The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-24

mutiny, ana Robert jeffrey was put ashore
without food or drink. He had his knife,
and one sailor gave him a handkerchief
and another long stick, which he had
thought to throw into the boat as they
showed of, for the deserted man to signal
with. BY this time the sun had sunk, and
when the boat returned to the ship it left
the poor fellow behind, alone, in the dark.
He fully believed that the captain only
meant TO frighten him, and bore up pretty
well through the night with that idea.
But when the morning dawned the Re-
cruit was mere speck in the distance,
which slowly but surely passed away be-
yond the horizon. Then the unhappy man
realized that he was castaway.
The Recruit, indeed, had caught ia
voring breeze, which carried her quickly
to Barbados, where she joined the squad
ron under Admiral Sir Alexander Coch-
rane. Here officers and crew, mingling
with those OF other ships, spoke freely OF
the affair, which presently reached the
admiral ears, VINO sent Tor the captain,
questioned him, and finding the story true,
severely reprlmandei him Tor his brutality
ana ordered him back to rescue the man.
The island upon which jeffrey had been
SO oaroarousiy lett was one OF the Leeward
group, a desolate rock called oombrero,
and the Recruit got back to 1t just fort
night after the event A careful search
was instituted, but all that was found was
a pair oil trousers, not Jefireys, and a TO-
mahawk handle, no trace OF the missing
man being diseoverable'
The result being reported on the ships
return to barbadoes, Sir Alexander Coch-
rane felt satisfied that the man had been
rescued by some passing vessel, and he let
the matter rest Tor the time but good
many formed different opinion, and sus-
pected that jeffrey had come to some vlo-
let end; and when the squadron returned
to England the affair was taken up BY
people at nome, and made 50 much noise
that, after two years had elapsed, the cap
tain was brought to court-martial, con-
demned, and dismissed the service This,
however, instead of appeasing the public
excitement, only iniiamed it the more, by
the authentic details which were brought
to light in the course OF the court-martial.
The illesality OF the mans having been
pressed ut all--the yenlality OF his offence,
considering the circumstances Of
thirst caused BY short allowance of water
in so hot climate, and the ready tempta-
tion to appease it placed directly in his
way, combined with the inhuman cruelty
Of his abandonment to stir the public in
dignation. Meetings were held, articles
written, petitions signed, urging the pro-
priety of endeavOring by all means to dis
cover what had become OF the missing man;
and Sir Francis Burdett lost no opportu-
nifty of keeping the question before the
Government, in the House Of Commons.
Illegal pressings, keel-haulings, Aoggings
to death were not 50 very uncommon in
the navy at that time rs to account for the
unusually Indifferent public's espousing
Robert Jeffreys cause so warmly; but it
did so, and made representative man Of
him,
The first authentic news came from
George Hassel, mariner, who deposed on
oath before the Mayor of Liverpool that
he had just returned from Beverly, town
In Massachusetts, and that man was
living there who was nicknamed the Gov
ernor of Sombrero, whose real name was
Jeffrey. Wheroupon this Jeffrey was
with, and in due time a
letter in reply purporting to come from
him was received, giving full account of
his adventure.
When the Recruit had quite disappear
ed, he remained for some time overwhelmed
with despair, but after while he grew
calm, and feltycry hungry, so he explored
his island to see if there was anything to
eat upon ii, but could find nothing except
birds, which few away, as birds will, when
he tried to catch them. At last he dis
covered an egg, but, alas it was an elec-
ton egg-a very good missile, but not edi-
BILE. Soon, however, the pangs Of hunger
gave way to the severer suferings ofthirst,
which he tried to appease by swallowing