The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-08

prepared TOR az move ON their part,
Captain Clark stated our sftGStion, but
did not ask for help. He found that we
had drifted more TO the north than
what we had figured on and that wind
and current were setting us in toward
the west coast of Australia, but there
was nothing to worry over as yet.
The English captain had a crew Of -
men, but not so much as "a pistol aboard.
He, however, offered to bring all his
men aboard TO help in an attack and
was not a-little put out that Captain
Clark did not think it the wisest plan.
He was simply asked to report our situa-
ton to the first man-of-w war he met, as
also to the first Australian bound craft
he should sight In fact, brief report
was prepared by our captain to be hand
ed 20 the proper officers. When he was
ready to return to his vessel, the captain
pulled around to the bow of the Hin
du and gave the mutineers piece Of
his mind. They tried to shout him
down, but it was plainly evident that
his declaration that every man would
swing at the end of rope detracted
from their enthusiasm.
There was no change up to noon, ex-
cept that the breeze freshened little.
For three hours after dinner the mutt
neers were so quiet that we became ap-
prehensive and prepared for rush. 1t
was well that we did. may tell you
that, aside from Mrs. Roberts, Mary
Williams and Miss White, we had no
assistance from the women. They were
frightened and nervous and could hard
ly be induced TO move about But for
Mary's cool, calm manner we should
have had no help at all. She went about
cheering up the children and speaking
brave words TO the women, and seeing
that there were only enough men of US
to fifty guard the cabin she proposed to
keep watch at the bulkhead. 1t was ar
ranged that the three spoken of should
take turn and turn about at watching,
and it was well they had their ears
open. After dinner that day the fell
lows rugged up battering ram between
decks to burst open the bulkhead. 1t
was heavy spar slung to the deck
beams, and with 10 or 30 men TO give it
impetus the planks must have given
way before it.
1t was Miss White who reported
what was going on, and l was sent to
investigate. / found that the spar was
covered by two loopholes. In one of
these l arranged a double ba1reled
fowling piece, heavily charged with
swan shot, and when Mary had prac-
ticed with an empty gun until she I'M
derstood the mechanism of it a musket
was loaded for her and she was placed
at the other loophole. Mrs. Roberts was
to discharge the fowling piece, and Miss
White was to have a gun in reserve.
We were ready before the mutineers
were. 1t was nearly o'clock when
without shout or signal or warning of
any kind they came leaping over the
barricade, armed with the same weap-
ons as before Ben Johnson and others
of the more desperate convicts took the.
lead, and almost before we knew it
they were chopping and smashing at the
cabin. Some of the men carried small
bales and boxes to heave on the sky
light, none of them knowing of the iron
shield bolted underneath. The gang felt
how desperate its situation was, and
though we began pouring in our fire at
once, il seemed as if all were pledged
to die rather than retreat. Those on
deck were also bargaining for time for
those below to get to work at the bulk
head, probably figuring that we were
not prepared in that direction. l don't
like to tell you Of the results. None of
the mutineers below may have been
killed, but so many were peppered with
the shot that all ran away from the
spar. and il was only after messenger
came OH deck 10 report the failure be-
low that retreat was ordered When
the fight was over, we counted lG dead
men OH the decks, of whom IL were
convicts and of whom York was one.
There were 10 wounded, and l tell you
plainly we meant there should be none.
Not one of us in the cabin had received
the slightest injury.
ITO M CnNrtNrUn