The morning news., 1892-03-27
a STORY oF rHR sEA.
How Brig Was Captured By Advent.
urers and q Woman Marooned.

- 49, essoaNACA " AA@ "1@@ VI SLo e1ICcL.
His right leg seems to be attached to his
body for walking sideways instead Of the
usual manner. At the first glance you
would call It a natural deformity. but IL
you followed him for 100 feet you would
feel quite certain that some accident had
happened Co him, and he owed his condition
to the ignorance or carelessness Of those
who practised surgery on q broken leg. I
will call his name John Lee, and will reel
of his story as he told IL 20 me not a fort
night ago.
In the year 1868, after the government of
the Japanese islands had put down the re-
bellion which had been in existence for two
years, many heads were Topped OFF aud
many rebels banished from the country.
Among the latter were a score or more OF
adventurous who we're not natives, but Eu-
ropeaDs. Some had gone in with the rebels
for the sake OF adventure and pluuder, and
others had been forced to join by circum-
stances. The fear of being involved with
authorities TO spare the lives of these
foreigners and at the same time rid
the islands of their presence. There was
10 the port of Yokohama at the time an
Australian brig named the Robert May,
commanded by Capt. Henry Welles, and she
was chartered to take fourteen OF these ras-
cally adventurers to the south and land
them on any one OF the islands of the BONN
group which should prove the most conven-
lent. AS all of them were desperate men,
the japanese governments was willing TO
pay good price to get them out of the
country. There must have been money in
1t, for the brig, or the captain. would not
have meddled with such dangerous cargo
The brig had an English crew of nine
men and boy, and the captain had his
wife with him. John Lee. the sailor with
the twisted leg, was one of the crew. The
brig had part of a cargo of tea. and a space
in her hold under the main hatch was fitted
up TO receive the prisoners. A dozen mus
kets were brought aboard, the prisoners
guarded the same as convicts would have
teen, and Capt. Welles set sail in full ex-
pectation Of landing them according to in
structions. He was not the man to deal
with such rascals, however, as events
demonstrated. Every man In the pen knew
that he vast to be landed without shelter or
provisions and from the first going aboard
there was determination to rise on the
crew and take the brig. 1t was on the night
OF the fourth day out. and during a squall,
which came near dismasting the brig, that
the plot was carried out.
There are many things to be said in favor
OF the desperadoes. They desired to capture
the brig without bloodshed, and but for the
dogged obstinaoy or the captain that would
have been done He called the crew to rally.
fought the gang alone and single-handed
until killed with a musket ball. He was the
only one killed, though some of the crew
were wounded in the first rush. John Lee
was aloft at the moment, aud in his fright
and confusion he met with fall
which broke his leg. The mutineers
set II and gave him careful
attention, but in the setting they twisted it
around and the bone knit and left 1t in it's
present shape. Having possession Of the
brig the desperadoes were for time divided
as to what should be the next move. They
had had enough Of Japan, and no one had
any idea Of turning pirate in waters where
man. of-war was to be met two or three
times week. They decided to run to the
southwest and land on some uninhabited
island above Formosa and enjoy free and
easy life for season. To that the crew of
the brig agreed, some pleased with the pros
pect of such life. and others realizing that
opposition would be of no use.
Mrs. Welles was bout 80 years Of age,
full OF energy and resolution. Her treat
ment by the mutineers Id.more than any
thing else to win the crew over to their side.
The fellows were led by an Englishman
named Tom Jones, who was, no doubt, a
thoroughly bad man, but in this case he
should have due praise. On the morning
after the capture of the brig Mrs. Welles
was interview in the cabin. She was told
proposed TO get her out of the brig and out
OF harms way while they had control.
Ihey did not dare to speak a ship, nor
land her at any port, but would set her
ashore on some island and provide her with
means to take care of herself She agreed
with them that this was the best they could
be expected to do, and for the next two days
and nights she was left entirely undsturbed
In the cabin. There was plenty of rum
aboard, but between the mate, who was act
Ing as captain, and Tom Jones, who was the
leader, nothing like drunkenness had oc-
CURED. The good times" were being put
off until they could find a safe haven some
where. John Lee was lying in his berth
with broken leg, but was kept posted as
to what was going on forward and aft.
On the afternoon of the third day the brig
reached the island Of Shangwen, one of the
Loochoo group, and boat was lowered
and pulled ashore to investigate. Il was
only small island, nearly circular and
about three miles across and was uniu-
habited- John Lee says he begged the
captains wife TO take him along. but she
probably either feared that he would prove
serious case on her hands or become a
menace to her safety il he got well, and she
decided that she would rather go alone
The boat which set her ashore car
ried all her clothes and the personal
effects of her husband, with beef. pork.
Dredu, Hluc, muSK0b ana ammunition.
some books, and in fact whatever else she
asked to be allowed to take. Jones a d
three men were ashore with her, and they
not only found a good spot for a
camp, but constructed a good shell
ter for her and put all her goods
under cover. No woman could have
fallen into the hands of more des-
perate men, and yet no woman could
have been treated more tenderly. The brig
sailed away just at sundown, and she was
left to begin her Crusoe life.
Tbs island bad scarcely been left behind
before the men on the brig began their
carouse. Two days later they beached tn Q
vessel In a cove on one OF the Borodine
group Of islands, and for many months
peace and war regHed by turns. From the
very hour of landing dissensions arose. and
it wasn't a week before the crowd split in
two parties and lived apart In fear of each
other. John Lee, according to his own
statement, was no better and no worse than
any of the others There was nothing to do
but sleep and eat and drink. The brig was
plundered at will, and as provisions bsgan
TO grow scarce there was more drinking
and less eating. The first man killed
was the mate, about q fortnight
after landing. His death was followed
speedily by that of a second man, aud after
ward the evil passions Of the living were
not restrained. At length, tired aud dis
gusted with their orgies, the Jones party at
tempted TO get the brig ahoat aud leave the
island They were discoyered and a tarri