Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-07-27
The Story of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
a Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.


A fellow came and stood under the
fore-scuttle, and, looking up, said, in a
bold, defiant way.
Il spoke-'Bill Marling, able sea-
man,
lam to tell the captain that you
refuse to turn TOP"
"Aye; and tell him we'd rather have
six months of chokee than one mouth
full of his cursed provisions" he an
swered.
Coxon was standing with Duckling
on the poop when l delivered the mes
sage to him. He knew pretty well
what was coming, and was in great
rage. The expression of his face was
really devilish. When he glanced
around and saw the other ships sailing
away he seemed deprived of speech.
He saw, however, that no good would
come of his passion and motioned for
me to draw nearer.
"Who was the man who gave you
that message, sirP"
"a fellow who called himself Bill
Marling."
"Do they refuse to leave the fore
castleP"
"They refuse to get the ship under
way"
Is VIC DOdCSW dln UlSdlI6CJeuF
mo, sir; but fancy he knows the
mems minds"
He turned to Mr.. Duckling.
''If the boatswain is sound, we four
ought to be able to make the scound-
rels turn to-"
This was like suggesting hand-to-
hand fight-four against twelve. and
Duckling had the sense to hold his
tongue. The boatswain was standing
near the long-boat, looking aft, and
Coxon suddenly called to him: LEAD
the men aft"
The men came aft in twos and threes.
There were thirte@l in all. The boat
swain kept forward. / stood watching
the men after they had reached the
quarter deck.
CoXon said:
1.-The boatswain has piped you out
to get the ship under way. Do you re-
fusep"
The man named Bill Marling made
step forward. The men had evident
~ constituted him spokesman.
1--WE don't mean to work this here
ship" said he, until better food is
put aboard. The biscuits are not fit
for dogs; and I say that the pork
stinks. and that the molasses is grits. :"
That's the truth" said a voice; and
the Portuguese nodded and gesticulated
violently.
L "You blackguards, blurted out the
captain, losing all self-control. What
do you know about food for dogsp
You re not as good as dogs to know
Aren't you shipped out of filthy Rat
cliIfe Highway lodgings, where the
ships bread and meat and molasses
would be eaten by you as fine Injuries,
you lubbersP Turn to at once and man
the windlass, or I'll find way to make
your
1--WE say" said the spokesman, pull.
ing biscuit out of his bosom and
holding it up, ''that we don't mean to
work the ship until you give us better
bread than this. Its moldy and full of
weevils. Put the bread in the sun and
see the worms crawl out of it,
"Will the skipper pitch the cuddy
bread overheard and eat ournP" de-
manded rough voice.
''And the cuddy meat along with
it!' exclaimed man, a short, power.
fully built fellow, with crisp black
beard and woody hair, holding up o
piece of pork Cd the blade of a knife.
"Let Captain Coxon smell this"
The captain looked at the men q
few moments with flashing eyes and
then TUNED and walked aft with Duck
ling. Here they were joined by the
pilot, and discussion took place be-
tween them which lasted some minutes.
The men talked together in low tones.
Presently Mr. Duckling left the cap
tain and ordered the men to 90 for.
ward. He then called the boatswain
and told me was to be left with the
pilot in charge of the ship while he and
the captain went on shore. The quar-
ter-boat was lowered, and Duckling,
the boatswin and the captain got into
it. The two former each took an oar
while CoXon steered, and away they
went over the little waves which the
fresh land breeze had set running along
the water. 800, =,
BY this time all the outward-bound
ships had got their anchors up, and
were standing down Channel. Some
of them which had got away smartly
were well around the Foreland, and
we were the only one of them all that
still kept the ground. Captain Coxon's
rage and disappointment were, of
course, Ineligible enough; for time
to him was not only money, but credit
I mean that every day he could save
IN making the run to Valparaiso would
improve him in his employers estima-
ton. .-->- 49,. ..-.-'.-----------
The men peered over the bulwarks
at the departing boat, wondering what
the skipper would do. .> $780, $50
1 stood watching them some time
and then joined the pilot, who, now
that the captain and Duckling were
away, was ready enough to talk in a
friendly manner with me. expressed
the opinion that the magistrates would
sustain the men in refusing to work
the vessel, as the food was very bad
and ought never to have been put on
| board. $685.. ---,--
1.-The captain don't intend to let 1t
come before the magistrates, an
swered the pilot, with a wink, and
pulling his pipe from his mouth to in
spect the bowl. He wants to be of,
and means to telegraph for another crew