The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-02

was announced 10 nolu tue prizes
until the government should accede to their
demands. To make sure that none should
escape, the war vessels were formed into
a hollow square, within which the prizes
were taken, and the broadsides OF the men
of-war turned upon them. over 6OO ships
were thus guarded.
THE MUTrNEERs cIRcUMvRNTtD.
Though the government had not the
means at hand to instantly crush out the
mutiny, it was not entirely idle. Every
buoy at the mouth Of the Thames
and along the coast was removed,
and the insurgent vessels dared
scarcely move league from their anchor
ace for fear of grounding. This compelled |
them TO inaction, and had most depressing |
effect upon their spirits. Having nothing |
TO do but reflect, they became exceedingly |
nervous over the situation. They knew |
that the public opinion, the law and the |
power of the nation were against them,
and that submission and punishment must
inevitably come; even the boldest CON-
menced to weaken and cast about for some
avenue whereby they might return to duty.
TIE BEGINNING OF THE END.
The officers, who, though deprived of
their arms and all command, had been re-
tanned on board their respective ships, were
not slow in discovering this feeling, and
gave il every possible encouragement. The
officers of the frigate Clyde were particu-
larry jealous in this, and perfected plot
with part of the crew, by which the vessel
was seized on the Both of May, the red flag
of the insurgents hauled down, and the in
surgent fleet deserted. The vessel was
fired upon and pursued for some distance,
but finally escaped up the river. A few
days after the st. Florence was also carried
off by n combination of the officers with
portion of the crew. and was brought safely
up to the London dock.
The 9th of June was the kings birthday,
and the insurgents showed their loyalty by
firing salutes and giving repeated cheers
for his majesty.
IDENTIFICATION.
On the 9th of June another vessel with
drew, and on the 9th Lord Northesk came
on board the Sandwich, in response to an
invitation from the insurgents, and Parker
presented him q paper drawn up by the
mutinecrs' congress, setting forth the grev-
ances of the sailors, and demanding redress.
His lordship kindly but firmly refused to
receive the paper, telling them that he had
come hoping to carry back to his govern
mcnt the news of their submission, but on
no account could he treat with men in mu-
tiny against the laws, the country, and the
king.
The final rejection of all offers of accom-
mediation seems to have destroyed the last
hope of the malcontents, and from that
time vessel after vessel withdrew without
objection and returned to their allegiance.
On the 10th of June the hundreds of de-
tanned merchantmen were allowed to de-
part, and such fleet never entered port
before by the same tide.
| From this moment the disintegration was
rapid. On the 18th only seven vessels were
| flying the red flag, and on the 10th every
ship had been restored to the command of
its proper officers, and the crews were glad
to return to duty.
Thus was this most remarkable mutiny
inaugurated and maintained for four weeks,
almost within sight of the turrets of Wind
sor, and for the first time in her history
was the British metropolis blockaded.
TIE RINGLEADER ARRESTED.
Parker returned to his former position
on the Sandwich, but on the goth of June
| a file of soldiers from the fort at Sheerness
came on board and the insurgent chief was
taken into custody. On the Oath court
martial was convened, Vice Admiral Sir
Thomas Paisley presiding. Parker con-
Quoted his own defense and acquitted him
self with much ability. The line of argu-
ment he adopted was-that the situation he
held was in a measure forced upon him ;
that he had only consented to assume 1t, in
the hope of being able to restrain the men
from excess that he had so restrained
them; owing to his stringent orders not q
hundred pounds worth of property had
been destroyed by the mutineers had he
been disloyal, he said, he might have taken
the ships to sea or carried them into the en-
emies' ports, for which a dazzling reward
had been offered. He admitted that tech
nically he might be guilty, but the purity
of his purposes ought to furnish some pal
liation of his offence. But the government
showed that he had formally issued an or
der assuming command of the insurgent
ships, that he had addressed the govern
ment in that capacity, and that as he had
gone from ship to ship of the fleet, he had
been attended by his staff and received with
cheers and all honors due to exalted rank,
and after brief elaboration he was sen
fenced to die at the yardarm of the Sand
witch in presence of the whole fleet.
TIE DYING DECLARATIONS.
When his doom was announced he stood
up and said
81 shall submit to your sentence with al
due respect, being confident of the Inno.
cence of my intentions and that God will
receive me with favor. / sincerely hope
that my death may be the means of restor.
ing tranquility to the navy, and that those
men who have been implicated in this bn
sness may be restored TO their positions
and again become serviceable to their coun
try. | wish further to say that the reforms
the insurgents desired are eminently just
though /, with every other loyal citizen, re
greet the mode selected for their accomplish
ment."
On the morning of the 30th of June, the
yellow flag, the signal of death, was hOiste(
ON the Sandwich. The whole fleet wal
ranged around the death ship, the crews
pped to the forecastle, and at nine O'Clock
the unhappy prisoner was brought on deck
lie was pale, but composed, and as hi
passed his messmates he said, "Good-by t.
you, boys | sincerely hope my death may
be deemed sufficient. atonement for yot
all" just before the rope was adjusted b,
handed to an officer letter to his wife anC
his will conveying to her some property il
Scotland after which he was hauled NJ
and died almost without struggle.
SAD ROMANCE.
But there Is a sad romance connected
with this tragedy which is more interesting
than tragedy itself Parker's young wifi,
resided in Scotland, and when she heart
that the Shcerncss fleet had mutinied unde
the head of Richard Parker, she had II,
doubt that the insurgent chief was her hus
band, and she instantly started for London
believing his arrest was certain, and hoping
to save him from the vengeance of the law
On her arrival in London she learne,
that her husband had been tried and con