New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-11
POSSIBLE FATE OF THE FLORINDA.

ANe IopeS created by the rumo1ed dia
covery Of the surviving passengers Of th
! ship florinda, which sailed from this por
for California now more than quarter o
century ago. suggests speculation which
may render the rumor of possible truth
The Florinda crossed over to the coast o
Africa with tedious voyage Of abou
eighty days; she then sailed for Cape Horn
and was, We believe. sighted or spoke1
off that promontory. but has never beer
heard Of since. except as 70 the 1umol
mentioned.
This narrative ,evives the recollection
Of the British vessel. the Bounty. which
sailed on an expedition OF The
gcTe'n,nent FOX purposes Of scientific
and political exploration il l7SS.
about :: year before the adoption ot
our federal constitution. Curious enough.
tn. bounty put into port on the coast OF
Africa. rs the Florinda subsequently did.
Each sailed for the Straits of Magellan.
and each appears to have met with the
usual bad weather which besets that
navigation. The Bounty was so much de-
layed and disabled by the storms that she
bore away for the Cape of Good Hope.
Where. afte. having repaired and reftted
til. ship. they sailed for the island Of
Otahei!c. Here the Bounty arrived on the
twentyafth Of September. l78S. after 4
voyage Of nearly one year. during which
the ship had traversed distance Of near
ly tweniy-eight thousand miles. The ex.
pedition remained on the island until the
thirty-irst of March following a period
Of about five months.
1t was to these tempest worn men
heaven rather than haven. There was
food. rest and Il climate balmy, salubrious
and productive Of fruits and flowers un-
known elsewhere. '.For twenty-three
weeks. says the narrative, 1--WE had been
treated with the utmost affection and re-
gard. which seemed to increase in proper
ton TO our stay" To the friendly and
endearing behavior Of these people was
"a scribed the motives melting an event
that effected the ruin Of the expedition
The crew Of war vessel is composed
Of men who have no attachment to home.
with no prospect except life on the ocean
wave and :. buria! beneath its waters.
with this paradise, inhabited by
= people kindly in their disposition, and
with women who were graceful, intalli-
gent and gentle beyond the nature Of the
average savage. They We're unable
to resist the temptation to re-
main. The women Of O.aheite," said
he commander of the Bounty,
ARE handsome. mild and cheerful in
manner and conversation. possessed of
great sensibility. and have sufficient deli
,acy to make them admired and beloved"
S it. then. surprising that these men
houli have signifed determination not
o 60 further. but to plant them
elves and their posterity IN the midst Of
II ease and luxury which such men had
never imagined accessible to them: The
dea Of freedom from the tyranny of the
ash at that day. deemed indispensable to
discipline. Must have had its
fleet in bringing about this determina-
ion. 1t had been entered on the log of
be Bounty that it chad been found
ecessary to punish Matthew Quintal. one
{ the seamen. with two dozen'o lashes."
Or :nsolence and mutinous behavior.
which was the first time that there was |
ny occasion for punishment on board
The attractions were. however. rather
ositive than abstract. The commander
: the Bounty in his report says:
1t will be naturally asked what could be
.e caTse of such revolt: In answer l
IN only conjecture that the mutineers had |
altered themselves with the hope of
appier life among the Otahe;tians than
ley could possibly enjoy in England,
hIch. joined 70 some female connections, |
ost probably occasioned the whole trans
,tiOn.
These ;nutinee-s. as they were called.
tex having left the island. seized the
'incipal officers. put them in boat with
pplies Of food and water. and put the
lip about tor Otaheite. They did not de-
'rt on q piratical expedition. bat. Sc
iced by the sylvan attractions which
ey had for so many months enjoyed. de-
led to spend their lives in its solitude.
has been accounted an evidence Of su-
.ior pie:y to seek tie forest Of Arden
til similar motive.
Hath not old custom made Chi . life more sweet
an that OF painted pomns Are not these woods
re free from peril than the envious court.
re feel we but the penalty OF Adam.
g sea sons difference.
Il was proper and practical for duke t
express these sentiments. The mutt
ers Of the Bounty were, however. dealt
Ii differently. The British government
It out subsequent expedition. which
rificed these emigrants to that British
sou discipline. They were hunted
xn and, in great part. slain. Some Of :
ir descendants, however. are found on
island. one of whom. we believe, has e.
tten history Of the Bounty and its Il
viving mutineers. "a
t is not an improbable analogy that the ii
and crew Of the Florinda may 5
9 experienced q similar attraction and
lie similar colonial settlement. That
sci doubled Cape Horn. She was a
sailer. She may have been disabled
the stormy passage. and driven of he, Of
rse, as was the Bounty in the same 10