Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-05-30
Saint Harg's Beacon.
One Against A Hundred.

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Mass letter 10 the New York Her
aid. sailed from Woods Hoil az third
officer in the ship Awasbonks, Captain
Collins. on four-years' cruise in the
S5uth Pacific ocean. This voyage was
one of most intense excitement and
hsirbreadth adventure, and, while
Captain Jones il of quiet and un-
assuming character and not fond Of
putting his glory before the world,
yet your correspondent obtained a
story full Of interest and one that is
not known to have been published,
although in years past it was a theme
Of much discussion.
The vessel had crew of about
thirty-fve men. including captain,
first, second and third officers, and
made thu voyage around Cape Horn
without incident. She cruieed about
the South seas, aud when eighteen
months out had 900 barrels Of fine oil
in her hold.
Closing in with group Of islands
just north of the equator Captain COL
Inns de ;ided to make trade with the
natives. The ship was hove to, with
most OF her sails set. in a small bay
where the calm water reflected the
strip of.white sand, green palms, and
tropical plants that skirted its margin
as well as the purple hills Of the
interior.
A number of native dugouts put out
to the ship and made fast to E.f chains
and the savages clambered over the
vessels rail. At favorable signal
fierce yell burst from their dusky
threats, causing the ears of those who
heard it 10 tremble and their hearts
10 quail. In less time than ii takes
to write it the ship 9 decks we're full
Of natives and the unarmed crew made
for the rigging. gibbons and forecastle
in fact, anywhere to escape the
bloodthirsty islanders.
The fight that ensued was des-
perate and indiscriminate melee. The
natives had been so sure of a surprise
that they had formed no plan of at
tack, depending entirely on their over
whelming numbers. At the first rush
Captain Collins and the first mate
were engaged in desperate hand-to.
hand conflict with some of the savages
who had availed themselves of the
ships cutting-in spades. and the poor
men were Immediately hacked to
pieces. Thomas Clifford, of Falmouth,
a seaman, made Dol. for the FORE
castle, and received blow from a
spade. He carries the scar across his
forehead to this day, and it is most
unpleasant reminder Of that bloody
massacre.
Captain Jones, then youth Of
about twenty, found himself surround
ed by q number Of Infatuated natives,
each struggling for whack at him
withkeen'edged spades. He managed
to parry the blows. jumping into the
vessels hold, and crawled among the
tiers of oil-casks in the cabin. Here
he found the steward and two seamen
on the floor covered with wounds in
fiicted by the murderous spades. The
rest of the ships company were either
aloft or cooped up in the forecastle.
In one corner of the cabin was the
magazine, containing the muskets and
ammunition. Selling the muskets
Captain Jones gave them to the
wounded nen to load, while he set
about rescuing the Awashonks.
The natives were scattered over the
decks. stealing what they could get
their hands on. They plucked up
the ring-bolts from the decks rails
and tugged at them when two tons
strain wonld not have pulled them
out. They pried at bolts and straps,
picked at nail heads, wrenched down
kettles and stove-pipss and threw
them in the canoes. The chief, an
iil-yisaged rescal. was at the wheel
endeavoring to beach the vessel, but
ne was not up in navigation. First
he put the wheel down, and the sails
not filling he put the wheel up.
Slowly the Awsshonks headed off and
gathered Roadway toward the beach.
An Indian who lived in Mashpee,
some ten miles from here, cut the
braces and the sales were taken aback.
A shower of arrows and heathenish
maledictions were hurled at him as
he sought shelter in the tops. The
vessel lost headwsy, but the chief
continued his experiment with the
rudder.
The caain, where Captain Jones had
taken refuge. was lighted by two win
dows in the stern and large skylight
overhead. When the enemy peered