Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-07
A MUTIN,Y AT SEA.

The character of Musgrave was that of an
artful, and bold villain. In earlier days he
had been sailor, and being well skilled in nav
igation, was made master of merchant ship
trading between Boston and Liverpool Hav-
ing made several successful voyages, he acquired
the confidence and esteem of his employer, Mr..
Belden, wealthy merchant of Liverpool, who
was the father of the boy called William Mus
grave. lie was that friend to whom Musgrave
cantingly, though truly referred, as one to
whom, while living, he never looked in vain for
advice in difficulty, or solace in trouble. He
had given to Musgrave many and substantial
proofs of the sincerity and advantage of his
friendship. Before the ship cleared for the
last time from Liverpool, Mr. B@den determined
to make voyage in her to the Omitted States.
He had been engaged in extensive and slncess-
full speculations, and had lergo amougt of
funds accumulated in the latter country. These
facts were known to Musgrave sorae. days before
the ship was ready for sea and many of the
crew having abandoned tho gesssl, in lonse-
quence of unusual, and unreas-sss-4v, IN tgvses-
ment of them on the part of Musgrave but
short time before she sailed, he shipped other
hands in their stead, whose propensities for
good and evil he stealthily sought to develope,
and whose physiognomy would be but poor
letters of credit to any honest man. When Mr.
|
Belden, with his wife and child, went on board,
he noticed for the first time, the forbidding as
pect of the crew. 1t was then too late to re-
monstrate, and having full confidence in the
courage and fidelity of Musgrave, he permitted
the ship to be cut loose from her moorings and
got under way. Before they had made many
days sail, such demonstrations of mutinous
spirit were exhibited by "a portion of the re-
ently-shipped hands as alarmed Mr.. Belden,
and he communicated to Musgrave his fears
81 have observed these symptoms too, said
Musgrave with an assured air, " but have
that in my berth which will quiet all your APP
! prehensions when occasion shall demand its use
} The knayes are desperate-looking enough, but
| venture to affirm they are towards in heart
Yet caution is the mother of safety Are
you armed, Mr.. Belden?"
: " l had not thought it necessary, on boart
: my own ship, under your command, to defenC
either person Or property with deadly weapons
But if the danger is so imminent as your en-
| quiry suggests, provide me with means to de
fend my wife and child, and you must lool
t among the crew for trusty hearts sufficient t,
t protect the ship. I have gold in my trunks
Q funds in America and when we are safel,
/, landed the reward of fidelity shall be proper
s. toned to our danger"
t :" The knaves doubtless think You have
f large amount of money on board, y said Mus
a grave, and this may be what stimulates
s mutiny."
9 :. In this they Judge enormously. My cas-
# funds are comparatively of smaii agsodnt.
IS have, indeed, something in drafts but thes
IS would not avail, since they must be endorsed be
d fore they would be honored. Seek you ou
IS their designs, Captain, and if our suspicion
II prove true, we must put the foremost in irons.
% BY encouraging a mutinous temper, Mus
|. grave had partially obtained the information h
,e wished in regard to Mr.. Belden's funds. II
l. now desired to quiet the apprehensions of th
IF latter, and prepare for the execution of h
% purpose without imposing restraint upon any {
20 his crew and the suggestion of Mr.. Belden t
ID seek out their designs afforded him an oppoI
a tunity to do SO, under the pretence of undecei,
ID ing the seditiously-disposed in regard to I'll
amount of booty which a seizure of the sbi
), would afford, if such should appear to be the
8 intention. Calling the faithful portion of th
r crew to duty on deck, he repaired to the for
1t castle, and there made known to other consn
ID rators his purpose, and his discoveries. an
I'd urged upon them the necessity for appare,
I'd submission to duty. Mr.. Belden's fears we,
appeased by an assurance of the fidelity of Il
IS entire crew.
Two days thereafter the deck of that shin W.
:, the scene of fearful strife. Those two we,
& days of perfect quiet-tho fears of Mr.. an
Mrs. Belden were entirely lulled--the hitheri
be factious portion of the crew seemed to vie wit