The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-08
QUELLINc A MUTiNY.

81 will tell you OF an adventure had
once In the South Pacific, when L was
first put in charge of the old Panther.
1t was trading trip among the natives
inhabiting the numerous islands, ana
the entire proceedings are tresh ana
vivid in my memory, although many
long year has been spun of the reel OF
time since then"
The speaker was an old retired ship
maste", whose chief delight In life was
to gaCner a number Of his neigh0ors
around his hospItable hearth OF VIM
ter's evening, and while they slipped the
old SAILORS punch, lie would entertain
them with some episode connected with
his past career.
Clearing his throat with generous al
lowance of hot punch OF his own brew
iug, aud listening moment to the no"l-
ing of the gale which dashed the snow
violently against the window panes, he
| began as follows:
SWe had been hove to for three days
| in the south Pacific, during which time
the old Panther had pitched and rolled
until all Thoughts OF comfort hau ue-
parted from my mind.
| 81 had smart young fellow Tor
mate-a New Yorker, Gregory by name
Jack Il egory and l imagine l can see
| him now standing with his feet well
apart; his tall athletic form cased In oil
| clOlhee; his hanI 8 me sum u NJ race
shaded by the broad flaps OF his SOU
wester as he peeped at times into the
binnucle. He's under hatches now, poor
fellow. Went down in n ship which he
commanded during terrible typnOOn:
sit was close upon midnight when
came on deck and noticed a lull IN the
yale. rubbed my hands with satlsfac-
|
| The gale was breaking, and that by
morning the sun would be shining mer-
IrIly.
H'GIve me call at daylight l ex-
claimed, a, dove down followed by the
opinion of Gregory that the worst OF the
storm was yet to come; that IT was only
a lull for relief with fresh hand at the
bellows. But l thought the mate Tor
once was mistaken, and, turning III,
slept s0undlr.
at appears that the mate. after left
the deck, had the pump well sounueu :
took look at the watch, ana putting III
a iresh quld, regained the poop, Wheh
he proceeded 10 scan the black, lower
ing horizon.
ticed before had obscured the armament,
and his eye had been fixed upon IL but u
I eW seconds when a vivid gleam oil
Dlood-red lightning shot across Its en-
tire eXpanse. Another aud another fol-
lowed, while The wind lulled, then with
a howl it tore through the rigging with
redoubled force, auu amid the roll OF the
| heavy thunder the Panther was again
,enveloped in mist and spray.
7 F'lhe lightning now played in rapid
forks, followed lnstantaneously by the
lreVerberating thunder, which was sutl-
cient proof that the squall was close
upon the ship. The rain descended in
! torrents, the wind with lul shifted
three points, the close-reefed maintop-
sail and malnspencer tugged ana Slated
with the force OF Il giant, while the snip
rocked to and fro in the trough OF the
sea and the darkness became sudden y
intense.
"rhen it was that l was awakened by
the noise and confusion on deck. L
heard the mate roar out Tor one hand tu
lump below and call the captain, but l
was already cropping my way through
The wet, dark cabin.
/ lowing to the intensity Of the dark
ness, the deluge of rain which blinded
them, and the difficulty Of keeping their
feet, the men were delayed in obeying
; the orders Of the mate.
"Just as l reached the deck, the gale
) suudeuly burst forth afresn upon the
, poor old Panther, and from the quarter
| directly opposite 10 that from which ii
had been blowing, taking the ship al
aback, and throwing her on her beam
enQg, while The man al the wheel was
thrown aside as il he had been feather
, The men, with the mate, were hurled
, into The leescuppers, up 10 their waists
in wafer, ana TOR a few moments L dit
: not know whether the old craft Wal
. sinking or not.
Gas quickly as possible / .sprang fol
the wheel, with the intention OF putting
it hard up, but the bowling of the gale
and salt spray, anu the horrible dark
ness, prevented me from working
rapiuly.
"With crash that made me shVer
i. the miZZen-mast went over the side; tn'
, maintop-masJ had been snapped sA0r
of, and was pounding about aloft, bu
it al tended 10 right the old Panther
3 who as she fell off Deiore the wind, spet
on the wings of the gale at tremend
on rate. We soon cut loose from th
: wreck OF the spars pounding alongside
$ but it took us close on to daylight be
tore the panLher's deck was put /,
@ rights. .....
# nolu was few casks Of fne Frenc
n brandy which intended for the bette
= class of the natives. They paid liberal
ly for ii, and it formed no small porlio
:, Of the tit-out of a South Sea trader.
e cit was just III the gray Of the daw
. as ordered the mate TO hoist one out Q
the main hatch, and to have itput in th
u cabin. 1t was difficult task, and some
what risky, the ship was rolling SO heay
:. ly, but managed II, and all hands Wer
called aft 10 splice the maln-brace.
"The last man nad tiled out OF th
D cabin, and | was on The point Of askiu
. the mate to join me in stiff glass, Whe
u sharp cry OF alarm caused me 70 hurr
on deck TO ascertain tle cause.
n 81 found the men clustering aft in
g body, while at their head stood the ca
, penLer with sounding-rod and line i
: his hand. Terror and dismay wer
Z plainly dIscernible in The counLenanoe
0 OF the men, and the cause was but to
g apparent. ..- .. ...... .-.
n "'Ips no use struggling, SIR ex
: claimed the carpenter, who, by the way
e hailed from New Foundland. Fate i
against Us, and this ship is sinking
There is six ieet Of water In The holC
3 We are bound to Davy Jones' locker
/ and we may as well die happy. A shor
8 life, and merry one. Eth, boysW