The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-11

cuSeu, Dut ~ the COnVlCtS nau escaped
from US we felt legally and morally
bound TO aid az far DIS we could in their
capture.
Stretched ut through the woods, but
still in touch with each other, the three
detachments moved to the north.
About two-tsirds of the distance TO
camp the detEchment on the extreme
left was suddenly attacked as they
| forced their ay through the thickets
by the whole body of mutineers, who
were armed with stout clubs, and many
had dashed their sheath knives to long
poles TO use as lances. AS they attacked
the marines and sailors the mutineers
cried: ''No quarterl No quarterr'
They fought TO kill. nor would one Of
them surrender when called upon. The
fight did not last over five minutes, but
in that time three marines were beaten
or stabbed To death, two others badly
hurt and, four convicts were killed.
When the mutineers retreated, they car
ried off four muskets and the ammuni-
tion belonging to them and took refuge
in a broken but thickly wooded piece Of
ground beyond their camp
Seeing that he had underestimate
their strength and desperation, Captain
McComber sent aboard for q mountain
howitzer and supply of shells, and as
we advanced again the bursting missiles
were thrown into tho coverts ahead.
Twice during the afternoon we tried TO
open communication with the fellows
by means OF flag of truce, hoping they
had had enough of fighting and would
surrender, but each time the flag was
advanced they fred ON the bearer At
SHUTDOWN, when we returned aboard our
respective vessels, we had lost four men
killed and three wounded, and we had
killed eight of the mutineers, all con-
yicts The last four had keen killed Ly
shells from the howitzer.
Nearly all the provisions taken from
the Hindu when we set the,men ashore
four weeks previously had been wasted
or consumed. Before retiring to the
beach we destroyed what was left and
burned the camps, and as there was no
longer any wild fruit on the trees the
fellows would have TO fight us next day
on empty stomachs Captain McComber
had decided TO land "a larger force of
men and more guns and give the mutt
neers no further show. By having men
enough to stretch across the island the
defenders must at last be driven to the
open beach OH the north shore.
When the bark was brought around
to the east side of the island, she was
anchored about mile from the beach.
The sailors who had assisted US and
three OF the marines were then with
drawn, while Haskell, the second mate
and myself stood guard at night Ill ro-
tation with the marines. On this night,
after our battle ashore. we went on duty
at midnight. / took the poop deck, the
mate the waist, and Haskell the bows.
Little or no danger was apprehended
now. The wind that night was from
the west, thus giving us the lee OF the
island and smooth water.
was greatly fatigued after the day S
excitement, and at l o'clock i'll the
morning committed what was little
short of crime sat down and fell
asleep. / did not realize that had even
closed my eyes, but l had slept for halt
all hour, when Mary Williams, who
knew that / was OH duty, dressed her.
self and came out to have word with
me about her mother. She saw me
asleep, with my chin on my breast. and,
Just climbing over the rail by means OF
q rope which had been left by HASKELL
as he was putting Oh bit OF paint that
day, was Ben johnson. IL was star
light night, and ,she identified him &C
first glance He had swum off to MS 20
strike blow for revenge before the
fight of tie morrow, which he could
we'll reason would be the determination
of the gang. Between his teeth he held
his knife. Across my knees was a rifle.
Had Mary delayed to call out for help,
the villain would have been upon US
both. Without an instants delay ana
realizing the situation in fash, she
sprang forward, seized the rifle and fired
upon the man as his bare feet touched
the deck, only eight feet from where
sat. The report of the gun and his yen
of pain aud rage were blended together,
and in q minute the whole ship was
alarmed.
johnson had been shot in the breast.
We went off for the surgeon, ana when
he had made an examination he plainly
told the ruffian that he had but . Few
hours to live. The man had not uttered
word after being shot. but the looks
he had given Mary and l proved tho
feeling of murder in bis heart. AT nrst
] had some hopes that he might make Q
confession, but when he looked at me
with eyes cleaning like those OF q
wounded tigers realized that 1t was
useless to address him. And yet all
had hoped for came about, after all.
The desperate man died by inches
As the hand of death clutched at his
throat the little good In him came to
the surface. An hour before he breathed
his last he sent for Captain Clark ana
Mary. He begged the girls forgiveness
for all that had passed. and then made
. dying statement which completely
exonerated us both. IL was taken down
h writing and duly witnessed, and,