Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-21


have hold of the whips (ropes) when the
condemned are swung off. Even the
cabin boy and cook are not exempt from
this painful duty. This exacted that no
one shall be able to chide another with hav
ing taken part in the death to which all
were not a party. In this case the rule
was enforced to the latter; because this was
an execution of a greater moment than any
that had ever taken place in the American
navy, or has ever taken place up to this
date. The officers were dressed III full
uniform for the occasion, and the crew
were clad as if for inspection.
The ropes adjusted, the captain
stood back and in loud voice gave the
command.
- Strike the bell eight. Stand by. Fire
the gun! Walk away with the whips.
Roll drumsl'
LAS the stroke of eight bells rang out
upon the tropical air there was one surge
of the whips, and three bodies dangled
from the d-arm-three men were
strangled to death. | shall never forget
the scene at this moment. The crew were
speeches. with horror. The uncertainty
Of the past forty-eight hours had been
almost unbearable, 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 mo-
ment caught something of the spirit of
the crew. and calling them back, eased the
strain somewhat by making speech in
justifying the execution, and urging US to
look upon the results of conspiracy, and
take warning by it. He then called for
three cheers for the vindication of the
flag, which were given without heart. and
then the crew walked solemnly to their
dinner and to discuss the execution as
much as they dared.
The bodies of three men were allowed
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 the three
men to death, and at their head the officer
who had ordered the execution. The de-
tails of the alleged mutiny were freely
talked over, so one of the officers told me
afterward. But it always seemed strange
that boy 18 years Of age. g0Cd-hearted
and full OF mischief, should have scared
the officers of a vessel carrying 100 souls.
most of whom he would have had to throw
overheard had he undertaken the task of
capturing TIE ship and turning it into a
p;ratical craft. Looking at it to-day. it
was most barbarous stretch of authority,
that would be severely punished now.
1--WE had hardly finished eating and
talking before a squat struck US, and we
were quickly ordered on deck to shorten
sail and prepare for the storm. The
bodies were still swinging to and fro from
| the yard arm; but when the ship had been
put to rights, the captain ordered them
cut down, undressed and prepared for
| burial. | have seen many mrn dropped
| into the sea, but on the night Of the 1st
of December, 1912, took part in the most
solemn burial service that was ever wit
messed. Why the captain waited until
after night to commit those 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 solemnSaffair,
and as the crew of our man-ofWar were
called aft to take part in the ceremonies,
there was Il sort of dread superstition in
the mind of every one. The night was
dark, the storm which had kept us busy
IN the afternoon had left quite a heavy
sea, and the vessel tossed and pitched as
she cut her black figure through the
bounding bill WIS, looking as though she
was funeral car carrying the dead over
the sea. No one spoke above their breath,
save the captain, who read the burial
service; the officers and the crew respond
ed now and then with sort of low NUT
ter, which sounded like muffed voices in
the distance No one on board was
quite satisfied with the proceeding, for
sailore are superstitiOus, and the storm,
following so closely upon the strangling
of the three men and the curious cast OF
water and the sombre darkness of the
night when it should have been moon
light and beautiful, all had its portent to
every tar aboard that ship. The cere-
monies 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 taco never
relaxed as he went through with his last
sad duty to those who suffered the death
penalty.
The Pickering light from these Iantetns
would occasionally shoot out in yellow
streaks and rest tor a second upon the
solemn faces of the crew, and then shift
here and there as if in search of some new
victim to receive the last offices of the
dead As I said, the captain read the
service, and all of us responded until he
came to the words
cove commit this body to the deep
Then all three were dropped into the
ocean, There was splash and d sud9er
gulp of the waves, as if hungry, and the
tragedy was ended. There was little
sleep on board that night Men lay
awake in their hammocks marvelling upor
what had occurred, and conjuring up al
sorts of fancies as to what it foretoid fol
good or evil. Occasionally one shlpmatt
would slip over to another and speak with
{ him in whispers. Two men on watch tina
: night declared the next morning that they
could only see the bodies floating in thu
t waves, although each one was sewed u
separately in d hammock. with three "a
pound shot at its feet. Two nights late,
che man avowed that he saw the midd.
, that had been executed and thrown int
t the sea walking over the forecastle. S,
' it went on for days and nights until ou
4 ship reached New York Then the sailor
+ breathed easier; but have never met on
; of them to this day (and all of them ar
old men now who had forgotten an Incl
: dent OF that arrest and execution. | neve
} sailed on that vessel again but tool
D French leave of the navy very soon afte
4 our arrival at the Brooklyn navy yard
: This tragic event had nothing whatever t
0 10 with my going, but had seen enough
r of the sea, and never recall my experience
4 thereon without a shudder'
s The old salt who graphically told thi
n tragedy of the sea is wrinkled and gray
a With him was an old shipmate who ha
r been his companion on that Hateful voyag
so MANY Years AGO. Every now and thel