Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-09
THEMATE0F THE Hindu
By Captain RALPH DAv1a


By Captain RALPH DAVIS
Copyright. 1894 BY the Author.l
CHAPTER VII
THE FATR OF THE ALBATRosA
When we had been few weeks III
sea, there was much to commend and
very little to find fault with. I stated
in previous chapter that no batch Of
convicis had ever mutinied until after
leaving the cape Of Good Hope. The
reason for this will be apparent IL you
consult your map In running to the
south every craft was in the great high.
way. Had the convicts got possession
Of a ship there were no uninhabited
islands for a refuge. Had they landed
anywhere OH the west coast Of Africa,
the savage natives would have snapped
them up, The hour Of peril had come
when craft was approaching the Aus.
tralian coast II the conviots got posses
sion, they could either land on the great
island or sail to the north and find In
Vulnerable small islands TO offer them
shelter.
While we took every precaution from
the very beginning Of the voyage, we
nevertheless depended in q measure ON
the facts above stated. After awhile
the convicts appeared to steady down
and be dcsirous Of making good records,
and the behavior Of the guards was NIL
that could be asked for. For q month or
more ! had kept close watch Of the four
men previously alluded TO, but nothing
had occurred to make me doubt their
loyalty. Haskell had been allowed to
saunter about as he pleased. and when
ever an extra guard was wanted he was
always ON hand, but none Of his reports
as to the conduct Of guards or prisoners
was calculated to cause any particular
anxiety.
One morning, az we were holding
our course with fair wind. we rose an
Indiaman coming up from the south,
and two hours later she signaled that
she wished to speak us. The Hindu was
lying To when she came mp. The gang
Of convicts ON deck was ordered below.
but we were flying the flag which told
every bcholdcr what sort Of cargo we
carried. The Indiaman proved to be the
Black Prince, ~ regular liner, homeward
bound, and she dropped boat and sent
ber mate aboard. His errand was to see
il we could give passage TO the Cape to
n man named Thomas, who had been
picked up mt sea two days before while
drifting OH raft He said that Thomas
was an Englishman who had been
wrecked on a voyage 10 the Cape and
was very desirous Of continuing the run
In that direction. The mate was in
great hurry, as his ship had been de-
lAyed by head winds, and he did not 60
into particulars. Captain Clark decided
that we would take Thomas, and o
quarter Of an hour later ne was on board
and the respective crafts swinging their
yards to resume their voyage.
II was midafternoon before We got
Thomas stoty, and it was one to deeply
interest us. Only few days before our
sailing ship called the Albn:ross had
taken out batch Of about 200 convicts,
half Of whom were females None OF
them was above common criminals,
and for this reason they were not a.
carefully watched as they should have
been. The ship carried only four pas
sengers, all men, and Of these Thomas
was one. He had an uncle at the Cape
and was going ont in search Of adven.
ture. He felt certain there would have
been no trouble with the prisoners but
for the uncalled for measures enforced
BY the doctor He overworked and un'
derfed them and fiogged men ON the
slightest pretext By the time the Al.
batross had left the Cape Verde islands
behind her two.thirds Of the men had
been fiogged and half the females had
been punished in some other manner.
When the crew Of convict ship be-
trays open sympathy for the prisoners
because Of tie cruel treatment accorded
them, one must te satisfied that those
in authority exceed the limits. Even
the guards ON the Albatross condemned
the tyrannical conduct Of the doctor. As
I have told you. they We're offenders
rather than criminals. and all had re-
ceived short sentences They were sent
out more as colonists, and each one
would receive q ticket Of leave after
serving for six months or year. II was
not until the doctor had repeatedly an
nounced that he would break the spirit
Of every one in the gang or fiog him to
death that the spirit Of mutiny cropped
out. The position Of the ship was to the
south of 81. Helena when the climax
came. One Of the women conyicts had
transgressed some rule, and the doctor
ordered that she receive dozen lashes
While he was making preparations the
convicts rose as one man and had pos
session Of the ship in five minutes.
II was n mutiny against the doctor and
three OF four of his guards rather than
against the ship, and had the captain
kept faith with the mutineers it would
have been far better for all on board.
Two Of the guards were killed in the
first attack. The doctor was made pris-
oner, and an hour later was hanged at
the yardarm. The convicts had no fur
ther grudges to satisfy. and simply ask
ed that they be landed on the Hottentot
coast. This the captain agreed to. but
during the night put the ship about with
the intention of making St Helena and
giving the prisoners up to the authori.
ties. His deception was soon discovered,
the ship held off to the east, and next
day the mutineers determined to rid
themselves Of every one in the ship who
would not join them and share the dan
gers of their future. The captain, mates
and - sailors refused to join, as also
did 8 Of the guards and the passen.
gers, making 81 people in all. The 2
cooks and the captains steward had no
option, but were compelled to join.
Two boats were lowered, plenty Of wa
ter and provisions put aboard, and the
captain and his people were treated with
the greatest consideration.
Thomas was in the mates boat. lta
course was shaped for st. Helena, but a
gale came on and blew them far to the
south. After week Of battling with
the elements it was decided to run for
the Cape, but in another gale the boat
was upset. and every man lost except
Thomas. He was lashed to the keel and
had been without food Or water fOr
three days when picked mp by the Black
Prince. As to the fate Of the captain q
boat and the convict shin he Of course