Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-09-28

THE MUTINY.

. Lieutenant Bligh had been for several year
sailing-master in the Resolution of the celebrates
circumnavigator, Captain Cook; and in the yea
1887 was intrusted with the command OF his ma
jesty King George the Thirds armed ship tn
Bo,tntu, on an interesting expedition to the Soutl
Sea islands-namely, acting on the suggestion o
Sir Joseph Banks, who had visited Otaheite witt
Captain Cook in l769-to try the experiment D
introducing plants of the bread-fruit tree, which
supplied their food to the Otaheitans, into th
West Indies The Bounty set sail from Sptheat
on the 23d December 1857. Mr. Bligh was theI
In the very prime of life-about thirty three years
of age. He returned to England and landed a
Portsmouth on the 18th of March 1890; having
experienced, during that brief interval, such a dis
astrous adventure as will, with its incidents, al
ways associate his name with one of the most pain
fully interesting passages in our naval history
How little he thought of il as he issued in buoy,
ant spirits from Spithead The Bounty was O.
2l5 tons burden, and, including Bligh, botanlst
and gardener, carried forty-six persons On the
Goth Of the ensuing October, they reached Ota
heite (now called Tahiti), and met with a very
friendly reception from the natives, who supplied
them in abundance with roasted pig and bread
fruit during delightful stay of six months during
which Mr. Blgh succeeded in collecting upwards
of thousand plants of the bread fruit tree. With
these they Quilted Tahiti in the spring OF l1o9
ON their way to the West Indies. MIR. Bligh,
though an able commander, seems to have been o
a somewhat hasty temper; and 1t IS possible thai
he and the masters mate, Mr.. Fletcher Christian
lived not on the best terms together. The latter
was Young man, only twenty -four years old, o
respectable family, of talent in his profession, and
possessed of daring and adventurous spirit.
On the evening of the 9th of April 1889, the
commander invited him to supper, but he declln-
ed having, doubtless, by that time conceived the
audacious purpose which he afterwards 50 quickly
carried into effect. This memorable night was
one distinguished even in the tropical regions fol
its tranquil loveiness; and we may conceive the
commander of the Bounty, as his vessel softly
cave the sparkling waters, and his sails glstened
in the silver moonlight, pacing the deck, and en-,
loving the beauty of the hour. But who can tell
what an hour may bring forth? He was woke
out of sleep at break of day by startling vision
his cabin full of men armed with pistols and cut
lasses, headed by Mr.. Christian! On his calling
out TO know what they meant, a voice sternly ex-
claimed, "Hold your tongue, sir, or you are dead
this instant!" With oaths and great violence
they tied his hands behind his back, without CIV
ing him time to dress and then, hurrylng him on
deck, forced him, with eighteen persons, chiefly
officers, superior and petty, into the ships launch
finging to them about 80 ID. Of pork, l5O ID. o.
bread, % gallons of water, quarts of rum, bot
ties of wine, cutlasses, quadrant, compass
and small quantity of canvass, twine, and cord
are The heartless mutineers then sailed away
leaving their unfortunate commander, and amos
all his officers-nineteen persons-ln boat on lne
Pacific ocean ouly % feet long, and feet inch.
es broad, heavily laden, and without any awning
Could the mutineers have foreseen what was IN
store for them, they would not have dared re-
tributlve Providence, and might have reflected
little on an old English maxim-"Begln nothing
of which YOU have not well considered The end
Which Jared worse, the mutineers or their VIC
tins. remains TO be seen. We shall rapidly fol
low the course of each.
THE BOAT ADRIrT.
Here is scope for the imagination, and for sym
pathy. What will be thought of slight oper
buat. THIS crammed with human beings, perform
inU yoyape across the ocean of nearly four thou
sand miles? Well indeed, and often, might they
have exclaimed, on their lonely and perilous voy
age,
.Ye gentlemen of England, that dwell at home
at ease,
All! little do you think upon the dangers of 'h'
seas!"
The ship left the hapess boats crew at about thr
~ miles distance from Totoa, one Of the Frendl.
Islands. and the first thing the latter attempted
was TO land at the island, to procure bread-frui
and water. The savages, however, received then
barbarously, attacking them with stones, and bea
them off the Island, where they left dead one o
their number. who had gallantly remained last oi
shore to push the boat off. The savages surroun
ded and killed him on the spot and others pushe'
off in canoes to attack the unfortunate boats crew
who. it must be remembered, had not been vouch
safed single piece of firearms for their protec
, tion Some cloths thrown into the water to a
muse their pursuers, however, diverted their at
teption and Mr.. Blgh and his friends escape
massacre But what was now to be done &
/ Whittier were they to direct their course!
! ..The world was all before them, where to choos
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide !
After much consideration, Mr.. Bligh obtained hi
companions concurrence in proposal to make TO
! Dutch settlement ON the island of llmor Co
which they knew nothing but the name), dis
tance of 36lS miles! The gunwales OF the boa
. were only six inches above the water, and 1t l
easy to imagine the misery to which eighteen peo
ole were 10 be so long consigned, even regarding
only their cabined, crbbed, confined condition
thew were to traverse the ocean by day, by night
in all weathers, over space of comparatively un
explored ocean, equal to nearly sixth OF the en-
tire circumference of the globe. They started up
on their voyage on the I'd ofMay ;all Mr. Bligh'
company having solemnly promised him TO be con
tent with one ounce of bread and quarter of
pint of water per day apiece. One halt OF then
were to be on the look out, while the others Ia
down in the boats bottom; and not having roof
5 to stretch their limbs, and being exposed to con
slant wet and colds, they suffered, poor souls
quickly and severely from cramps, which almos
, disabled them from moving limb. What look
out BY day and by night! One can imagine then
: often gazing down into the depth beneath them
S within a. few inches from its surface, and watch
inc the dark shadows of the sharks fitting aroun
them, waiting for banquet. which any sudde
e caprice or accident might bring them! After nv
days' SAIL they were startled to find two large ca
noes, filled with cannibals, making toward ther
at top speed from the Feejee islands The canoe
continued the chase till within two miles dis
tance, when they gave it up. Sharks benealf
: cannibals behind, storms above and below !-wha
e sources of fear and misery what long hours
= loneliness and terror must have been theirs e
r They encountered tremendous thunder-storms-
by one of them, shortly after starting on their voy
age, they were very nearly swamped; ye: thes
a brave and good souls placed their hopes in God,
, whom they often addressed devout prayer, com
posed for them by their commander, partly iror
4 his recollection Of the Prayer book. lie wrote
+ in small blank signal book, now extant; and
contains humble confession of sins on the part
those suffering under the divine chastisement, IT
e vokes the projection of the Almighty in their mis-
/ cry and danger, and returns thanks to Him VIII
spared their lives from day to day. Poor big
: tried as long as he could to note few observe