Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-18

dying by dozens in my youthful hands,
many Of whom I felt could have been
saved with better nursing, and you will
no. wonder at my prostration.
As I reached the cabin stairs the rain
came down in sheets; there was a boom
ing. roaring sound; the ship heeied over
and raced through the water as the storm
came down npon her. A fash of light
ming showed me that the Sea was already
white with foam.
L went below, made hearty neal off
some salt beef and biscuit found on the
table, drank stiff glass of rum and
water, and turned into my berth to renew
my nap. WEAKNESS drowning the sense of
danger.
How long I slept, or what happened in
the time, | do not know. When 1 awoke,
the ship was rolling heavily, and there
was continuous omninous sound, thud,
thud, thud, accom- panied with the pour
ing of water, which caused me to hurry
on deck, where a scene of terrible con-
fusion met my eyes, for it was broad day
light. mast had gone; the deck was
Uttered with cordage and broken hard
work. All was confusion, authority in
allegiance; convicts, sailors, marines,
were mixed up together, hurryins to and
fro, or working at the pumps. The gale
had aoate6, was dying out, in fact, but
there was leak which could not be dis
covered, though, in consequence of the
number of hands to relieve one another
in pumping, the water did not gain upon
US. Finding 1 was not wanted there, I
went below again to attend OIL Phipps,
who had been left 1 knew not how long,
and was too weak to help himself much.
The fever had left him, but he. was low
and Responding, and asked me to read the
Bible to him, which 1 did.
After a time I heard MacNab come
Gown, and went into the saloon out of
which our private cabins opened to
speak to him. found him loading his
pistols.
"The leak has been found and stop
ped" be said, "but dinna like the look
OF the convicts, some of them he got
arms, fear me-"
While he was speaking shouts and shots
were heard above, and he rushed up
stairs, [ followed him. DIRECTLY We reach
ed the deck we saw body of convicts
coming aft, headed by Williams, who had
q musket in his hands.
THE game is up, lieutenant," he said,
you may as well surrender"
MacNab's answer was a pistol shot.
Williams staggered, hut recovered him
self, leveled his musket, fred, and Mac
Nab fell dead in my aims. In moment
L was knocked down, bound, and thrust
aside 10 be helpless spectator of crimes
could not move a finger to prevent.
Some of the rufians rushed down the
cabin stairs, and returned, dragging poor
Phipps with them. With brutal tests
they bore him to the bulIwarks, one took
his shoulders, another his feet, and they
tossed him alive into the sea. All the
sailors and marines who we're sick, or had
been wounded in the struggle, were in
like manner thrown overboard; the re-
mainder were gathered together in a body,
and Williams, who had evidently been
elected chief, made them a speech, offer
ing them their lives if they would join
heartily. Most of them shrank from the
horrible death before them, and acceded,
but corporal Of marines stood firm.
"You will all be taken and hanged with
In month";" he boldly said; Sand l had
sooner drown with honest men than
swing with thieves and murderers."
The words were hardly out of his
mouth when he was shot dead.
"And now, lads" cried Williams, 81
know what you are all thinking of-the
rum! (cheers). "WeII, every man shall
have tot, and few at time shall have
q skinful. But most of us must keep
sober to manage the ship, so have set
guard over the spirit room, and any man
who tries to force it will have his brains
blown out. Twill tell you what propose
to do, If you agree. There are some
islands near where we are with the best
the finest fruit and plenty of
food without working for it. We will
make for one of these, land everything
out of this rotten old ship, and then
scuttle her. You have made me your
captain, aud l appoint Lloyd my chief
officer. He is sailor, and known where
these islands are and how to reach them
so he will sail the ship"
Loud acclamations greeted this ad-
address, and the Assem- blage adjourned to
the grog tubs.
I was not long left unmoIested; knot
of fellows gathered round me, and dis
oussed what they should do with me-, and
one at last suggested that I should be
made to swallow the contents of my
medicine chest, which was forthwith
brought up for the purpose, and some
calomel pills were actually forced into my
month. How I wished that L had been an
homWopath!
While was struggling a man came up.
"What are you doing with the doctor?'
he asked, excitedly; "didn't the captain
say he wasn't to be touched? He wants
to see you, sir, down in the cabin" he
added, oiviily to me. My prosecutors
skunk off grumbling, and my deliverer
cut my bonds and led me to Williams,
who had been shot in the shoulder, and
wanted his wound attended to. I man
aged to extract the bullet, and when he
was easier, he said
81 am sorry for all these horrors, doc
tor; / swear I am. But you know the
men have to deal with, and how slight
my hold is upon them. You have been
kind to many of them, and are useful bg-
sides, so l managed to save your life, but
when said a word for the others they
would not listen. As for McNab, he fired |
at me first, or he would never have fallen |
by my hand"
"You are responsible to God and the |
law, not me-" replied.
Ought I have refused to tend his |
woundss Was it my duty to beard and
upbraid himf 1 do not know; my life is |
sweet, and l wished and tried to preserve
it, excusing my pusillanimity at the time
Dy the thought that my testimony, if
might bring the whole body of
rascals to justice.
l quite understood the tenure upon |
which my life was held, in spite of Will |
Jams plausible speech. There were |
many SICK, and several wounded, both by |
the storm and in the fight wnen the yes |
sci was seized, and they needed my ser