The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-12-25

k1DSSASesA
@ second mate Of the vessel He
seems to have been the first one At
tucked by the mutineers. It was his
watch on deck. and before going below
he had drawn up bucket Of water to
wash his hands and face. His cap
was found near the bucket split al
most in two. probably by blow
from the carpenters axe. The winter
in which he was washing was Redeemed
with blood, as though he had been
struck as he was leaning down toward
the winter. and a::bloody trail led to the
side Of the ship, whence his body was
thrown into the sea
After the killing of young Enstrom
the mut;neers divided up the work that
remained to be done. The carpenter
undertook to dispose of the Captain.
and made the attempt already de-
lscribod. Toton, seaman, who after
| ward proved to be the ringleader, took
| charge of the mate Sylvanius, and, re-
| volvtr in hand, made for the mates
stateroom. Sylvanius was asleep. and
| it was quite dark in his room; but
/, Toton knew the lay of the land, and.
using his best judgment, fired four
shots in rapid succession. and then ran
out to see how the carpenter was pro-
crossing. His judgment in firing
proved good. The first ball put out the
mates right eye, the second struck him
| in the chin, and the other two took
effect in bis body. Toton was wrong
in thinking Sylvanius was dead. He
was alive. and, knowing that more
deviltry must be going on outside. he
arose, picked up the revolver which
Toton had dropped, and ran to the Cap
tain's room. As Toton came in one
door Sylvanius came in the other. hold
ing in his hand the revolver with one
bullet still in it. !. 1t was surprise to
Toton when he found the Captain fight
ing. and still more a surprise when the
mate appeared opposite him and tried
carpenter. the steward and Toton made
for the deck together. When they were
out of the cabin the Captain and the
mate locked themselves In, got out the
medicine chest and fixed each Others
wounds. Neither understood surgery,
and the best they could do was to battle
them and diminish the flow of blood by
binding the wounds with lint
When this was done both felt easier.
and began to cast about for methods of
revenge and for regaining control of the
ship.
On the wall over the Captains bunk
were fastened an African leather shield
and two assegais. placed crosswise.
The shield was clearly useless. but the
assegais might do to strike the mu-
tineers. The mate was about to take
them down, but Just then the Captain
recollected something better. He
opened his locker and took out rife
and brace of revolvers. When they
were carefully loaded the two officers
sallied forth. The mate had one of the
Captains revolvers and tho one he had
picked up, and the Captain had the rifle
and = revolver. IF thugs had not been
serious. they might have been taken for
. couple of Robinson Crusoes. But
this thought didn't occur to the mu-
tineers. They stood n the door, armed |
with axes and capstan bars. and began |
the fight 1T once. But the number OF |
firearms :demoralixed Them They had
no time to fight much before 3 half |
dozen bullets flew around and sent them |
scattering forward with the Captain |
and mate in pursuit. The forward |
hatch was open and Toton, Refus, an-
other seaman. the carpenter and the |
steward jumped down in wild haste. |
They liked to fight with sleeping men
best.
6ue1e The seamen did not succeed in
Cutting Ont OF sight Johanssen was
the unlucky one, and he looked much /
dispirited IS he tried to make himself |
small behind the caPetan. He hadcA /
capstan bar ID his hand, but it didn't
look very formidable when the mate.
With his two reyolver& and the Oap-
tain, with bis rife Ill ready, came It
him nom different directions. That was
too much. and Johanssen expressed
wish to yield. The Captains first m
stinct Was to shoot every one engaged
u % cowardly an attack. but Johans-
sen's part Of the mutiny had been quiet
md the Captain told him be might live
& he would 90 TO work. Attic lister
he Captain discovered the murder Of
1is son, and regretted his clemency, but
10 kept his word
For four DAYS tho Captain and mate
worked the vessel, with Johanssen at
ne wheel Their wounds caused them
'xcruciating pain. and even constant
lna1tlonss VII salt water could not ward
y The aggravating e@ect Of hot eli
nate. On tho afternoon Of tho fourth
lsy the aptain had made up his mind
vhat 70 do and he told the mate about
: who agreed with him. Their wounds |
vere getHng worse, and they might be
lelple0 = any time, in which case JO- !