Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-04-18
ON BOARD THE COUNTESS

The other day | saw notice in Liv-
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 are fifty people il
all England to-day who can recall the
case Of the Countess, although the par
tiCulars were published far and wide, and
finally appeared in book form. 1t is
thirty years since the circumstances oc-
Cured, and as | was the sole survivor OF
the crew, and the one who gave all the
particulars to the English press, perhaps
can tell the adventure in a way to in
terest you.
The Countess was a Bristol brig, owned
in part and commanded by Captain
Thomas, who was not only thorough
seaman but man of excellent heart
We were bound out to Georgetown, in
British Guinea, with orders TO call at
Jamaica. This was my third voyage
with Captain Thomas, the other two ex-
tending only to ports in Spain and 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 a sailor. On the day
we left Bristol l was fourteen years of
age, and stout and robust for boy of
my size. We carried two mates, cook
and seven men before the mast.
After we left ort and got things
ship-shape l had opportunity to look over
the crew and see what they were made
of, and l was not long in making up my
mind, boy that | was, that we had shipped
a hard lot There is always leader in
the 70 castle, and in those days it was the
best tighter. 1t wasn't three days before
a burly big fellow, who went by the
name of ''BristOl Bob" but whose real
name was Ravens, 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 TRANSFERRED that
he was a good seamen but a man of little
tact or judgment. While the Captain
was too lenient he was too harsh, and we
had not been at sea week before the
second mate did, seem to 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 dozen
times There had been blows and kicks
and cuffs; the first mate had been knocked
down; the Captain had called the crew
aft and made them speech; the second
mate had given the men to understand
that he sided with them: on reaching ia
maica every one of the crew would have
deserted but for the plans of the ring
leader. He had already sown seeds which
We're taking root. The Captain did ex-
pect the men to cut sticks, and was sur
prised that none left. l heard him say
AS much to Mr.. Parker. When the lat
ter found that the men were to stay by he
threatened to 90 ashore himself, claim
ing that such men could only be handled
by enforcing the severest discipline, but
the Captain somehow smOOthed it over
with him, and when we left the island
we still had every man aboard who had
shipped at Bristol. On several occasions
I had seen Bristol Bob and his chums in
close conversation, and on several other
occasions the cook had slipped into the
fO'castle, where he had no business to
be, to hold cOnfabs. I could 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 were placed in
his watch.
For the first three days out nothing
unusual occurred. The men did their
work as we'll rs could be asked for, and
were so respectful as to create surprise.
EVERYTHING was on the surface, however.
When out Of sight in the fo'castle the
men were growing and cursing worse
than before. One afternoon-it was on
the fourth day, beheve-I was aroused
from my sleep during my watch below
by . conversation between Bob and a
man named Jackson. They knew | was
in the bunk, but believed me to be sleep
ing soundIy
This is the plan as I have thought it
out, Bob was saying, "After We have
cot the brig we will cruise to the east
ward for Il spell. While I can't shoot
the sun or figure up and get our latitude