Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-22
Mutiny AbOard-An I'm
sought Adventure
IFrom cassell's Nagazine.l

snltry das in December. l was pacing
the ouarIer-deck of H. NJ. frigate Her
aid, when the quartermaster called my
attention to an unusually fine merchant
man that was just rounding Maequarrie
Point. s.
She was a very handsome clipper,
and rs she slowly came up before the
faint breeze, her sea bIeached sails
shone out in dazzling whiteness against
The dark forests of gum trees that sur
rsunded- the lovely hsrbor o! Port Jack
son. Her long hull, though low and
black, was yet exceedingly graceful, and
for o vessel of her tonnage she seemed to
sit lightly on the water.
Having nothing better to do / resolv-
ed to board her, AID accordingly ordered
the gig to be manned. .
As with long steady strokes we ap
preached the vessel, the slovenIy way in
which they were taking in sail, the gen.
eral slackne.s and untidiness with every
thing connected with her, became pain
fully apparent. Not that she was worse
than the generality Of merchant vessels;
but leaving frigate in the magnificent
order and seamanlike condition of the
Herald, without so much as reye-yarn
out Of place, the contrast was so very
great. On board all was noise, hustle
and confusion. The captain. who re-
ceiyed ne courteously at the gangway,
was surprised to find, was q gentleman
!y looking man.
In command of these Australian
clippers, one generally finds rough. bear
ish old Sco,chman, who take pride IN
saying ;lat they ''came.in through the
hnwes holes" by which they mean
that they were originally common
sailors. ANY one knowing much
about them would never doubt the truth
of this fayorite boast OF theirs.
However, in this case it was entirely
different. The captain. as surmised,
was portcge of the owners, and was
accordingly placed ii command of this
vessel as soon as he had satisfied the
very moderate requirements of the Board
of Trade.
He was ii most agreeable man, of good
education, but totally deficient in any
strength of purpose, any firmness of will
or quici Iess of decision; hence saw
that lie WAS By no means the right man
in the right place.
After our first meeting, we were
good deal together whilst his ship was
dischargiug cargo, and taking in her
homeward freight.
As | expected, tie greater number of
her crew deserted in Sydney, and he
had to make up the compliment from
the loafers and yilIainous riff raft that a
bound in a colonial seaport. The day
before lie was TO sail for England, he ex-
pressed to me his distrust of his new
crew; they were certainly as rascally q
set Of rufians as one wopll be likely 10
meet with.
Having had considerable experience
ofthe merchant service, l knew tolerably
well what these fellows were; when once
out on The high seas, they would be all
right, but while at anchor anywhere in
side they would become nearly unman-
ageable.
| therefore volunteered to see my
friend ont of bis difficulties by accom-
panying him TO the barber, distance of
about six miles, and then returning with
the pilot. Ny offer was gladly accep-
ted.
On Tic following day I went on board
just az the haifdrunkcn crew, with much
shouting and singing, were weighing the
anchor. The fussy lilIle tug beat dashed
alongside, was kissing and steaming.
md, as soon as the anchor was at the
bows, her powerful engines began to
move the two vessels slowly out from
the circular quarry into the stream. Then
all hands dropped their work, and swar-
ming Ip the rigging. greeting the by
ISLANDERS and the shipping with drunken
cheers. Aud as they continued to work
spasmodicaily, and repeatedly leaving off
10 cheer, feebly anil discordaatIy, any
Ihirg that was passing. 1t was only too
evident That there would 10 trouble with
then: vet if there was not w.nl enough
outside the Heads to enable the ship to
get clear away 10 sen that evening. Inc
captain was already as nervous as he
con.I DO. aud so said nothing of my
feaIs. II WAS w;;h much concern for
him that noticed the vcer'ng flaws OF
wind growing every moment fainter ans
fRinter.
As We SLOWLY wound 10 and out a
monCst the lovely bays of this superb
harbor, at every Turn apparently land
licked in 4 differen. lake, the wind grad
uaIIy died away. The golden rays of
he setting sun stepped on shore in a
glor Gus iiood of warm light, whilst the
high cliffs aud richly wooded s,opes of
the other were in dark somber shade.
By degrees the lengthening shadows,
extended far out into the blue waters,
stretched over to the opposite shore, and
enveloped al in cool grey twilight.
BY this time the noisy rafting old tug
had tsken the vessel within sight of tie
Heads, ard it. being now a dead calm,
size was brought to anchor near reaf
called the Sow and Pigs, in such q posi-
tion that she could stand out to sea vita
the first breeze. This done, the tug
boat was cast of, and permitted to re-
turn to Sydney.
As soon as the cable was secure, the
mate reported that tie crew demanded
--.or TIE man haino, olraaJ,, ~, a. LIE