Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-07-26
MurlsY:
Details of n Desperate Encounter Between
Onicers and Crew ON n Whaler.

Details OF a Desperate Encounter Between
OnIcers and Crew ON n Whaler.
The San Francisco Post publishes
an account of a desperate mutiny
which occurred on board the steam
whaler Lucretia, of which Edmund
Kelly is master. The Lucretia left
San Francisco in company with a
large fleet Of whalers, carrying a crew
of forty-three men. One day when
the vessel was close to the ice, and
while the wind was blowing a heavy
gale, disagreement arose between
the captain and the crew. a French
man named Joe had refused to per-
form duty, and the captain was com
PEELED to put him in irons The crew
resented this action and, led by John
Madden. a sailor, they assumed a
threatening attitude The captain ran
into the cabin and, arming himself
with rifle. sprang on the house and
declared he would shoot the first man
who attempted to take the man from
the wheel After they had gone for
ward two or three manifested dis
position to work, whereupon Madden
told them that if they did not leave off
and come below he would cut their
throats while they were asleep that
night. Thus intimidated, those who
were disposed to return to duty were
compelled, through fear, to go with
the leaders Of the mutiny into the
forecastle. A storm of jeers and in
suits was sent up to the officers, and
the captain determined to try the
effect Of little fasting on them. The
door of the companionway leading
down into the forecastle was then
closed and secured with a paddock.
The mutineers remained locked up
below from the evening of the 22d
until the morning of the 24th, when
they made an sault on the door,
forcing it open, and came to the deck
armed with their revolvers, Madden,
who was leading the men aft, cried
out "Bread or blood !" and the
others repeated the cry. Captain Kelly
took his officers and boys into the
cabin aud, having armed them, placed
them at the ships waist, with direc-
tions not to use their weapons until he
gave the orders to, no matter what
might occur, but when they did shoot
to pick out the ringleaders and make
sure work Of them. The captain then
advanced forward toward where the
men were standing and requested all
who desired to keep out Of this scrape
to step off to one side. The ringlead-
ers told them that they would kill the
first one who did so.
Again the cry of Bread or blood"
was raised. Captain Kelly said: " Men.
the time for argument is passed. /
sunk my dignity when | pleaded with
you. Now there is but one alternative
Whoever disobeys my orders | will
shoot on the spot" Bringing his rife
nearly to present. he said: Madden,
come to meID Madden whipped out
his pistol. and pulled the trigger OF
the captain. The cap snapped and
Captain Kelly attempted to fire, but
found that he had neglected to put
cartridge in the chamber. His rifle
was of the Henry pattern, with sixteen
cartridges in the cylinder. While he
was in the act Of throwing charge
into the chamber Madden fired, the
ball passing close to the captains head.
At this the shooting became general.
The chief engineer sent ball from his
rife through Madden's knee, who made
dash for the captain. and in doing so
struck barrel that was standing by
the tryers and dropped his pistol. he
stopped quickly to pick it up again, and
while in the act Captain Kelly sent a
ball through his bol and hefell dead.
The other mutineers then became
panic-stricken, and began to scatter
and throw their pistols overheard.