Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-05-22
A BOYISH MUTINY.

"'StriIe the bell eight Stand byl Fire
The gun Walk away with the whips Roll
drum
This was the awful order once heard
eren when ] was boy on an American
man-of-war It sent three souls into eter-
nifty. A person VINO has never witnessed an
execution at sea cannot conceive Il fraction
Of tie solemuity which surrounds it. The
death penalty has been invoked but very
few times within the history of the United
States navy. 1t is one of thoso rare events
that are too liable to be shroudcd in mys-
terry and covered with injustice, which
malice or nervousness mistakes for disci
plne. The tragic scene l witnessed i'll
West India waters might readily he called
the harshest OF names without an i1frac-
ton Of the truth. But it was done in the
naEue Of discipline and while it did not
receive the sanction Of the government, Il
board Of naval officers acquitted the cap
tain OF crime; but the shadow Of that exc
cutiou hung over his after life, and he
lived In retirement from the mQScnt he
touched American shores till be died.
ut is forty-eight years ago next Decem-
Der since witnessed this tragedy on the
occnn," continued the old sailor, who was
spinning this yurn about an experience at
sea "You see" he ran on, Eve We're sail
ING from ii otrlA 20 O4e Ou4lcu otGttN, dUNl
wore keeping sharp lookout for slave
traders. Ours was a sort OF trading ship
for miLshipmen, not like those we have in
these days but one that in those carly days
was regarded as fit for educating young
men in the practical details of nav CATION.
] think there were a little more than Il
hundred boys aboard on this voyage, and
for some months we had enjoyed Il pleas
Grt time, without anythipH -tar:liuS to re-
l.syc the mouotOny Of n sailors life. Our
captain Was nos popular man, and the
crew often found fault with his orders, but
10 one ever dreamed that serious trouble
was brewing. Uu..l one AFTERNOONS late in
Novprnhcr. when we were standing head
in toward Ct. yhoucs, ia the l}cunudas,
6bout taroo days sill away.
"DpI watch on shiyhourd is from 10 s
o'clocE, AID ! Was on tic afternoon Of
Nov. - i was about 6 o'clock in tho
t,cLiu.r, and ". were -taudiuGut our posts
T. though the ship was ready for action. 1t
luclt be- clearer II should eay that We
were at rc,ul.r drill, which tool. place rv-
cry night AT G. ! wes stationed at one Of
tie guus ba-i; Of the majLclp-r. Nothing
unusual lad occurred to even suggcst to
Il. that there WIS yuv;AiER wrong. -AIl at
Once coiua 3. order from the plain:
"'Alllanie leave The quarter deck
"lt was ;hc conceal rala on shipboard
That tie eriuue.- stood M their posts even
si,.r t-r crow were ordered forward. 30
every mau 1T tho sun stood iIst In a sec
tu4 c"tue tAe r-rcmnt9ry order:
"'A.l hands forward Of the nlaiumast'
as I44ycl or I noticed that ali the
on',.,. If the vessel save oao1,.re cougrc-
Iat.l t.n..t The cu.t,iu ia tAr after BART
ctta.y.-a,l. The 4u~cD, nh1-hipnau re
l44..el "a. lis y5s. Fl, the ior,-ast,c 4
rol.yit Later another MILDLY a.s sent by
the captain tJt.lIt-'s u,y that ue desire I
t, .o', with him. The two Iul., neither
&C them - ...ar5 of age, walked u.t to-
kothcr. The officers Of the 81 Up opened in
two ranks % receive Them, and iumcGato-
j. the commandment ordered the aiGsLiy.
wan from the luvuca-tl1 TO b.. G.s.rnlll
and put ia irons. None Of The ships cruw
knew Of tic occurrence until later, when
TWO Of lis Number wcro arrested and
double iruLcd. no one on tie vessel knew
the cause Of his act save The officers. For
& night and day almos, tAy silence Of death
hung over tho mau-oi-wlr as il stood
heAlIiy on is course. The crew spoke Ia