Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-12
VIRGINIA, DECEMBER IL, $780,

\. DECEMBER -, 1890.
very well: you nave maze your own
choice Men, get ready the gig, and put
In water and provisions for week. We
don't owe them any grudge."
1t was folly to think of resistance, but
the captain would have his say. He abused
each and every one of them in good, round
English, and predicted that he would be
present when each one dangled at the end
of rope. They simply laughed at him,
and in the course of half an hour we were
set afoat. The gig was furnished with a
sail and pair of oars, ten gallons of wa
ter, bag Of bread, a few cans of meat and
fruit. Each of us was allowed to make up
bag of clothing, but were refused a COM
pass, chart. or anything else which might
aid us in steering a course. Both of us
were robbed of our money and watches,
and the captain was even dispossessed of a
| finger ring. The men who had struck for
| their s'rights" had no care for the rights
| of Others
1t was about an hour before sunset when
we were cast adrift. We had made good
500 miles to the southwest since leaving
Bombay, and were at least $50 from the
Indian coast. AS the breeze was from the
east we headed to the south, while the
ship, which had been hanging in the wind
| for an hour, stood to the north, her crew
cheering over and over again as she laid
her new course. 1t was a long half hour
before either one of us broke the silence.
One event had followed so swiftly upon
| the heels of another that it was hard to
realize all that had occurred I steered
the boat, and the captain sat with his face
i'll his hands for a long time. Finally he
looked up and around to exclaim:
| Oh such a crewl If they had mu-
tinted in the regular way, having some
reasonable excuse, shouldn't feel half so
mean over it. To be beaten out of my ship
| by hair Drained fool of Il mate, and that
by talk alone makes we want to kick nv
SELF
eve stand a good show to be picked up,'
| suggested.
eyes, fairly good, but as soon as the
wind will allow want to head to the south
east. We are not over 200 miles from the
Malabar islands,
The Malabar group extends for 500 miles
along the coast, and comprises such large
islands as Lakadivh,, Aucutta, Minikoi and
Horsburg. Then begins the Maedivh group
and extends for another 500 miles, many OF
the islands being thirty, forty and fifty
miles in length, with straits or channels
between them. But few of them were in
habited at that time, and those only by
fishermen and shell hunters
| In an hour the ship was lost to our view
| minded the boat for the first half of the
night steering by the stars and the feel OF
| the breeze, and then turned in while the
captain stood watch. AS the sun came UP
next morning the wind hauled to the west
and became fresh, and while we had to look
sharply after the boat, she flew ahead at a
pace which gave us an extraordinary run
| for the day. Only one sail was sighted,
and that was too far away to give US any
| hope. The captain had the watch from
to II, and l had been on about an hour
when l heard the roar of breakers, and
| knew that our run was fin ished.
Having aroused the capt ain, we decided
! to stand off and on until daylight appeared
and when it came he recognized the island
! before us as that of Aucutta, the next
| largest of the Malabar group. We had
made safe landing before sunrise, and
when we had eaten breakfast we start
ed out together to investigate. We walked
ilp the southern shore about ten miles and
back without finding any trace of in
| habitants. After dinner We headed to the
north, and tramp of six miles brought
us to the limits and resulted in a strange
sight at the same time. The Lady Bliss
was standing down for us from the north
west, and when seen was hull above water.
We found hiding place in the bushes and
watched her as she stood on. There was
deep water to within cables length OF
the beach. She shortened sail, passed the
corner of the island, and after running
along the north shore for a mile came to
anchor in thirty feet of water, and within
stones throw of the beach. Her anchor
was hardly down when we saw and heard
row on board-a free fight in which all
seemed to be engaged. The result of this
was that five men lowered the yawl and
pulled ashore We heard Hall and others
call after them and make threats, and they
replied in kind. When they had landed
they declared their intention to remain,
and each one spoke bitterly of the way
Hall and his favorites had used them. They
had not left the ship for good, but were
prospecting to see if the island suited them.
They had brought with them the captain IS
revolver and the only two muskets aboard
the ship.
1t did not take us above ten minutes to
find out how the land lay, and we then ex-
posed. our presence and besought the men
to aid us in recapturing the ship. There
was but little hesitation on their part.
Hall had no sooner got possession than he
| lorded it over the sailors in great style. 1t
wasn't two hours before he had mutiny
on his hands, and one half the crew insisted
on his heading for the islands, that they
might be put ashore. There had been half
a dozen fights between the two factions,
and two of the men ahpard were laid up.
Capt. Berry promisA the five men i'm
munity from all punishment if their future
behavior was satisfactory, and the seven of
us then pulled aboard. A fight was even
then going on in the cabin between Hall
and his mate and we were on deck before
they knew it. 1t wasn't five minutes work
tosecure Hall and the two men who had been
most prominent, and the others then went
down on their knees and begged for mercy.
1t was granted on conditions, and the ship
was at once got under way and her course
laid for the Mozambique channel and the
CAPE Hall alone was tried by the authori-
ties and he was publicly hanged for his
crime. He was perhaps more of crank than
criminal, but British law stands no non
sense from any subject.-New York Sun.
This Is the Way to Brace Up a Bust.
An excellent and quick way to mend
broken plaster casts and impressions is to
paint the broken surfaces over two or three
times with very thick shellac varnish, and
at each application to burn out .the alcohol
over flame. When the shellac is suffi
GENTLY soft, press the parts together and
hold in position till cool. 1t will be as
OF, + l,of l>,o