Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-01-09
RICHMOND, Va, July /, 1850.

ldQ d BfCdl lAltuu VI hSe iOeAAAAS JoA AuOWS
for know il will be heart.rending news
to you all. So, my dear parents, forgive
me my past offences to you, as hope
God will have mercy on my soul, for
which hope you will pray, dear pa
rents.
lam now confined in Richmond coun-
ty iaiI with another person, and on no
less a charge than mutiny and murder
on the high seas. / will explain to you
the whole affair. was paid off from
a U. S. sloop Of war in December last.
She was stationed in the Gulf Of Mexi-
CO, and was persuaded by my ship
mats, elements. by name,) to take
short trip to the West Indies. So | con-
sented, knowing it would be but for two
or three months. and at my return it
would be good time to cross the Allan
tic. and view once more the scenes Of
nv early days. But Gods will must
be done, and instead of returning back
in ioy, | was confined in Jail to stand
nv trial on the first Monday in Novem-
Der next.
E. Clements and myself shipped on
board OF a schooner in Elizabeth City,
N. c., about 40 miles from Norfolk,
where | was paid off, and proceeded to
the West Indies. We touched at two or
three different islands until we arrived
at Port au Spain, Island of Trinidad,
where we discharged our cargo, and
took passenger on board, and proceed
ed to sea on the 9th ofJanuary last. On
that fatal night an affair took place, few
minutes after ] relieved the passenger
from the wheel. AT 10 o'clock the
mate and passenger went forward to
sway up the fore peak. This man
Clements, who belonged TO the watch
below, slept on deck this night, as he
generally was in the habit Of doing in
fair weather in that hot climate. The
mate aroused him up to sway up the
fore-peak Of the foresail, but it being
his watch below, he refused, and so a
scufie ensued. The mate took a piece
of handspike and struck him several
times; but after the afray was going
on in fierce combat, perceived that
the passenger had dirk or knife in his
hand. and was making towards Clements
with an intent, | expect, of killing him.
| then left the wheel and grasped the
passenger by the wrist, thinking to take
the knife from him, but he grabbed me
bv the thigh with one hand. and canted
me on the rail of the schooner. then
thought certainly would be thrown
overheard, but | twisted his dirk-knife
out of his hand, and to save myself |
had to turn his own weapon on himself,
when he fell to rise no more, and saved
me from a waiery grave; but | fear for
a worse one, as there was no witness
10 the affair. During this time Clements
had killed the mate with his sheath
knife. The Captain being In the cabin,
heard an unusual noise on deck. and
taking his pistols came on deck, and
without asking what was the matter
fred at Clements and me twice in sue
cession. We having brace of pistols
in the forecastle, we got them and de-
termined to defend ourselves. The
Captain, after firing, returned TO the
cabin, where he did not long remain,
but came on deck. while | stood by the
mainmast. The Captain, on seeing me,
fred the pistol at me. | then fired
mine and grazed his throat slightly, but
I did not know he was wounded.
then reloaded and went all to the cabin
door TO let him know how all this sad
affair occurred; but before could speak
TO him, he fred at me, and slightly
wounded me IN the nose, which can
scarcely be perceived. also fired my
pistol, but it being dark in the cabin, il
did no injury. So we went forward
and told the man that was in the forecas-
Tile (CostelIo) what had happened, and
we then all three determined to defend
ourselves in case the Captain should at
tack US. The vessel was close hauled
4 on a wind without any person at the
helm. In this deplorable condition we
remained for two days with little to eat
or drink, when we hailed the Captain
and asked him for the boat. After
some hesitation he said we could take il
and leave the vessel, which we conclu-
ded would be the safest, so as not to spill
a,y moro blood on either side. After
Clements and myself had got into the
boat. this other man took an axe and cuI
the BOATS painter. We expected all
the time that he would 60 with u.s.
So we were left at the mercy of the
seas. without chart, compass or quadrant.
We had two oars and sail. So imme-
diately after making sail on the boat, we
mt her before the wind, the North East
trade wind blowing in those latiiudes.-
In two days we reached a small island
W. VI wsre almost famished with hunger
- ,h;rs, We travelled some of this
;sland in quest Of water, but could not
Snd anv; but night coming on, we re-
,nrned TO find our boat, but missed our
w,v and did not find her then. so we
laid down on therocks almostin despair.
About twelve o'clock | awoke-ihe
moon being high in the heavens. /
found myself greatly refreshed, and we
proceeded to look for the boat, but we
did not 90 far before we fell in with two
Soanierds. The first thing we asked
for was drink Of water, and they gave
us about a quart which they had in a
caIabash-the first we had had since