Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-07

wharf. II they satisfy him that they are
sailors, he does not find fault with their
looks The three sailor men engaged for
the trip were hard looking fellows, and l
would not have trusted them not to rob me,
but took them just the same. AT SEA they
would have their stations and their orders,
and the discipline Of a vessel discourages all
exhibitions Of impudence toward ofiicers
Our crew was now composed Of six sail
ors, captain, riate and cook, and the girl
jess brought the number on board up to ten.
1t is run OF over 800 miles almost due
south from sydney to Hobartstown. but until
passing Cape Howe we had the coast in view,
and knew where shelter could be had In case
Of storm Our crew went cheerfully to
work, the weather favored us, and for three
days everything went as smoothly as you
please. had two of the old men and one Of
the new in my watch, and on the fourth
night, as We jw t held steerageway during my
watch. the man at the wheel, whose name was
Needhaln. and who had been with US several
voyages, fused around for a time, and finally
said:
Mr.. Loring, I'd like to speak with you
about a matter"
Every well; what is itf'
II don't like them new men, sir"
'For what reasonf'
They've got their heads together too often,
sir, and they've talked to Bill and Tom, my
old mates until they We quite upset them"
About WHAT
well, sir, about pirates and islands and
treasure and such stuff didn't take to en-,
and they didn't take to me, and so they don't
trust me, but can't help but think there's
something wrong IN the wind"
wasn't startled-not even worried Sail
ors are always talking such nonsense among
themselves, and aboard of every craft there
is always a tale bearer who wants to curry
favors, Needham was distant and peculiar,
as had heard the men say, and that was why
the trio hal not taken to him thought the
matter over for some time, and then thanked
the man for his information and asked him to
keep his eyes open We had light breeze all
night, and the next day was very mild. We
got stiff breeze from noon to midnight, and
on the morning Of the sixth day were below
the cape. Then the wind died out fat and
dead. and all day long we hadn't sufficient to
rufiie a feather | had been watching the
new men closely since Needham stated his sus-
picions. bat not thing could discover TO
confirm his statements They were cheerful,
any thought OF conspiracy If Needuam had
heard OF seen anything further he had not
reported it, although invited to do so
The capts4ia'S trick that night was from
to II, At q O'Clock | was asleep in my berth,
the captain was lounging and smoking, and
jess was in the cabin after some article Of
clothing. There was no wind yet, while the
night WIS soft and starlight There was a
tno t--ba I,,t
sake, he having nothing to do All Of q sud
den, as the captain paced the quarter, some
one in the focastle shouted "Murderi" There
was q scramble and a rush, followed by .
splash, and a choking voice from the water
gasped ont:
ITS nutiny, captain; look outr'
1t was the voice of Needham, who had been
stabbed and flung overheard
Next moment the captain saw every other
man before the mast advancing aft er1ned
with capstsn bars and Delaying pins. The
negro COOK was with them, and the old man
was not long in realizing that something
worse than piutiny was on Instead Of or
dering OF arguing OF waiting for explains
tons, he lcaped down into the cabin and
bolted the heavy doors behind him / had
heard the row. and YVES now dressed, and 50
myself were together aft. and ell made pris-
oners at once. Its nlutiny. Nj. Loringr'
shouted the captain as entered the main
cabin. Arm yourself. and wen teach the
rascals q lesson not to be forgotten"
He he'd scarcely ceased speaking when q
bullet struck him in the right shoulder end Q
shot fired ct me i,razsd my head One of tbs
mu;ineess ND fired through the open sky
Nrt - tf. in, A.
and III - had the lights out. Then l
pulie,. &c Lea s sash down and secured it,
and We >.eir 81 for tine moment 1t needed
NO e. taa 10 satisfy nie OF what had
happened The crew had seized fbe schooner.
and Needha,a had been murdered because no
would not join the conspiracy. had re-
volver, and | started for the deck, but tho
captain stopped the.
Come back. Mr.. Lorins- You have no
show They would kill you before you got
on deckr'
But we must get the schooner backr'
aid
Certainly, but we can't do it by throwing
our lives away We are safe for the present.
Help me OF with my coat and attend to this
wound. jess, you take my revolver and
stand in the eompanionway to guard the
Doors
got at the wound as soon and as carefully
q ! could. and was rejoicsd to find that the
bullet had struck the bone and glanced OF
Indeed, it fell out Of the flesh Is vashsd
away the blood 1t was thus q painful but
not . dangerous wound ! soon had It a.
tended to, and the captain thought be would
not be prevented from handling . revolver
had Just got him fixed up when some one
raped at the DOOR and voice exclaimed:
Below, there! want word with your
What is itF demanded the captain.
THE schooner is ours, as you, Of cours,.
know. We don't want your lives You can
have boat and start of a. soon q you
pleasa
But we don't propose to GO
Don't get cantankerous. old man. We've
got the schooner and we know enough to keep
her. We don't want you here II you accept
our Offer all right. II you want to fight it
out, then look out for yourselvesr
That's what we propose to do" replied
ne captain, and then all was quiet
crept to the bead Of the companion sfairv
md beard the mutineers conversing in low
Zones, and while sought to catch what they
AID, q man ran aft to the wheel and the
'thers began to make sail The calm was
broken | knew the course they would make
Without seeking . sight Of the cabin com
'aA They would head to the west, proba-
'ly for King Island, and while between tho
puth coast Of Australia and the north coast
4 Van Diemans Land, . stretch of over 900
niies there would be no fear Of meeting
nth any craft larger than a coaster owing
o The numerous shoals and shallow Tho
'rse1s came up lively, and the schooner went
|Anciug away a. lively - II all had b.s., AZ
1904
my won't Try to get At Us fer tina
- p~haps not until morning." nd u |
.Peain, and We must make ready"