The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-06-22
1W1sttIIaueous.
Thrilling Narrative.

Alexander Francis Faw, chief officer
of the Indian ship Napoleon Canerero,
gives an account of the revolt of the
Coolies Oh board of his vessel, and its
subsequent destruction on the 9th of
March. The vessel was from Macao on
the 9th of March, with crew of forty all
told, and 663 Coolie emigrants bound for
Callao. They had been out but short
time, when it became known that two
hundred of the Coolies had determined to
revolt and capture the ship. Som of
them shortly before this, had attempted
to poison the officers of the vessel, and
being whipped on that occasion, it is sup
posed they instigated their companions
to league with them iu the design they
had in contemplation. 1t was not until
late in the evening on the 9th, that they
put their project into execution. At the
hour they made rush to the main hatch.
way, and knocked down two of the guard.
The officers and crew armed themselves
and proceeded to close the hatch, but not
before about fifty of the Coolies had gain
ed the deck. These we're Immediately
charged upon, and those who resisted shot
and the remainder captured and placed
in irons. Their companions below con-
tlnued every endeavor to gain the deck,
notwithstanding that thirty of their num-
her had been shot, and declared they
would never surrender, but would have
the ship or be all killed. In the midst
of another rush at the matches the cry of
fire was heard, aud smoke was seen to is.
sue from several parts of the ship.
The fire engine was at once got ready for
work, but whilst some of the deck lights
were being lifted for the purpose of put
ting down the hose in the between decks,
where the lire was, ono of the coolies sew.
cred the wrist of the seaman engaged in
handing them the hose, with the cut
lass obtained from one of the guards,
the consequences of which was that the
man IN less than twenty minutes died from
loss of blood.
To all appearances the object of the
coolies in setting fire to the ship was for
the purpose of getting the crew below,
they linking the fire more serious af
far than the revolt, and that the crew, in
all probability, would at once 20 below and
endeaVor to prevent the fire making any
further progress in the vessel; but in this
they we're disappointed. A second time
they were asked to surrender, and they
again replied that they would not. The
hire rapidly increasing, the captain order.
ed bread and water to be placed in the
boats, and the latter to be got ready for
immediate use.
Two boats were lowered but both
swamped and the cook was drowned. A
third however, was lowered in safety and
Immediately filled by some of the crew,
and put off from the ships side.
The ship now being fore and aft one
mass of flame, the remainder of the crew
left on board were compelled to throw
themselves overheard and swim towards
one of the swampod boats. The captain,
mate, supercargo and sailor alone reach.
ing the boat, the others having persisted
in the attempt.
Afer being in the water some twenty
minutes still holding on to the swamp.
ed boat, and calling to the crew in the
other boat for assistance, they came at
length to the rescue and took us into
their boat, which now contained thirty
one men, the remainder of the crew, nine
in number, having persisted
The weather at, his tine being calm an