The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-17
WONDERFUL ADVENTURES IN TIE PACIFIC
NARRATIVE or NUTINIEs. coEsPIRAGIgs AND
BARFAkITIEs on BOARD FRENCH yYssvL
ArTsst and Condo mnation Of an American
and his Sunsrtngs IN a French Prison.

II has been wen said that "rutb is stranger than
Action" and the following narrative Of voyage be
fsre mentioned in the NEW YoRK HERALD, in the
French ship Enterprise commanded by Capt. Brian
scn supports the assertion. II IL true unpublished
recital of the perilous scenes Of mutny conspiracy
and barbarity which the ships company passed
through, and presents striking picture Of savage
hie in those islands.
In January 1S4S, the Enterprise French vessel,
lay at the Bay Of Islands, New Zealand, from
whence she was about to proceed on voyage
~ China. Her first mate was an American.
named Petty, who joined her here; and her crew
was chiefly composed of Frenchmen. IL being,
however, incomplete, from desertions, the mate
was commissioned 10 &c ashore and procure ad-
ditioRal hands; and while engaged in this duty
the first act Of insubordmation was manifested on
bsard-the men breaking out into revolt in oonso-
quencc Of the appointment Of the trst mate, COM
planning that he was too young to have the expo
Renee necessary for navigating the vessel The men
we're only persuaded to return to their duty by the
captain promising 70 take the ship TO 0taheite On
that day, the Enterprise sailed from the Bay Of
Islands, the crew continuing, however, to manifest
unwiltingnoss 10 perform their duty, and increased
dislike Of the first mate for his exertions to reduce
them 70 order. One Of the chief among the mn
tneers, was a sailor named Dorsoe, who, on being
asked the usual question. when aloft-had he seen
anything-repied, mo; and if ! should see any
thing VII lot report ID and # AM thing il seen |
viii not exert myself to pun after it OF capture Il =
Things continued thus unpeasanty for two mouths
when the captain announced that his provisions
would only last for another month, and ocnscoueut-
ly proposed to touch at one of the islands where
they could obtain pgs, yans and other articles of
Tefreshmont Having arrived at Of the islands Of
the independence group, where pigs could be Pro-
cured, the first mate went ashore with boats crew
OF Engishmen, shipped at Sydney and New Yea
land. he made tins selection because he wanted 10
be prepared for the antagonisn Of the natives and
therefore preferred those with whom he could con-
verse. The rest of the crew, who were all French
men, became ineensed at what they considered an
act of favoritism; and the captain to paeify them
supplied them with greg. Mr.. Petty returned to the
ship with store OF three months provisions. and
found al hands on board, including captain and Of
fsers, drunk. Some Of the commenced arming
themselves with handspikes whale lanees, harpoons
IKE, as II intending 10 attack him; but he SUMMON
cd the Englishmen to assemble aft; and the mutt
neers seeing these preparations for resistance threw
down their arms and returned to their duty In a
Few minutes afterwards, Dorsoe and another man
named Joseph Picket, attempted TO force their yay
into the cabin; but Captain Brancon felled Dorsoc
70 the deck with the stock Of pistol This ended
the first revolt; but the discomfort on board cor
tinued TO increase; and the French portion of the
crew became more and more exasperated against
the mate, alleging that he had entered into n cor
spiraey with the Englishmtn to massacre them; and
the only means employed by the captain to keep
them quiet was giving them plentiful supply Of
grog The result Of these measures was that all be-
came disconnected, and part excessively nsolent
and mutinous.
In the meantime, the Enterprise had arrived on
the whaling ground, in April, 1913 and calling at
one Of the islands Of the Kings Mills group, for
tho purpose Of obtaining nuts, SC, three
Of the deserted The Captain eudeayoled to
replace them al Pesoots but not being able to DO
20, he went 10 Clarks, and thence to SIMPSONS.
where they lost five men more, the remainder Of the
crew showing q logged resolution not TO perform
their duty effectively, so that il became evden. no
good could be expected from them. and the Captain
determined TO so into port ship crew, obtain
provisions, and commence again. This plan how
ever, was not acted on. Being short Of wood and
water, the ship anchored at Ualan, an island Of tho
Caroline group, and directly on the route to China,
whittier the Captain proposed ultimately to proceed
While lying at this island, the Captain was induced
10 make arrangements with the king for a cargo Of
beech de Ia mer, which was to be prepared
by the natives during the time necessary for the
ship to proceed to China and return with the rum,
tobacco, cloth, &c, with which to pay for the
cargo. After remaining some time TO witness the
sports Of the sayages, the Enterprise sailed for
China, leaving the man Picket on the island TO
suferintend the curing Of the fish. After long
and severe passage they reached Hong Kong. whore
they came to anchor on the lith Of August, having
FOR several days existed the provisions that they
begged from the fishermen on the coast, their own
being exhausted. They then proceeded TO Macao,
by order Of the French ambassador. Here the
sew remaining strangers on board were discharged.
their engagement having been only for the one
cruise but the first and the second mate remained
the Captain not consenting to part with them. The
FIRST Of the Captain then procure the ne
cessaTy advances for the voyage Ualan and by HE
representation he induced the French ambassador 10
exercise his influence for that purpose, authorizing
him TO mortgage the ship for the necessary
ever, none Of the established money lenders would
make the needful advance for the French revolution
of Is4S had destroyed all commercial confidence;
and the proximity Of strong naval station, belong
ing Great Britain, made the position q the enter
prise Irccarous, III a war should break out be-
tween France and England, event which was
supposed inevitable. Under these circumstances the
French ambassador conceived the idea Of entering
into the speculation himself. not doubling but il
would return him an immense profit. A il coud
not, however openly engage IN any such tIausac-
tcn, he put forward French adyeLturer named
Antonio lignoii, an ambitious, unprlrcpled te-
rate man, having no mmendaton except his
great physical strength, aud t. whom the mortgage
Of the ship executed, the ambassador advancing
the stipulated sum. During these negotiations the
frst and second mates procured their discharges.
with the intention Of getting berths on another
sci, but, not having succeeded IA doing -, the first
mate was induced 70 join the Enterprise again
Elliott (the second matc), however, formed
engagement with one LaiOn for the purpose Of
defIauding Gantain BrancNn ~ LIS nuLici ratel