West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-03-25


gave me look which signifed that tho
time had come. Forward, there were the
sailors of tho morning watch, che guard
relief, tho doctor and Roberts Aft, we
had the captain, second mate, Haskell,
ali other passengers and myself
AS DR.. Haxton descended 70 the cages
Captain Clark ordered the two single
women below, speaking so gruflly that
they obeyed at once. Then he turned to
Saunders ard Smith, who were smoking
and lounging, and said:
Gentlemen, please step below for a
minute, and don't stop TO ask questions
Go now--at oncer'
Something in his tones warned them
OF peril at hand, and they wcro ont OF
sight before you could count 80. Ten
seconds later sound came aft which |
can only compare to the confusion in a
menagerie when tho animals become
excited. 1t was the convicts making
their rush from cage No. az tho doctor
opened the door to pass in. Most Of the
sailors rushed forward to the hatch the
guards called out and aimed their mus
kets, and then men III cOnyicts' uniform
began to appear on deck. we saw Rob-
erts Knocked down, heard cheers from
the other cages ana then we made n
dash for the cabin just as sailors and
conviots wero preparing TO rush aft
Tho mutiny was on.
When sailors and cCnvicts saw rs dis
appear III the cabin, they realized that
we were prepared for the revolt aud
could not 10 surprised and overpowe1ed
ut dash. They therefore returned
forward 10 assist tho rest OF the prison
ers on deck and consult on what was
best TO be done. On orr side we barred
the cabin doors, put the iron shutters
over the skylight and Informed the puz-
sled men and frightened women Just
what had occurred and " hat we proposed
TO do
There were only seven men OF us i'll
the cabin-the captain, both mates,
Haskell, Williams, Saunders and Smith.
Mr. Williams was an old man and
counted for nothing. Both cooks, the
steward and the bo'sum joined with the
mutineers Not single mas among the
sailors came aft 20 cast his lot with us,
though we had looked upon some OF
them as steady, honest fellows.
You may think there was great ex-
element among the women and children
when they came TO know tho worst, but
can tell you that they were very quiet
over it. Helpless people are always that
way in the face of great peril They
were white faced and trembling, but
there were no wailing and wringing of
hGnds. The cabin lamps were lighted,
and the women and children sat about
on the chairs and lockers. while the men
made final preparations for defense and
spoke in hushed voices.
The exception was in the case Of the
two single women. They had certainly
been very foolish to strike up q romantic
attachment with such villains, but it
was plain that they had never contcm-
plated mutiny and the horrors that
might follow. When they realized what
had occurred and witnessed our grim
preparations for defense, they became
conscience stricken and hysterical. Miss
Foster admitted that nor sympathies
had been worked OH until she had come
to regard Bon johnson ~ martyr and
had filohed the bottle Cf cyoton oil from
the dispensary at his request. She did
not know the use lie meant To make of
1t, however. Miss White confessed that
she thCcght the doctor had been unjust
ly treated, and she had encouraged him
to stand on bis dignity and at the same
time had fallen IN love with the villain
York and become carried away with his
tales Of romance. Row that revolt and
mutiny had come they realized the evil
. they had done and the position Of all OF
Us.
The mutineers gave us about half an
hour In which to prepare for them.
During this interval they got their
breakfasts, passed about bottles Of rum,
which must have been Struggled aboard
nt The Cape, and sailors ard conviots
fraternizcd III way TO prove that they
%ere not strangers TO each othcr. Rob
srts we could plainly 500 from the port
holes in the 'front.' Of the cabin lie had
been knocked down and bound hand and
foot, and his protests aud cntreaties
wcro laughed to scorn. The half hour
vos nearly up before the doctor was
hoisted into view from below. As no
was the direct cause OF tho mutiny and
had been overly kind 20 the convicts, he
might have looked for decent treatment
at least. To our surprise his hands wero
bound behind his back, most Of his
clothing torn of, and tho blood on his
face and neck proved that he had been
brutally used.
/ The first move aft was made BIZ York
aud Bon Johnson, one representing the
sailors and guards and the other the
convicts. They could not have known
how VOL prepared we Wcro iu the
cabin, but York displayed q fag Il
truce as tho pair broke away from tho