The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-04-12
THE OCEAN QUEEN MUTINY.
Col. Forney, in his Anecdotes o.
Puhlic Men, . SAYS:

Col. Forney, in his Anecdotes o.
Public Men," says;
|, The other day called on Commo'
dore Daniel Ammen, chief of the
, Bureau of Yards and Docks, and
asked him to tell me about the eele-
brated mutiny on hoard the Californis
steamer Ocean Queen, in May OF
, 1864. This event, though of recent
date, has been literally sponged
from the slate of the general memory,
though still preserved among the
! records of the navy. A contingent
Of over 200 men, most OF them
; "roughs" who had served in the
army, and had volunteered for naval
, service on the Pacific coast, were
, shipped for their destination on
, board the "Ocean Queen" in charge
of Commodore Ammen and o sub
ordinate officer. There were over a
thousand other passengers, including
many ladies and children. Justice
Field, of the United States Supreme
Court, was among the cabin passen-
gers. The vessel itself was COM
manded by fine old seaman, Captain
Tinklepsugh. On the first day the
new recruits began to show dissatis-
faction with their accommodations
and food, and 1T was soon evident
that, under the counsel of two or
three desperate leaders, they were
preparing to seize and rifle the
steamer and the passengers The
Captain proposed to run into one Of
the nearest ports and get rid Of the
dangerous conspirators, but this was
resisted by Commodore Ammen, who
had the turbulent men in charge.
He quietly reasoned with them, and
assured them that as he was respon-
sible for their good conduct, he
would see to their proper comfort,
but that if they resorted to violence
they would be severely punished.
He was so cool and kind as he made
this statement that they did not
think him in earnest, and proceeded
with their plans. Their chief, Kelly,
was a young fellow, six feet four
inches, very athletic and determined.
When the first demonstration was
made Commodore Ammen was in q
distant part Of the vessel, and on
hearing the noise proceeded to the
scene of action. There he found :
Captain Tinklepaugh in the hands of
Kelly, who was surrounded by the
other mutineers all evidently under
his orders and ready to proceed to i
the worst extremities. The crisis
had come, and Ammen, seeing that ,
prompt action was necessary to save :
the steamer and perhaps the lives of I
the female passengers, drew his re- ;
volver and shot Kelly dead on the ,
spot. One of his immediate fol- !
lowers was killed at the same time.
The effect on the others was instan- ,
taneous. They saw that the quiet
man who had them in charge was !
resolved to enforce his authority, and
they quailed. He then briefly ad-
dressed them, telling them of his de- ,
termination, exhorted them 10 re- I
member their duty and their flag, I
and was greeted with three hearty /
cheers. After which, under his ad- :
vice, they went to their dinner. There I
was, of course, great CONSERVATION /
among the cabin passengers, but they |
were soon assured by the calm de- I
meanor of Commodore Ammen. His
next step was to 60 straight among |
the remainder of the mutineers, and
to call out the leaders and order them ,
in irons. One or two attempted to d,
resist, but when they saw that they I
would soon be made to follow their
dead companions, who had by this q
lime been sewed in canvas and cast Z
overheard, they submitted. The >
whole affair occupied very little time; J
and the commander, crew and psssen- :
gers were so Impressed by the resolute !
courage of Commodore Ammen that I
they joined in hearty eommendation !
of his course. Justice Field himself !
addressed strong letter to the de- !
partment IN earnest vindication of /
the wisdom and energy of his action. !
| do not pretend to tell the story as
it fell from Commodore Ammen-so /:
modest and so clear. His printed /
defense before the court martial, ,
which he demanded, Is q model of !
eandor, ard was followed by his !
unanimous acquittal. Had he been
weak or impulsive, the scene would
have ended.in grand tragedy, and {
perhaps hundreds of innocent per- !
sons would have perished.