The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1845-04-11
Mufimy and Murder.


The New York Courier and ENQUIRER
from the New Bedford Mercury,
the following interesting narrative of mu.
tiny, accompanied with murder, which oc~
CURED on boardof the whaling ship Sharon,
in November, 1942, and the manner in
which the vessel was retaken By single
gallant sailor, the third mate Trop:c.
The Sharon after a cruize near the Caro>
line Islands, had procured supplies at As
cension, and was preparing for the voyage,
when eleven her crew deserted, and were
not retaken. She shipped new crew Of
seventeen including six natives of the Is
lands. On Sunday, Nov. 6, in latitude 2
deg. 20 sec. NJ, longitude 1872 deg. East,
both boats were lowered in chase of whales,
Capt. Norris, Portuguese boy, who acted
as steward, and three of the natives being
left on board. The boats soon captured a
whale, which the ship took alongside, and
the boats went in pursuit Of another. At
three o'clock p. NJ, the boat of Mr.. Smith,
the mate, being about mile and a half
from the ship, perceived signal flying, and
pulled towards her. On coming within
hailing distance, they were told BY the boy,
who was alOEt, that the natives had killed
Captain Norris, and were in possess of the
ship. Just then, one Of The natives, entire
lily naked, leaped upon the taffrail, and
Ibrandishing a spear, dared the crew to
come on board. An armed native stood
guard at each side, and hammers Delaying
pins and other missiles had been collected
for their use, and were hurled furiously a
the boat, though without much injury.
The mate then waited for the other boat
and consulted as to the best method of re
, taking the ship. 1t was proposed that TIT
boats SHOULD advance and board her, one
upon each side at the same time, but Mr.
Smith, the mate. who had become maste
} by the captains death, proposed that bott
I crews should make the attack with one boat
IaRd leave him in the other. This propose
was received with no faVor-the men de
claring they would sooner start for The near
est land, and risk the chGitse of escape
: Mr.. ClOugh, who had acted as Mr. Smith
steersman, had several times daFted hi
lance at the savage on the tafffail; but tn
: distance was toe great, and he requested I
+ Ibe rewed nearer but MR. SlIEitiIs .tls0uiyE
J. the danger too great, and refused to ap
1 proach the ship.
!. Mr.. Clough proposed several other dew
ices, but in default Of aid from others, r.
Q lsolved to retake the ship himself. He az
Icordingly, after dark, was taken by the bot
ahead Of the ship, at some distance, to avol
9 exciting suspicion, and taking a knife
4 his teeth to defend himself from sharI
Q (which had been attracted by the whale
i SWAMI to the ship. after hard struggle Of a
y hour and half, during which two sharl
kept him company, but did not offer 10 m,
y lest him. Having reached the ship, he
g we'd under, seized the rudder at the hee
y and climed to the starboard cabin windoV
e throgh which he made his entry. Layir
e aside his clothing, and ascertaining that i
Ie suspicious existed of his being on board,
10 lgroped about for arms, and found two Gu
y lasses and two muskets, which he lOade
2, While loading one, he heard some one d
OF scending the stairs. Running thither
n gFasped cutlass, and a struggle ensued.,
d. Mr.. ClOugh succeeded in throwing his a
IN tagonlst, thrust cut one his eyes and K
him for dead, having been seVerely woun
ny ed himself in the contest. No sooner b
Il he left bis supposed victim, than he got
BY and furiously renewed the attack, but fin
1t ly fell down from loss of blood. Mr.. Cloul
e. going again to the gangway, saw anotl
ne person with cutting spade he shot b
OF from below through the heart, but just as
nj fired the spade was thrown at him and d
he abled his left arm. IA thin person came
ed the gangway with another spade but Sc
by went forward.
cir Mr.. Clough then hailed the boats VIII
The were very. near. told them be had hi
two Of the mutiners, and was himself d
geFousIy Roldded, and urged them'to co
he at once on board. They refused, as q
out had heard but one discharge and feared Q
ed, one had been killed they did not thini
md safe. After about half an hour. hearing
be noise, they came aboard, struck light
ex- lwent into tie cabin. The man With WI
re-. Mr.. Clough had first commended was fol
ON on the tfansonl, bis eyes hanging on
nto cheek and lis body covered with gore.
st. ldid not move. 30, merely gFoaned, VIII
,od, lupon Mr.. Smith, the mate fred muske
be. him. and one Of The men thrust him thro
pa Nj, cutting spade he was then thro
rye linto The sea. The deck was tracked =
cks lclotted blood the headless body Of G
hills Norris was found, with that Of one Of
], Of Imurderers. The other mutineer jun
tied overheard, but returned, surrendered
was taken 70 Snydacy. The Sharon {