West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-02-25

arc unloaded. After taking care OF the
guards there should be an inspection Of
the cages and the prisoners. They have
been using saws and files down below"
Haskell spoke IN such calm, cool
way that L locked at him In anger,
thinking he was inclined 80 joke. He
went ON TO explain that he had been
keeping vigilunt watch, and that be
would stake his life OH being correct in
his assertions, aud lost no time ia mo-
tifying the captain aud the doctor. We
moved in tho matter so cautiously that
not even one OF tho sailors who was to
replace the guards suspected what was
up. At O'Clock, as Hooper and three
Of his men gathered at the fore hatch,
the captain ordered them aft, and four
sailors took their places. AT tho same
moment Haskell descended TO the cages
with two men and told the guards thoy
were wanted on deck. OF the seven
muskets held by the guards all were
capped, but not one loaded. Hooper pre-
tended TO be highly indignant at being
interfeTcd with, and force had TO be used
before his person could be searched. A
number OF files and saws, all betraying
evidences Of recent use, were found
ABOUT MS clOtnlny.
Tho guafS below was REINFORCED and
the cages examined. Bars had been cut
in every one of them, and it had been
planned to make u rush and capture the
bark as the first gang WAS turned mp.
We hadn't got TO the bottom of affairs
yet when British man of-w ar, on her
way home from the Cape, was alongside
of us. Tho prisoners below, led by Ben
johnson, were hooting and yelling, and
all our passengers were badly upset at
the turn of affairs, though all danger
was over before they knew anything OF
the situation. The captain of the man
ofwnr had fall authority to investigate
and to act. He was at first minded to
put guard and u sailing master aboard,
but Captain Clark was not man to be
sat upon in that fashion. There had
been conspiracy, but no mutiry. We
had proved ourselves equal TO the emer-
gency, and there was no excuse for in
reference Captain Hodgson, as he was
named, was determined on seeing pun
ishment melted out, however, and after
he had had 10 or 10 of the convicts be-
fore him it was plainly evident that
Hooper and two of his guards had come
aboard with the sole object in view of
assisting two of the worst convicts to
regain their liberty. The four other
guards were honest men, and the charges
i'll their muskets had been drawn while
they were asleep. Ben johnson, q dou-
bic murderer named Finch and high
way robber and murderer named Wat
son were the ringleaders Of the conspira-
cy and were to have control of affairs
in case the mutiny was success.
Call all hands to witness the pun
ishment, and then give every one of the
six fellows two dozen on the bare back !"
ordered Captain Hodgson.
A file Of marines was sent aboard Of
us, as also a boatswain's mate to WELD
the cat, and one after another the con-
spirators were seized up TO the grating
and given his allowance. Hooper broke
down and cried for mercy and acted tho
part of a craven, but all the others were
rather defiant. Ben Johnson was the
fourth man seized up. AS they were
making him secure he turned to me and
said:
"All I wanted to get possession Of the
ship for was that / might settle with
you and Mary. It's your turn now, but
mine is certain TO GOMEZ
Whats thatl What's thatp' de-
manded Captain Hodgson as the words
reached his ear. "He threatens, does
hel Bo'sun, give him AN extra dozen
well laid on.