The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-11-21
How Commodore Amm en- Queil-
ed a MutIny.

HOW COHlnOUOre Atu1lcn Quelts
ed a Mutiny.
From all accounts the captain OF a
man of war must be very unhappy be-
ing. He is grand you know, but he must
be lonesome. 0 He has his separate cabin,
dimes alone, reads alone, and when he
ascends to the deck all of the officers
cross to the other side to leave him one
side unobstructed. He could not be
more let alone il he had the small .pox.
Officers claim that this unbending rigid
ity Of behavior is alone one of the most
potent elements Of discipline with a
crew. ~
The crew of q man-of war is largely
made up of reckless, dangerous men,
In numbers they would always be able
to seize upon the small arms CT the ship
and overpower the officers, and turn the
vessel into piratical cruiser. To keep
down set of reckless men Of this class
the slightest infraction of rigid disoi
pline cannot be passed unnoticed.
A story told of Commodore Ammen,
of the navy, the inventor of the steam
ram, illustrates how important is unhesi
tating action in case of mutiny. So
severe ale the penalties for mutiny, and
so closely are the men held in check, that
mutinies of late have become very rare
At the close of the war Ammen was
tbs captain of Pacific mail steamer -
He had shipped as part of his crew a
lot of soldiers, men who had been sal
lors before the var, but had served since
that time in the army. They were a
reckless, bad lot Almost before the
steamer had left New York it was eyi-
dent that there was going to be trouble.
These sailors Haunted at the grub fur
nished them and said they must have as
good IS the cabin passengers.
One day the affair eliminated by the
gang forming and coming aft When
they entered the saloon they we're head
ed by two desperadoes who had incited
the mutiny. At their appearance several
army officers on board volunteered their
services to Ammen. He thanked them
mildly, hut said he would not need their
help. He walked forward languidly to
ward the mutineers, aud without giving
them an opportunity to say word, took
out his watch and said:3.Now men, i
want you to 60 right back to the foke-
sell will give you one minute to GO"
Ammen had the appearance OF a. be-
|nevolent old deacon who would weep
with pain at the necessity Of killing fly
His voice was, as soft as if his mouth
was lined with plush velvet, and as sweet
as maiden's whisper when Adolphus
first encircled her tinid waist. When he
simply said to his men, ''Now i want
you to go right back to the fokesel, the
leaders grinned. This mutiny was to
succeed too easily. So during the min.
ute they scoffed at the old man, A. pre-
cisely sixty seconds after the expiration
Of Ammen's remark he raised pistol
and shot one of the ring leaders dead
"Will you 60 back to the fokesel 7" said
Ammen to the other ringleader pleasant
ly. TIE man hesitated. A fash! a re-
port, and he too fell dead .ls.9
The deadly persistent blsndness Of
Ammen's composure drove terror
through the ranks Of the mutineers :
They went forward, and there was never
any more trouble. THIS prompt action
alone saved very rich ship and large
number of passengers from plunder, out
rage and murder Washington Cor
Chicago Times. 10 ''iE