Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-21
CHAPTER vi.
PASSENGERS AND GUARDS.

As the passengers and guards were
all brought into the great trouble which
ultimately fell upon the Hindu, the
reader should at least be introduced to
them. The one single man was named
Haskell. He was about % years OF age,
and farmer by occupation. at first
took him for stupid lout, and all 9TH
ers were inclined to make him butt OF
ridicule, but you will see that his looks
beled him. There were four married
couples Williams Roberts, Saunders
and Smith. Williams as you know,
was Mary's father. The others l knew
nothing about except they were fair to
do people who were going out to the
Colony in hopes to better themselves.
The two single women had been serv-
ants in England and were Miss Foster
and Miss White. There were thus II
adults, while Roberts had two children,
Smith three and Saunders one, making
up more, or lS passengers in all.
The names of the seven guards were
Hooper, Larkins, Green, Tobias, Rich
mond, Tannehill and Martin. All were
English or American, and all claimed
to be men out of work and at least semi
respectable Hooper was the ex. sergeant
and in charge of the gang. He was bet
ter dressed than the others and was
likewise keen, sharp looking man.
can't say that I mistrusted the man
from the outset, but after reading the
anonymous note handed aboard by
strange hands looked over the seven
and made up my mind that Hooper was
the man to keep an eye on. he had
great gift of CAB, as / soon discovered,
and his position would likewise give
him certain influence.
Very little occurs on board ship, no
matter how large she is or how many
passengers she carries, which does not
become common talk within few
hours. The Doctors incompetency leak
ed out after two or three days, as also
did the fact of Captain Clark taking
charge of the convicts The punishment
of the two prisoners was Il public affair
and witnessed by all except the women
and children. These things, as you may
suspect, created no little anxiety among
the passengers. and we had only been
five days out when they drew up and
signed paper requesting the captain
to return to port, declaring their belief
that their lives would be imperiled by
an outbreak before the bark had been a
fortnight at sea.
"What we shall do, replied Captain
Clark, twill be to continue the voyage
II we meet an inward bound ship and
any of you want to return, will refund
your passage money. While acknowl.
edge that the doctor is not the right
man in the right place, he is doing bet
ter every day and will soon WORK into
tho harness. BY the time we reach the
Cape we shall have no fault to find with
him. AS for the convicts, they have got
taste of what am made Of, and few
days hence will see them as milo as
lambs Aside from the perils of the sea,
guarantee to land every soul Of you
on Australian soil"
There was some muttering and COM
planning, but the people soon came to
think better Of it, and thus the affair
ended From his being in charge of the
guard, Hooper had privileges not ac-
corded to the others. The fact that he
was strongly against the protest was
brought to my attention. He had a
dozen arguments at his tongues end to