The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-03-17

From 1869 TO 1917 l was IN the CraQlng
schooner White Wings, which piled be-
tween Australia and New Zealand, and
between the latter country and the larg
er islands to the north. We had fire.
quently met the missionary brig as she
transferred missionaries to new fields,
and it was through US that it was decid-
ed to send a contingent to Sunday island
We had touched there for trade and
found a mixed population and bad
state of affairs. This report was made
in New Caledonia in November, just be-
fore our sailing for New Zealand. 1t was
January before the brig set sail, and in
the same month we left New Zealand on
trip to the Friendly islands. The mis-
sionary craft had always been sailed by
an English captain and mate, with
crew of native fishermen and shell gath
erers. These latter were always con-
verts and were paid at the rate of Sc
month. 1t was, to our way of thinking,
like offering a prize to any one who
would be converted No matter how
good sailor a native was, he could not
be shipped except on the recommends
ton of missionary that he had ''got
religion" The wages, low as they were,
were three times as much as a fisherman
could earn otherwise, and so it finally
came about that you couldn't find one
who didn't profess to have been Chris
tanned. won't say that four-ffths of
them were liars and hypocrites. but you
will presently see that some of them
were actuated by the very worst mo-
tives in seeking for ''change of heart"
When the brig was about ready to sail,
HOs, Dol oaH II,
dent. His mate, Mr.. Knowles, was
competent to navigate, and as mate he
was given an islander Familiarity known
as Buttons" He was a fisherman and
pilot and got his name from wearing a
big necklace of brass and horn buttons.
He had been known as tough character,
but for the past few months had protested
religion. Eight men were taken before
the mast, and the brig carried cook and
steward, making ~ in all. OF the six
missionaries taken aboard there was only
one mana Rev. Mr.. Straight. Of the
five women one was his wife, one the
wife of Mr.. Knowles, and the other three
were young women from % to 30 years of
age. Three of them were to stop at Sun
day islands and the other three to be
landed on one of the Esperance islands,
to the south. The brig was armed with
six muskets, and the Rev. Mr.. Straight
had double barreled fowling piece be-
sides, he being something of sportsman
as we'll as very enthusiastic missionary
During the first week of the voyage all
went well, and Captain Knowles declared
that the Gospel Truth had never had a
more cheerful and willing crew aboard.
On the fourth day out Buttons" got
three of the muskets from the cabin IN
der pretense of having them cleaned and
repaired. He tried to get powder and
shot as well, but in this he failed, though
not because any one had the slightest sus-
picion of his loyalty. At supper on the
evening of the sixth or seventh day no
tea or coffee was served in the cabin. In
place of it was drink known as ''coo-coo."
It is something like lemonade, but spiced
with berry having nutmeg flavor. All
would have drunk freely, but the liquid
had a bitter, disagreeable taste, and no
one took more than two or three sips.
That same night at midnight as Captain
Knowles, who stood watch and watch
with his mate, was just going off duty he
was seized and flung overheard. The
brig was then going through the water
at speed of five or six knots per hour,
with pretty heavy sea running, and he
must have met his death within five min
utes. Those in the cabin were sound
asleep when the steward aroused Mr..
Straight and said that the captain wanted
to see him on deck. The missionary
hastily dressed and went out and was at
once seized by the mutineers. Some were
for heaving him overheard at once, but
others insisted that his life should be
spared foe day or two at least. He was
taken forward to the fo'castle and bound
and gagged.
The object of the mutineers was two
fold. They proposed to find some unin-
habited island and set up as a colony,
and they wanted the brig that they might
trade with other colonies. It had been
settled among them before the brig left
New Caledonia as to who should possess
the five women. The other six hoped to
steal wives from some of the islands.
The drink served out by the steward had
been drugged. In his anxiety to make
good Job of it he had overdone the thing.
When they seized the missionary, he cried
out In surprise, and his wife heard hin
and became suspicious that something
was wrong. She looked out in time tc