Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-11-14
A STORY OF DISCRETION.

Among the artillerymen belonging TO
the garrison of St. Helena in 1779 were
John Browne and William McKinnon.
These two men were fast friends and
lnseparable companions; but while the
EDgnshman was content to take things
rs they came, and make the best of his
lot, the Scotchman was perpetually
harping upon the hardship of being
cooped up in dull place like st. Helena.
At last he ventured to propose that they
should desert their colors; in vain his
friend pointed out the unlikelihood of
etfecting their escape. and dwelt upon
the penalty awaiting failure. McKin.
mons home fever was too strong upon
him for arguments to avail, and the
discussion eventually ended in Brownies
adhesion.
Carefully sounding such of their COM
fades as they could trust, the two would
be deserters succeeded in prevailing
upon Samuel McQuin, Charles Brig.
house, Terence Conway and William
Parr to take part in the desperate ad.
venture, and hold themselves ready to
seize the first opportunity of getting
away from the island. The opportunity
soon came. The Columbia, an American
vessel, arrived in the bay, and PARIS
persuasive tongue induced the captain
to promise whatever assistance he could
tender. Accordingly, when the six adj
yenturers met at the West Rock upon
rhe evening of the Sth of June, they
found boat waiting for them. AS soon
as they got on board uniforms were
dotted in exchange for seamen's clothes.
Then, when night came, so that sus-
plclon might be diverted from the
columbia. they.ventured into the har.
Dour and cut out whale-boat, in which
latter taking in a quadrant and sextant.
and some bread and water from the
Americana, they stood out to sea, to lie
of the island at a safe distance. until
their friend should pick them up. They
were, however, disappointed in their
expectations for some reason or an
ether, the Columbia never came near ::
and by noon on the second day it was
apparent to all that they must RELY
upon their own strength of arm and
stoutness of heart to carry them to a
haven of safety.
Parr was the only one in the boat
with any pretensions to seamanship.
AAO PlOPOoCO ~ OOe11 away lOT ASCENSION
Island, which, though uninhabited and
barren, was often visited by East India
men for the sake of its turtle. Disguised
as they were, the deserters thought they
might easily pass themselves off for
shipwrecked sailors, and have little
difficulty ia obtaining passage in some
homeward-bound ship. They were but
III prepared for q six hundred mile
journey across the ocean; the boat
leaked, so as to require constant bail.
ing, and their provisions, all told, con-
sisted of twenty-five pounds of bread
and thirteen gallons of fresh water. No
one, however, cared to suggest a return
to st. Helena, SO, making sail of their
handkerchiefs, they started on their
perilous way, their frail craft speeding
rapidly before northwest gale.
On the morning of the 18th of June,
several flights of birds were seen, but
eyes were vain1y strained to catch a
sight of land. Parr announced his
opinion that that they had passed
Ascension Island; shirts were pressed
into service to form sprit-sail, and the
course was altered in the hope of max
ing Rio Janeiro. By this time their
slender store of provisions had sadly
diminished, and they resolved to limit
themselves to an ounce of bread and
two mouthfuls of water per day for each
man. Day by day their strength sank,
and their spirits with it; McKinnon