The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-31
HE LADY BLISS" MUTINY


which voyaged between the Cape Of
rood Hope and India ports. She was Il
,tanch, tidy, and well-found craft, and
capt. Berry was part owner. | had
made the trip from the Cape to
Bombay twice when the adventures / am
about to relate had their beginning.
The crew numbered twelve men, and, as
is usually the case, fresh lot of men
was shipped for each voyage. I alone
had made the three trips without a
change, and this was because Capt.
Berry had taken q great liking to me.
l could have gone as first mate, being
perfectly competent to navigate the
ship. but had had an operation per-
formed on one of my eyes, and did
not dare to risk the responsibilities of
the position. At each trip we had had a
new first mate, and strange one came
aboard at Bombay to go back to the
Cape. He was introduced to me as Mi.
Hal. but it isn't at all probable that was
his name. He was big, strong fellow,
a thorough sailor, and l had no reason
to believe that we should not get along
together. The Captain, too, seemed to
like him, and the crew as IL whole was
above the average.
We had been out three days before I
found that Mr.. Hall was d queer man.
II the word Anarchist had then been
coined it was not familiar to tn public.
The ideas advanced by the masses to-
day were then unheard of. The mate
began a conversation which resulted in
making me suspicious of him. The ship
belonged to a company which owned five
others. Each craft was known to be
well found and we'll manned, and 9Ould
always have it's pick of men for a crew.
7 han aCtn iCh cd TO m
Hall declare that the company was max
ing too much money and becoming too
much of a power in the land. They were
building up, he declared, at the expense
Of the sailor. No man, firm, or cOrpOr-
HtiOn had any moral right to so much
wealth and power. God had designed
that all should share alike one man had
no right to roll in wealth while another
wanted for bread, and so forth, and so
forth. He took the same line which all
the well-known Anarchists and Social
lists have adopted and followed since,
and l could not doubt that he was
deeply in earnest. While the con-
versatiOn led me to believe that he was
holding dangerous views, there was
nothing for me to worry about. AS for
repeating his words to the Captain, the
idea never entered my head.
1t wasn't long before Hall sought oc-
casiOn to sound me again, and 1 sudden
ly made the discovery that he had been
ltampering with the men. l had not seen
him talking with them, but two or three
II them assumed such an Independent
fearing that it was plain that the seed
had fallen on fruitful soil. The crew
was made up of roverS-English. Ameri-
cans, Dutch, and Lascars. Not more
than two could claim the same nat ton
ality. When we had been out five drys,
and during my watch i'll the evening, I
overhead enough of a conversation be-
tween three Of the men to satisfy me
that Hall had deliberately gone to work
TO create dissatisfaction and a mutin-
Gus spirit. [ had entire charge Of the
deck at the time, and, having given some
necessary order, | watched and saw it
obeyed in Il manner to prove that there
was something very wrong with the
mcn-at least the men in my watch.
In this case the men lounged forward in
al impudent way, each one growing be-
,ow his breath. and plainly caught the
words OF one Of them as he said:
:" D-n the company, We are just
as good men as they are =
did not let on that | heard it. nor did
I reprove them for their want of prompt
ness. Had l been sure Of Mr. Hall it
you'd have been different. If he had
been talking to the crew as he talked to
me. then bad Il matter on hand to be
handled very carefully. l was vexoI
and worried. but decided to wait.
Next day i'll my watch we had 10 break
out caSk Of beef from the hold. Even
with the Captain on deck smoking his
cigar the men Jagged and exhibited their
impudence. When the tackle was let
Il I NC, ,t,J, .
men descended to make it fast to the
rask He fused around for five min
utes, growing and swearing, and when
swung myself down and sharply re-
proved him for his want of energy he
ripped out at NE:
"Oh, yes. We've got to break our
backs to pile up the dollars for the
uabObs ashore. They'd sell the heart S
blood of every Jack aboard for pound
note!
Acting under the regulations govern
irg any ship, l should have knocked him
down. passed his remarks without a
word. feeling in my heart that the whole
crew must be dead ripe for mutiny. l
had intended to go to the Captain as
soon as my watch was over, but I had
W..ited too long. Just as we hauled the
* on deck Hall came out of the cabin.
lis appearance was a signal to the men
; knock off and crowd aft, Hall walked
y er to the Captain and calmly said:
Capt. Berry. do you believe that one
man has right to grow rich at the ex-
r2nse Of another?"
'W-wEat do you mean, sif?" gasped
the astonished Captain
| mean that l am tired of watching,
working and shaving for the profit of
others. The company is too rich and
arrogant. 1t has its foot on too many
sailors neckS.
Go to your cabin, sir! I suspend
you from duty shouted Capt. Berry,
who was both amazed and indignant.
Not SO fast, Captain" replied Hall,
smiling blandly. We have concluded
10 take charge of the Lady Bliss We
We have been slaves long enough
The Captain was speechless with
amazement. 1t had come upon him so
suddenly that he could not collect his
wits. As he stood like one bereft Of ear
and voice Hall continued:
As you arc part owner you belong to
the class which is eating out our lives.
We have no use for you. Men, get the
gig ready. Now, then, Mr.. Refer. are
you with US or no?"
Do you mean that you have taken
possession Of the ship?" asked.
"Exactly?"
And what is your programmed"
We have slaS FOR the company long
enough. We WI now go into business
on our own account"
How
I've have been robbed; we will rob
therS."
At this the crew set up loud cheer,
nd 1t was evident that they we're with
i'm to man. 1t was no time for argu-
enf-to point out Inconsistencies.
hey had complained of being oppressed
hey now proposed to Cypress others.
ley had complained that the company
Us pling up money through the wear
nd tear of their bone and sinew. they
ow proposed to rob by force of arms.
hey had complained that the company
'as too rich. They now proposed to
mass all possible wealth. They had
eclared that all property should lie