The San Francisco call., 1896-06-17
MEN MUT TINY ON
THE HIGH SEAS,
Two British Ships Put In
With Tales of Woe
Yesterday.
MAN OF WAR COMUS.
One of the ST. Mungo's Crew
Was Locked Up in
Stateroom,
RAz0Rs FLYING IN THE AIR.
Head Winds and Cross Seas Caused
the Cruiser to Run Short
of Fuel.
RAzoRs FLYING IN THE AIR.

The British cruiser Comus, the British
ship st. Mungo and the Spreckels tug
Vigilant made one of the prettiest pictures
ever seen i'll the bay yesterday. All three
vessels were in the foreground and back OF
them was Alcatraz, spouting fame and
smoke in a salute to the British flag.
Small craft and fishing boats were coming
and going and over all was perfect Cali
fornlan morning.
Thousands attracted by the sound of the
booming cannon thoroughly enjoyed the
scene, but double interest was added when
they learned that the man-of-war had put
in on account of heavy weather and a
shortness of coal and that there had been
mutiny on the ship. As the cruiser
passed Fort Point the stars and stripes
were run up at the main and a salute of
twenty-one guns was fired. As the st.
Mungo passed Lime Point in tow OF the
Vigilant the police flag was set in the
mizzen rigging, and half an hour later
Sergeant Burner and Officer Fitzgerald OF
the harbor police were on board, but could
not do anything, as they had no authority
over a sailor on British ''soil."
As the Comus passed Alcatraz the
British flag was run up on the fagpole
and the Englishman's salute was returned
by the fort While this was going on one
of the crew OF the st. Mungo was in the
lazarette in irons and the sound of the
guns only brought to him an assurance
that he would have to answer charge OF
mutiny, and that right speedily.
The st. Mungo left Swansea for. San
Francisco with cargo of coal 130 days
ago. All the forecastle hands were negroes
and they made trouble from the very first.
Captain Hamilton, his wife and child and
the white officers were constantly threat
ened and at one time there was nearly an
outbreak. The men were driven to quar-
ters at the point of revolvers, and it was
only when the ringleader was placed in
confinement that quiet was restored.
There were fifteen negroes to four white
men and every one of the former was
armed with razor. They insisted that
their companion should not be ironed and
to save bloodshed Captain Hamilton gave
in to them. The prisoner will be shipped
to England for trial and it will probably
go hard with him when the st. Mungo
reaches her destination.
During the early part of the voyage of
the st. Mungo Charles Spence created a
great deal of trouble. He was impudent
and mutinous, and when spoken to at
tackled the boatswain and nearly killed
him. When the captain and officers
rushed forward to save the man Spence
threatened to drive a marlin spike
through the first man that approached
him. Then Captain Hamilton drew big
navy revolver and threatened to blow a
hole through the mutinous sailor if he
did not at once throw down his marlin
spike and razor. This Spence did and
then the officers attempted to iron
him. The other negroes came to the
rescue and said they would make mince-
meat of all the white trash aboard if
irons were put on their leader. A COM
promise was reached and Spence was
locked up in spare stateroom.
Boatswain Michael Doyle, who was
jumped on and beaten by Spence, was con-
fined to his bed for two weeks. In the
meantime Spence attempted TO escape
from his confinement, and second at
tempt to iron him was made. His cries
brought his comrades on deck, and sec
ond demonstration on their part had to
be put down at the point of the pistol.
When Captain Hamilton found that the
police could not do anything for him he at
once reported to the British Consul. a
consular court may try all the men here,
but the chances are that Spence will be
sent to England for punishment.
The St. Mungo was anchored off the
heads last Monday, but Captain Hamilton
would not accept a tow. Yesterday the
men began to grumble again, so when the
Vigilant came along Captain Randall's s
offer was at once accepted. On February
16 last John Davis, an A. B., died of con-
sumption and was buried at sea. He was
native of Baltimore, aged 81 years.
The Comus is on her way from Corinto
for Esqumalt. On the 4th inst. she
sailed from San Diego, and ever since has
been bucking into heavy head sea. For
seven days she has been off the Farallones,
and running short of coal, the captain put
in here for supply. She will resume her
journey north tomorrow. The officers of
the Comus are:
Captain H. H. Dyke Lieutenant (G) John s..
Luard, Lieutenant tN) C. MacLachan; Lieu
tenants II. L. Watts Jones, G. 7. F. Pike, c. D. s.
Raikes; Gunner G. r. Cooper, Boatswain G..
Robinson, Chaplain Rev. T. Kane, Paymaster
F. w. Mortimore, Assistant Paymaster A. j..
Dyer, Carpenter ]. N. Matheson, Staff Surgeon
E. Corcoran, Chief Engineer James Lane, AS
sistant Engineer F. w. Bluett Sub-lieutenant
w. Spoke; Midshipmen A. c. Fellowes, R. R. c..
Backhouse, ]. w. Darlington, H. L. Boyle, M.
Baillie Hamilton, ]. G. McHsrdy, H. Seymour;
Lieutenant Royal Marines H. J. Crocker, As
sistant Clerk E. W. Mainprice.
The crew is 236 all told ana the vessel
carries ten guns.
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