West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-04-03
ON BOARD THE COUNTESS.

The other day saw notice in Iiy.
erpool paper TO the effect that the courts
had decided to rehear the case of Mrs
Allan White, daughter OF Captain
Thomas, of the brig Countess. To the
general reader those lines meant nothing.
| do not suppose there arc fifty people in
all England to-day who can recall the
case OF the Countess, although the par
hculars were published far and wide. and
finally appeared in book form. II is
thirty years since the circumstances oc.
CURED, and as | was the sole survivor of
the crew, aud the one who gave all the
particulars to the English press, perhaps
can tell the adventure in way To- in
terest you.
The Countess was Bristol brig. owned
In part and commanded by Captain
Thomas, who was not only a thorough
seaman but man OF excellent heart.
We were bound out to Georgetown. in
British Guinea, with orders 10 call at
Jamaica. This was my third VOYAGE
with Captain Thomas, the other two ex
tending only TO ports in Spain aud re-
turn. | was an apprentice, or ships
boy, having nothing to do with the cabin
but living with the crew in the fo'castle
and learning to be sailor. On the day
we left Bristol was fourteen wears Of
age, and stout and robust for a boy of
my size. We carried two mates, cook
and seven men before the mast.
After we left Iort and got things
ship-shapc had opportunity to look over
the crew aud see what they were made
OF, and was not long in making up nv
mind, boy that ! was, that we had shipped
hard lot. There is always a leader in
the fo'castle, aud in those days il was the
best fighter. II wasn't three days before
burly big fellow, who went by the
name of "Bristol Bob" but whose real
name was Havens, had established him
self as "boss." At sea the first mate
stands his own watch, while the second
mate stands for the Captain. Our second
mate was named Migner, and ! was in
his watch, as was also Bristol Bob and a
couple of his chums. The first mate was
named Parker, and it soon transpired that
he was a good seamen but a man of little
tact or judgment. While the Captain
was too lenieDt he was too harsh. and we
second mate did not seem 10 be clear as
to whether he should side with the men
or the officers.
Before reaching Jamaica the crew had
been on the point Of mutiny half a dozen
times. There had been blows and kicks
and cuffs the first mate had been Knocked
down; the Captain had called the crew
ait and made them n speech; the second
mate had given the men To understand
that he sided with them on reaching Ja-
maica every one of the crew would have
deserted but for the plans Of the ring
leader. He had already sown seeds which
were taking root. The Captain did ex-
pect the men to cut sticks, and was sur
prised that none left / heard him say
rs much 10 Mr.. Parker. When the lat
ter found that the men were 10 STAY bv he
threatened 10 90 ashore himself. claim
ing that such men could only be handled
by enforcing the scverest discipline. but
the Captain somehow nmoothed IL over
with him, and when we left the island
we still bad every man aboard who had
shipped at Bristol. On several occasions
! had seen Bristol Bob and his chums in
occasions the cook had slipped into the
focastle, where he had no, business 10
be, to hold cOnfabs. I cosid see plain
enough that something suspicious was in
the wind, and think Mr. Parker also
suspected the plotting, as we had no
sooner left Kingston than I saw him
closely watching all the men. In set
ting the watches anew, Bob and two Of
his friends and myself we're placed in
bis watch.
For the first three days out nothing
unusual occurred. The men did fbeir
work as well rs could be asked for. and
we're 50 respectful as 10 create surprise
Eyerthing was on the surface, however
When out Of SIGHT in the fo'castlc the
men were growing and cursinQ worse
than before One afternOOn--it was on
the fourth day, believe was aroused
from my sleep during my watch below
10y a conversation between Bob and
man named Jackson They knew / was
in the bunk, but believed me % be sleep.
ing soundly.
"This is the plan ~ / have thought IL
out, Bob was saying. "After we have
got the brig we will cruise to the east
ward for "a spell. While can't shoot
.hc sun or figure up and get our latitude
or longitude, I can see n chart as we'll as
anyone, and the log will tell us how far
we have run. We know that ali the
Islands are to the northeast Every ono
IS down on the chart. Beyond them is
ihe Atlantic. The island am after is
iot down on the chart. It is northeast
# Trinidad, and may be 200 miles
away
"Dont Miner know9" asked the
other.
"Never heard Of it, but this is his
dfst trip this way
els be agrecdi"