Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-04-08

ship ran down 10 and took along side--they con.
tinuing in pursuit of others. At o'clock p
NJ, the mates boat being about mile and o
half from the ship, her signal was discovered ai
Ihalf-mast, and he Immediately pulled towards
her. The singular and unaccOuniable manage
mcnt Of the ship for some time previous, had
already been remarked by those in the boat, and
excited the liveliest npprchensions as they APP
preached her. < 20 FJ iItTaI-
Coming up upon her quarter within speak,
ing distance, the boy who was aoft and had cut
the main-top-gallant halyards, told Mr.. Smith,
the mate, that the islanders had killed Captain
Norris, and were in possession of The ship
Just then one Of them, armed with cutting
spade and entirely Naked leapcd upor the taft
rail, and brandishing his weapon with most fu.
rious and menacing gestures, dared the crew TO
come on board. The other two were also ma
ked, and stationed one on each side of the ship,
where they had collected all the whaling craft,
Ibillets Of wood, hammers, belaying-pins, in
short, every thing that would serve as missile
or offensive weapon, determined TO repel any
attempt 20 board. The fourth native Of The
same islands was in the boat, and one Of the mu
tineers ADDRESSED him in his own language, tell
ing him, what they had done and inviting him to
join them. He made gesture of disapproval,
upon which the other caught up the cooks axe,
and hurled it at him with such precision of
aim, though ships length distant, that it cut
through the back of his shirt as he stopped to a.
void the blow. A shower of missiles followed,
thrown with such force that the bone belaying-
pins were broken into several pieces on striking
The boat, but fortunately no one was seriously
injured by them. The mate then ordered Man
uel 10 cut the maintop-gallant sheets and main
topsail halyards, and to go forward on the stay
and cut the halyaIds of The head-sails and clear
them from the yards which was done. The
task of retaking the ship was evidently one of
extreme difficulty and danger, for the mutineers
had the advantage Of position and plentiful
supply of arms, with the resolution and skill TO
use them effectively, so that the second mate
and his crew, who had in the meantime come
up, were called TO consult upon the best course
to pursue. 1t was proposed that both boats
should advance and board the Ship one upon
each side, at the same time; but Mr.. Smith, up
on whom by the melancholy catastrophe on
board, the responsibility and duties of master
had dcvolved, thought that proper regard for
the interest OF the owners as well as for the
safety Of the men under his command, rccI;rcd
him TO avoid all personal risk, for which reason
ne proposed that both crews should take the
alone TO await the issue. This proposal met
with no favor, the men declaring wish rather
TO start for the ne lrest land-fve or six days'
sail distant-and the second mate relishing il so
little that he suffered his boat 10 drop astern out
Of talking distance.
Mr.. Clough, the third mate, who acted as Mr..
Smiths stccrsman since the ship was short
manned, had darted his lance several fines at
the naked savage on the rail, but for the want
Of sufficient warp it fell short three or four feet
at each trial he requested therefore, that the
boat might be pulled within reach, as the fellow
kept his position without fiinching and insolent-
ly defied him; but the mate thought the danger
to great, and refused TO crafty him. He then
offered TO go aboard over the bows, if the boy
would cut the fore-royal stay and let the end
fall overheard, so that he could ascend it TO the
jib-boom with a lane c-warp in his teeth: but the
boy Manuel had become so exhausted by fright
and fatigue that he was unable TO get up TO the
royal-nast-head to execute his part of the task
His next plan and the one he executed was,
that both boats should pull ahead of the ship,
and when it was quite dark, taking every pre-
caution 10 avoid excl iting the suspicion of the
mutineers, he would Jump into the sea, and pas
sing close by the side of the ship, enter her by
the cabin windows. The ship and boats were
surrounded by sharks, attracted probably by the
carcass of the whale killed in the morning, TO
defend himself against which he took boat
knife in his teeth, and let himself into the wa
ter as silently as possible. At the same mo-
ment the ship took aback and it became neces-
sary TO swim but to ''strke outp and make the
best Of his way would cause sparkling of the
water, and betray his approach 10 the look out,
so tEat he was obliged TO "walk water" by
which scarcely any agitation was made and
almost as little progress. 1t was tedious pas
sage of more than an hour and half duration,
terminated at length by diving under the ship,
seizing the rudder at the heel, and ascending by
the after part of it TO the starboard cabin win
dow, through which he made his entry. Two
large sharks were close 10 the boat when he
left her, ana kept him company the whole time
without Offering TO molest HIM, and the knife,
which luckily had been useless, he left upon
the transom as he got in at the window.
He then divested himself OF his clothing, that
the enemy might have no advantage over him on
the score of nakedness should they come TO close
quarters, and applied himself 10 listening 10 Zoe
movements upon deck; as these indicated that
there were yet no suspicious Of his presence, he
then proceeded to search for arms and anuniton
| Two c'itlaases were soon fonud, and amongst al
the muskets, two only were fit for service, Sc
far as he could judge BY careful handling i
was too dark to see; every locker in the cabir
was then ransacked for powder and ball, which
being found, the muskets were loaded an,
placed with thSoeutlasses at the foot of the cabil
Stairs; while engaged in loading fowling piece
he heard step in the ganSway and some ON
descended the stairs, hitting the arms at th-
bottom and knocking them downupon I he floor
Mr.. Clough ran TO the spot, but unable to SCI
anything, CROPPED about by the intruder's fee
till he caught hold of cutlass, with whioh
ran him through the body; as nc drew it out