upon the deck, he imme-
diately ran out of his cabin, when, being badly
and repeatedly wounded, he was obliged to re-
turn. He had reached his cabin, and was sitting
on couch, faint with the loss of blood when
four men entered with fixed bayonets. Craw-
ley headed them. Captain Pigott, weak as he
was, he'll out his dirk and kept them of. They
seemed for moment appalled, by the sight Of
their commander. when Crawey exclaimed,
What! four against one, yet afraid Here goes,
them and buried his bayonet in the body OF Cap
tain Pigott. He was followed by the others,
who wi h their bayonets, thrust him through
the port, and he was heard to speak as he went
astern. The second lieutenant was now drag
ged across the deck, stretching out his hands
and crying Mercy mercy' After receiving
many wounds, he was drawn up the ladder by
the hair of the head, to be thrown overheard.
II was then that his own servant rushed out upon
HIM with Ratchet in his hand, crying Let
me have cut at him. on saying which, he
dreadfuly wounded his own master. The lieu
tenant of the marines, though sick in his cabin,
was taken and thrown overheard. The other
officers, nine in number, were cut 10 pieces" !
"Confusion now had made his masterpiece"
The flag of St. George descended from the
mas, head and the mutineers took possession OF
The shin. which they conducted to the Spanish
port of La Guayra, and surrendered TO the gov
eminent, Spain being at that time at war with
England. But the doom of the pirate is inevita-
Bile. He is pursued as if by the inexorab!e fate
Of the ancienls. There is no recess in the ocean,
no pathway on the waters, where he can find
shelter. The arm of civilization is more search
ing even than that of Rome. IN the days of her
greatest p wer, when the unfortunate victim
sought 10 vain, on the distant shores of the Cas-
man, or, far away from the sun, in Britain, to
hide himself from the vengeance of the Empe-
ror. The law Of the civilized world treats the
nitrate as the common enemy of man. II fastens
on him the VOLTS head, and he is hunted TO the
uttermost part of the sea. One by one, or in
sma numbers together, the crew Of the Her
mione fell into the hands Of the government Of
their country, and were brought to trial. Some
were executed at Portsmouth; others in the
port Of St Domingo; and the remains OF many