Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-03-27
Mi 5frlla anf o II s.
Mutiny Aboard.
AN UNSOCGHT ADVENTURE.

AN UNSOCGHT ADVENTURE.
At Sydney. towar $ the close of a sultry
day in December. was pacing the quar-
ter deck Of II. NJ. Frigate Herald. when
the old Quartern'aster called my attention
TO an unusually fine merchantaiaii tnat was
just rounding Aacquarrie Puint.
She wasa Very handsome clipper and
rs she slowly came up before the faint
hretze. her sun bleachrd sails shone ont
in lazzl,ng wh,c.css against the darA for
est ut snm trees that surround the lovely
harhnr of Port Jackson. lier long hull
tEpu.h low aud black. was yet exceedingly
graceful, and, for il vessel Of her tonnage.
she see,.ed to sit lightly on the water.
Having nothing better to do, | resolved
TO board her, and accordingly ordered the
gig to he mianned.
As with long. steady stroxc, we ap-
preached the vessel. the slovenlv way III
Which they We're taking in sail. the general
sackn"ss and uItldlnrss Of everything
about her, b came painfully apparent.--
Not that she Was worse than the generality
Of merchant Y, ssrls, but, leaving IA trisate
IN the magnificent order and sealnanIikc
condilinn OF the Herald. without So much
its II ltpt- az WV VI HitSt1 tHC N'iitt0sA
was 50 very great. On board all was
noisc, hustle and confusion. The captain.
vino received ne courleously at the gang
way. was surprised 10 find. was ii young
gcnticinanly looking man.
Ia command OF these Australian clippers
one gcucrally find. rGngh. bcarisll old
Scoichmcu. who take pride in SAYING that
tney came in through the hawse holes. lay
which they mean that they We're originally
common sailors. Anyone knowing much
about the,H would never dnabt the truth
ot liiis iayorle buast Of theirs.
However, in this case it was entirely
different. The captain, rs | aurlniscd.wa-
IL prutcge Of the owners, and WAS accord,
mix placed in command of this fine vessel
as soon as he had satisfied the very modcr
ate requirements of tie Ei!ard Of Trade.
He was most agreeable man. OF good
education, but totally deficient i'll any
strength OF purpose. any frmness OF Will
or uuickuess OF decision, heuee | slw that
he was by no means the right man in the
right place.
After our first meeting, we were a good
deal together whilst his ship WAS diselarg.
ing cargo. aud taking i'll her llomeward
frrght.
A. | expected. the greater number of
his crew deserted in sydney, and he had
To make up the cornpll,ncn, from the loaf
crs aud yillainuus rift raft ll.at abound III
:, colonial seaport. The day before hr was
to sail for England he had Expressed to me
his dlstiust of his nrw crew; they were
certainly As rascaliy Il lot ot ra.ii ans lis one
would he likely to meet wiki,
Having had cons. lrrahle experience of
tn. in,rcHaut-scrIi ice. | knew tulerab.t
we'll What these fellows we.e; When
whilst at anchur anywhere inside the har-
Dor they becanie nearly umm nasrahle.
l therefore volunteered to see my friend
out of his d.iiicuiIeu, by accompanying
ain to the mouth of the hari,or, adlStancc
ut about SIX miles. and theu returning
with the pilot. My offer Was gladly ac
crpted.
Ou the following day went on board
Just as the half drunken crew. with much
shouting and singing. were weighing the
| an,hnr. ! he Tvs nt!le tns boat iashcd
alongside Was Missing and steannng. and as
soon us the anchor WAS III the bows. her
pnwcrIul engines began to move the tw"
$40 vessels sluwly cut from the quay into
.he stream. Then all hands dropped their
work, and swarnIiug upon the rigging.
greeted the bystandcts and the shipping
with d. unkcu cheers. Aud so they colitin
ucd to work systematically. and repeatedly
,eavilIg oil to cheer. iecbiy and discard
antly, anything that "as passing. 1t was
Jniy 200 evident that there would be trou
hle wilh them yet. # there should not he
Alnd enough outside the Heads to enable
the ship to get clear away u sea that eve
nlng.
The captain was already as nervous as
he could be, and 50 | said nothing of my
tears 1t Was with much concern for hul
that noticed the vcerlng flaws of wind
growing fainter.
As We slowly wound in and out amongst
the lovely bays of this superb harbor. at
every turn apparently iandOcked in differ
ent lake, eaci. Of beauty SURPRISING the
| .st. the wind gradually died away. The
glJrn rays of the setting spn stesped one
shore in IL glorious tlood ut WARM ligh;,
whilst the high cliffs and richly wooded
slopes UI the other were in dark sOmbre
shade. by degrees the leDsthcnng shad-
0ws. cxteLd ny far out into the blle Wa
tiers, stretched over to the opposite shore,
aud enveloped all in "a cold gray twilight.
By this TING the noisy rafting old tug
had taken the vessel within signt of the
Heads; and it b ing now dead calm, she
was brought to an anclor near rect cali
I'd the Sow and Pigs, in such a position
that she could stand out to sea with the
first brceze This done, the tug-boat was
cast of, and permitted to return to sgd.
ney. -, ..,. , !,
mate reported that the crew demanded
grog. The men being air ady in h III
! Intoxicated state, their request, which was
really demand. was lot complied with
| This was the beginning OF troubles.
There Immediately followed much muir
muying and many growls Of dissatisfaction