The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-09

nand.
Strike the bell eight Stand byI Fire
the gunl Walk away with the whips Roll
drumsl'
Gas the stroke of eight bells rung out
upon the tropical air there was one surge
of the whips, and three bodies dangled from
the yardarna, three men were strangled to
death. A neck is never broken by such q
method. shall never forget the scene at
this moment. The crew were speechless
with horror. The uncertainty of the past
forty-eight hours had been almost unbear-
able, and strong men had grown weak from
the tension upon mind and nerves. The
awful spell was broken as we were piped
down to dinner and started forward. The
captain at this moment caught something
of the spirit of the crew, and, calling them
back, eased the strain somewhat by max
ing speech justifying the execution, and
urging us to look upon the results Of con-
spiracy and take warning by it. he then
called for three cheers for the vindication
of the flag, which were given without
neart, and then the crew walked forward
solemnly to their dinner and to discuss the
execution as much as they dared.
The bodies Of the three men were al
lowed to dangle in the air while all on
shipboard ate and discussed the sad events
of the day. The scene in the officers cabin
was especially striking For around the
table sat those who had condemned tho
three men to death, aud at their head thA
officer who had ordered the execution
The details of the alleged mutiny was free
ly talked over, so one of the officers told
me afterward. But it always seemed
strange that boy IS years of age, good
hearted and full of mischief, should have
scared the officers of a vessel carrying 40
souls, most of whom he would have had to
throw overheard had he undertaken the
task Of capturing the ship and turning it
into piratical craft. Looking at it today,
it was a most barbarous stretch Of author
ity, that would be severely punished now.
I'VE had hardly finished eating and
talking before squall struck us and we
were quickly ordered on deck to shorten
sail and prepare for the storm The bod
les were still swinging to and fre from the
yardarm; but when the ship had been put
to rights the captain ordered them cut
down, undressed and prepared for burial
have seen many a man dropped into the
sea, but on the night of the 1st Of Decem-
ber, 1912, took part in the most solemn
burial service that was ever witnessed
Why the captain waited until after night
TO commit these bodies to the deep do
not know; but the preparations for the
sad event took nearly all afternoon and
evening, and perhaps this was the reason
"a burial at sea is very solemn affair,
and as the crew of our man-of-wAr was
called aft to take part in the ceremonies
there was sort of dread superstition in
the mind of every one. The night was
dark, and the storm which had kept us
busy in the afternoon had left quite G
heavy sea. and the vessel tossed and pitched
as she cut her black figure through the
bounding pillows, looking as though she
was a funeral car carrying the dead over
the sea. No one spoke above his breath
save the captain, who read the burial serv-
ice. The officers and crew responded now
and then with sort of low mutter, which
sounded like muffled voices in the distance
No one on board was quite satisfied with
the proceedings, for sailors are supersti-
tious, and the storm following 50 closely
upon the strangling Of these three men,
and the curious cast of the water and the
somber darkness Of the night when IL
should have been moonlight aud beautiful
all had its portent to every tar aboard
that ship.
The ceremonies took place by the light
of battle Lanterns, which heightened the
dismal aspect of the sea. They were held
close TO the captain. whose stern face never
relaxed as Ae went through with his last
sad duty 20 those who had suffered the
death penalty The hickering light from
these lanterns would occasionally shoot
ont in yellow streaks. and rest for a second
upon the solemn faces OF tie crew, and
then shift here and there as IL in search Of
some new victim 70 receive the last offices
of the dead As I said, the captain read
the service, and ali Of us responded until
be came 70 the words:
We commit this body TO the deep
Then all three were dropped into the
ocean There was a splash and q sudden
gulp Of the waves. as IL hungry. and the
tragedy was ended There was little sleep
on board tha: night Men lay awake in
their haInnOcks msrvsling upon vha, had
occurred. and eonjufing up ali sorts of fan
cies Rs 10 whs; II forssold for good or evil
Occasionally one shipnate woGld slip OVER
TO another and speak with him In whis-
pers. Two men on watch taxt night de-
clared the next morning that they could
see the bodies floating in the waves.
although each one was se--4 up separate
u II hammock, with taree sventy-fozI