The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-12-27

! COuultT6u no peril OF lndI SOfI- NO
voyage could have been attended by
more favorable winds or better wealth
er. During the last week of the voy-
age the emIgrants became more recon-
ciled to each other, and the captain.
| and his coterie also perfected their
plans. 1t WAS resolved to steal the
ship and her stores from the syndi-
cate, settle outside the company's
tract, and found a young republic.
The idea that the government Of
Brazil, or the government OF any
other South American state. would
have a voice III such a project never
entered their heads The colony or
republic was to be increased in mum
bers by emigrants from America. who
would come by the thousands, the cap
tain said, the law and ordinances were
to be of the most liberal character.
Slaves were to be brought from Africa,
and every white man should have
two or three to work for him. All
property was to be held IN common.
and all colonists should pay homage
to the captain as president
There were, therefore, two bands
of cOnspiratOrs at work, each unknown
to the other [ had a week to think
it over, and l made up my mind TO
90 with the mutineers. To be left on
a wild coast, exposed to sickness and
want, and to be mixed up with such
state of affairs as would soon prevail
III the colony, was as bad as helping
to run off with the vessel As to
piracy. that was matter which might
never come at all. We ran to the
south of the Amazon, about 150 miles.
and brought up III a bay which was
well sheltered on all sides. A stream
Of fresh water here descended to the
sea, and the land was rich and the
locality evidently free from malaria.
The captain and several people went
off to survey the locality, and before
the day was over it was decided that
the colony should be located here.
The people were wild to get on shore,
seeming to believe that they had found
paradise. The ship had brought
out lumber to construct houses. but
the emigrants would not wait for a
plank to be unlOaded On the second
day every soul went ashore. and be
fore night most Of them had erected
somo oort OF temporary oo<-or- = E.IGl-t
ashore among the insects and wild
animals took away much of the en-
thuslasm, and the next day many re-
turned to the shelter of the ship
While the lumber, seeds, tools and
household goods were being un-
loaded 7 survey of the land was made.
and in about five days each individual
was in possession of his ground. and
the first Of the rude shanties were
erected and inhabited.
The captain paid little or no at
tention to the ship. Everything ia
vOred the plans of the mutineers, and
it was determined by them to carry
off the second mate and force him to
join them. The ship could have been
seized any hour after her arrival but
LaEount wanted her clear Of her use
less cargo, and perhaps felt some com
passion for the colonists. 1t Was on
the morning of the tenth day. and
everything had been landed, the cap
tain and mate We're ashore, when La
CtiiAt lOCh OOlIIIItlIItt. L It SbtOIb
mate, when informed of what was on
foot. made no objection to joining.
and under his directions the anchor |
was weighed and the AlbatrOss stood /
out of the harbor When at sea La |
Fount took command, the mate was
made first, and | was installed second /
officer The plot had been canvassed /
so often that there was little excite !
ment or enthusiasm. LaFount gave
all to understand that he should ex-
act discipline aud obedience. and he |
was as good as his word Never was
there a speedier or more radical a
change in the conduct of crew.
Il DO not know what La Fount's /
plans were, but we had held east two |
days~vhen two six pound cannon in /
the hold were ordered hoisted on
deck and he went down into the after |.
hold with a lantern to make an in
spection. He had not been absent ten /
when the ship suddenly lifted /