The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-07-28
NIPPING A NUTINY.

Our suuboa; lay in the Mississippi, at
tached TO Porter's Hotilla, and 1 was act
ing Is chief engineer. Our captain was
q volunteer officer, an excellent sailor and
a brave man, and II he had fault it was
that of over indulgence TO his crew. Said
crew was q molly collection, made up
almost entirely OI rivermen-tlat boat
men. raitsmen, landing porters and
'longshoremen Of all kiDds-and too
many of them were of q disposition 70
take advantage Of kindness. They had
no conception OF duty, save that which
was forced upon them, and they had
evidently shipped with the impression
that they would have but little work and
little danger.
We We're on the eve Of stirring events.
Word had come 10 Us that We were to
run the batteries % Nicksburg; and We
knew there was warm work in store for
Us ut Grand Gulf. One morning, upon
EOiug 90 the IirerCom, I found that two
Of the stokers, who should have been on
duty, were absent; and, upon making
inquiry, l heard that they had refused to
do any more work. called them to me,
and asked what they meant. One OF
them-an il-favoYed fellow, who had
shipped at New 0rleans-ansWered me
that his time was out, and that he want
ed his discharge. l informed him that,
according TO the rules OF war, he must
continue to DO his duty until his dis
charge was received. He laughed at me
and said he would like 70 see me make
him work after his time was out.
! observed that quite 4 number OF the
crew had followed my stOkers to the door
OF the iireT0Om; ana, from the glances
which were exchanged. l was satisfied
that the detection was not confined to
my department.
/ sought the captain and told him what
had tTduspired.
'' know it, know II, - he said, nerv-
ously. Nearly half the crew have re-
fused 20 DO further duty, and demand TO
be paid off and set on shore. TREY have
no, vet spoken with me, but / expect
them every moment.
While we were coaversing, the officer
Of Tie deck came Into the cabin and in
formed the captain that a number OF the
crew had assembled in the gangWay and
demanded 90 see him. he rose, buciiled
on his sword and went out. In the star
board gdngway were about forty Of the
men, headed by . stout, burly, dark
risaged fellow named Basard He was
: bully and a blackleg As the captain
approached this man stepped forward,
and said he had been chosen TO speak
for his companions. He wanted it IN
ders,ood that there was no particular
leader in this business but that the terms
OF enlistment offor;y-two OF the men had
expired, and they desired 10 be paid off
and set on shore,
The captain spoke 10 them at first very
moderately. lie explained to them what
were the rules OF war. He told them that
the mere expiration OF = given time could
not absoive al enlisted man from his
allegiance. ANY open opposition to con-
stituted authority before they were regu-
larly discharged would be mutiuy; and
# such mutiny could not be qCelled the
efficiency Of the service would be des-
tEoyed. Then he appealed 10 their pat
riotism. Would they break out and sneak
away just as an opportunity was offered
10 face the enemy?
The men treated his appeal with scoTn
and contempt, and swore that they would
90 no more duty And It was plain to be
seen that they meant what they said.
They were desperate characters, and fully
believed that there was not powerenough
on board to overcome them. As have
said, they constituted nearly hall the
crew, and We knew that the other half
could not be depended upon 10 resist
them with arms.
Finally the captain told them he
would 20 and see the commodore and
explain the matter TO him; and the men
went forward, swearing that they would
never return 10 duty, lei come what
would.
When the captain 5 boat was ready he
asked me to accompany him, as the first
demonstration OF mntiny had been made
10 me. We found the commodore just
sitting down TO dinner, and he invited US
to join him; and while the meal was in
progress the captain told his story.
Porter listened very atteBtively, and at
its conclusion he said, with a smile
All right, captain. guess there won't
be much trouble. will come on board
during the afternoon and see ii | can
straighthen things oat for you
After this the commodore turned the
conversation upon other subjects, and