The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-21
RIO JANEIRO. Brazil, July %, 1871.

By the steamer Donat which lett here Oh the 18th
VI July, sent you simple statement OF the mutlny
on board the American ship Nevada Captain Alfred
NJ Lunt, which arrived here on the afternoon OF
July s, with cargo Of ice, from Boston, for tnis
port.
Since then the testimony OF officers ana crew mas
been taken IN detail, and 1t reveals most villain
GUS plot on the part OF two or three OF the crew whO
by the strange power OF the influence they exer-
c!sed over the remainder OF the crew. held them IN
fear Of their lives, and compelled them by threats
10 their bidding even to the c0mmtttal of
murder.
Captain Llnt is certainly model of rough blunt
gentleman. His face and demean0r bespeak man
who would do no injustice to sailor any one
else, even II his reputation OF many years had not
already established this feature OF his character
an unbeatable fact. 1t has been his custom Tor
many years that when during the night watches on
deck the ''bels" are struck the oOkouts shall sing
out "Ali's wei !" On the second night ont from
Boston, the first mate, Mr.. Burgess passed the word
that the above mentioned calls should be made at
the time of the striking OF the ''beils,' when James
Hin, large lrlshman ard the rngleader OF the mu-
tlneers answered. shed be God damned If he sung
out any such nonsense or would allow an one else
to either and Immediately assaulted Mr.. Burgess,
shocking hm down upon deck. The Captain was
not then informed of the insolence or the assault,
and knew nothing OF 1t until the following morning,
when he called the crew att, stated to them That ne
regretted 20 know that he had among his men any
VINO were disposed TO disODey orders or make any
trouble; that 1t was the order on board the vessel
he commanded thar the night loOkouts were 10 sing
out "All well' when the bells were struck;
that his orders must be Obeyed; that the run to Rio
would We but q short one, and that II when they
reached that port any of the men were dissatisfied
he would give them their discharges
The Captain believed there were two or three des-
perate men among the crew, aud deemed that this
pacific mode OF quieting them was worth the trial.
But the spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION, mutiny ana muir
der boiling over IN the breast Of the man Hill,
and lie began his devlsh scheme
here nad been shipped in Boston, as second mate,
man named Parker, who proved totally ignorant
ana worthless and was sent forward among the
men. and the post OF second mate filed by IAN
taken from the crew, named sanderson. Parker,
undoubtedly sneaklng coward, was an apt tool IN
the hands OF the man HILL who manipulated the
crew that served his beck and bidding, as II they
were tile merest toys and machines The taking OF
the Sanderson from among the
crew was used as fresh cause OF OFFENCE.
and Hill who had served with him in
another vessel, had there stab bed him, and seems
to have followed him like murderous ghost now
formed his plans for first despatchng MIN and for
low II up by the murder OF the remainder Of the
apparently the willing instrument.
In the mean time, as brought out in the testt
mOny, HIN was ruling the ship much more thor
Oughly IRON forward than the captain was from
ait. Part OF the time felgning sickness he
would remain in his "bunK' and there
issue his orders, telling the not to
nswer the officers when they spoke to them. and
to mind MN only aud If they didn't "hed cut their
damned CUTS out Once when on deck Hill heard
nj fha so,1n unet
answer, 'sir," TO one OF the officers when spoken
to. and " hen he went below Hill asked him "what
the he'll he meant by such an answer" and said to
him. 'if near you say sir again Ill cut your god
damned white Dutch liver oui.n He inspired all the
men with such fear, even the better ones
OF them that they testify that II they had
not seemed TO obey him they positively feared ne
would murder them when they went forward HUI
many times displayed scars on his person. wnich ne
said ne had received on other vessels, and
said that. 'thougn ne wasn't much or hgntng
me, he was hell with knife" Three or four OF the
men seemed apt and wiling pupils OF this murder
GUS villain. HIS plans were perfected and at mid
night on The 18th of June, he armed the man Par
kcr with an iron Delaying pin and told him 20 on
deck and Kill the second mate. Sanders0n and that
lf ne came back and didn't 90 1t ne would Nil him
Parker. AT midnight, immediately after relieving
the watches, Parker stole mp behind Sanderson, and
with the iron behaving pin ielled MN TO the deck,
innlcting q frigntul wound his head. cruelty
beat him. and left him for dead. All hands were
aroused. The captain appeared, and learning the
condition OF things, ordered aloud to Parker to
come ait and be Ir0ned, when Parker sung out
from forward bndl ii he WdlIcu HlIu 10 come alIer
him Tne captain tnen sent the first mate Burgess,
and the carpenter forward to arrest Parker and
Ss a a armed en who sa ey woSs
kill the first man who laid hands on him:
The captain. not being fully prepared for such
remain until morning. and during the night he had
conversations with his first officer who believed the
Intentions or the crew were wholesale murder. The
captain spent the remainder oil the night in cleaning
some old firearms and on the following morning.
at eight O'CLOCK. he ordered Parker to come
Att when the captain said 10 MN that ne had
assaulted one OF has officers and that he
must 90 IN irons. he refused, stepping back
and saying 40 GOO damned son OF b--h should
put irons HIM. and rushed f'rward singing out,
s.Uome on, boys when the armed crew, headed
by Hill with q Drawn sheath-knifc In his hand,
came ait ana after repeated orders OF the Captain
him, he raised second time a musket as he stood
In the cabin door fired, and Hill dropped dead. The
remainder Of the lnutneers sulieny and doggedly
performed duty during Inc remainder OF the voyage.
The testimony or All the men taken here sepa-
rately comedies and they all take oath that during
the whole voyage they were we treated in
particular: that not only were no oaths used by the
officers towards them, but That not harsh or I'M
KInd word was used: that the watches ami all the
work were made easy as possible for them, and
there was dothlng OF which they could complain.
Testimony Is now being taken here that three OF
these men were concerned In this city, a few years
ago, In the murder OF carriage driver ana mat
they were released from prison IN tins city only
tribe more than year ago. shipped on board the
John Patten, and Immediately on going ON board
committed foul and dastatdly mdlgnity before
the wire VI the captain.
idweli on this subject TO give the matter such en-
phasis will certainly TX pubic attention upon IT,
and also TO relieve American merchant com.
nauders from that too general impression that
they are the cause Of irouble on board snip;
an Immersion undoubtedly arising IRON the
TACT OF our human sympathy with the
poor, laborlng and, apparently, aggreved
classes. But II IS assurcdly a mistake me crews
now days OF American merchant ships consist oil
toe OfscourinQs OF humanity the dregs OIL european
amt American life, though, to the credit VI Aheri
can humanity It may be said that not often Is a
native-porn American found among the crews OF
the merchant marine and n iound, lie
The manifest importance OF the matter CANNOT nc
over-estlmated. Must good ships, valuable cargoes
ami precious lives he entrusted TO the Dutiious
conduct OF such men As theseY Here WAS the snip
Iathiey Rich, few weeks ago arrived under SIM
lar cirCumstances-that is, IN mnt1n0us c0nollOn.
aud her men were placed in prison, but upon her
departure released, and alter this tinlng connne-
ment probably shipped again 10 repeat ther mutiy
and place other property and other lives IN jeop-
ardy. .,.
The captain OF the Iathley Rich may have been SO
limited In his post M be unaUie TO more severely
punish the men, but TO Captain Lunt. of the Nevada.