The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-01-20

The men treated his appeals with
scorn and contempt, and swore that they
would do no more duty; and it was plain
to De seen that they meant what they
said. They were desperate characters,
and fully believed that there was not
power enough on board to quell them.
As l have said, they constituted nearly
half the crew, and we knew that the 9th.
or half could not be depended upon to re-
sist them with arms. Finally the captain
told them that he would go and see the
Commodore, and explain the matter to
him and the men went forward, swear.
ing that they would never return to duty
come what might.
When the captains boat was ready he
asked me to accompany him, as the first
demonstration of mutiny had been made
to me. We found the Commodore just
sitting down to dLner, and he invited us
to join him. While the meal was in pro.
gress the captain told his story.
The admiral listened very attentively,
and at its conclusion he said, with smile,
All right captain. | guess there won't
be much trouble. will come on board
during the afternoon, and see if l can
straighten things out for you"
After this the Commodore turned the
conversation upon other subjects.and when
VIC had finished dinner, and smoked our
cigars, VIC returned to cur vessel.
Commodore Porter was not far behind
us At two o'clock he came on boaId,
accompanied by lieutenant and twenty
marines. His first movement was to di.
rect the crew to be mustered aft; and,
while this was being done the marines
were drawn up on the starboard side OF
the quarter deck in two ranks, the crew
mastering upon the opposite side. When
all was quiet, the Commodore advanced
from his position against the taffrail and
addressed onr men:
Look ye, my men, said he, in his
abrupt, authoritative way, 81 am in.
formed that some Of you refuse to do du.
ty. You know very well that you can't
be discharged to day; the thing is impos.
sibe and the rules of the service will
not permit you to refuse to obey your Of
fcers. As the roll is called. those who
are not willing to do further duty will in
answer to their names, 60 forward to the
forecaste the others will remain as they
are"
The steward commenced to call the
roll, with a pause after each name. Two
at least, of those who had appeared on
the gapgway answered to .heir names
without moving At length the name of
Louis Bassard was called, aud he went
forward ; and when he started those 9th.
er two, who had tremblingly hesitated,
followed When the roll was finished,
forty men bad gone to the forecastle; and
there they stood, logged aud determined;
at least so they tried to appear though
it was very evident that some Of them
wished they were safely out of the scrape,
for there was danger to them 10 the look
of the eagle eyed chief
The Commodore caused the marines to
be drawn up across the waist, facing for.
toward the mutlnceri.
Now, my men" said he, " | want
you to return to your duty. Those OF
you who are willing to DO so may lay aft
Marines attention ready aim ~
The marines cooked their rifles, and
brought them to their shoulders, the muz-
zles covering the closely huddled pack
upon the foreca,tc Most Of the mutt
neers paled and trcmhled. This was
worse than running the batteries Of Nieks'
burg.
Lock ye," pursued the Commodore
drawing out his watch, " | will give you
Just one half Of minute-not second
more In thirty seconds shall give Tic
order to fire. Now. report for duty, or
stay where you are -
Perhaps five seconds passed, during
which stiffness like the hush Of death
reigned upon the deck. The Commo-
dorc's eye was upon the dial Of his watch,
and his lips were ready to pronounce the
fatal word The spirit Of insubordina-
tion was growing weak in the presence Of
power that held life and death at will.
A few seconds more, and my two stokers
broke from the gaug, aid came aft; and
they come not alone Through the gap
thus opened, others followed in contin-
nous line until the iorecastle was vacant.
Every man had reported for duty. Ad-
mira! Porter put up his watch, and step.
ped down.
Captain" he said, as he came upon
the quarterback, Il have an order for
you, and will assume all responsibility
in the event Of its execution. The frs
man of your crew who refuses to do duty
shoot him on the spot ~
But our captain had no need to turn
his pistol against his own men. They
had discovered what mutiny really
meant, and had no desire to experiment
thereon again--at least while the broad
penant of Admiral Porter was in sight
Waiting for Dinner.
When the Union Pacific Railroad wa