Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-23

Will DC Rulueu entlrely py you.
Directly after dinner Captain Nc
Comber began to land force Of men on
the beach, and Captain Clark and both
went ashore to offer our services While
the courts in England had cleared both
Mary and ! Of the charge which had
sent Ben johnson into penal servitude,
both Of us felt that our characters had
been stained. The only thing to clear
us was u voluntary confession from Ben
johnson. stated my idea Of this mat
Ter to Captain McComber. and after
little reflection Lo replied:
"Yes, that is what wish You could
get, but am not hopeful. From the de-
fiant attitude Of the mutineers I am
ready to believe that they will suffer as
to shoot them down before they surren.
der. Johnson is likely to be the very
first one to fall. shall send out flag
Of truce and give them one hour in
which to surrender. II they do not come
in, we shall proceed to hunt them down. "
A sergeant Of marines, accompanied
BY six men, was at once dispatched to
the camp of the mutineers. did not
60 along. but I can tell You what hap
pened. OF sailors, guards and convicts
at the outset there had been about 80
men. OF this number 43 were left. The
marines found these men drawn up in
line in front Of their tents. Most Of
them were convicts. and, having lived
like wild beasts for so many days,
more villainous looking lot of men one
never beheld. Not gesture was made
nor shout uttered. They waited in ST.
lence until the sergeant had advanced
within few yards and delivered his
message. Then Ben Johnson stepped
out and said:
Go back to your Captain McComber
and tell him that not man Of us will
give in. To be captured and taken into
port and tried means the hangman's 8
moose for every one Of US. We will die
right herel Begin your man hunt as
soon as you will! We have no firearms,
but the fun will not be all on your
side!'
When the sergeant returned and re-
ported, the captain separated his men
into three detachments. Each detach.
ment carried u supply Of bandcuffs, and
the orders were to take the mutineers
alive IL possible. Captain Clark and l
volunteered with the first company or
detachment We might have been ex-
cused, but az the convicts had escaped
from us we felt legally and morally
bound to aid as far as We could i'll their
capture.
Stretched out through the woods, but
still in touch with each other, the three
detachments moved to the north.
About two-thiris Of the distance to
camp the detachment OH the extreme
left was suddenly attacked as they
forced their way 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 10 use as lances. As they attacked
the marines and sailors the mutineers
cried: mo quarterl No quarter!'
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 of four muskets and the ammuni-
tion belonging to them and took refuge
| in broken but thickly wooded piece of
| ground beyond their camp.
Seeing that h. lad underestimated
their strength Ia operation, Captain
McComber sen; abt I'd for mountain
howitzer and supply Of shells, and as
We advanced again the bursting missiles
were thrown into the coyerts 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 fired On the bearer. AT
sundown. 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.
victs. The last four had keen killed by
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 rs NJ 1t day
on empty stomachs. Captain McComber
had decided to land 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 on the north shore.
When the bark was brought around
70 the east side of tho 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 ut night In 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 days
excitement, and at I O'Clock In the
morning committed what was little
short Of q crime. sat down and fell
asleep. I did not realize that had even
closed my eyes, but had slept for hall
an hour. when Mary Williams, who
knew that was ON duty, dressed her.
self and came ont to have word with
me about her mother. She saw me
asleep, with my chin ON my breast, and,
lust climbing over the rail by means OF
o rope which had been left BY Haskell
a. he was putting on bit of paint that
day, was Ben johnson. 1t was star
light night, aud she identified him at
first glance. He had swum of to as e
strike q blow for revenge before the
fight Of the morrow, which he could
well reason would be the determination
Of the gang. Between his teeth he held
his knife. Across my knees was rifle.
Had Mary delayed to call out for help,
the villain would have been upon ui
both. Without an instant's delay and
realizing the situation in flash. sht
sprang forward, seized the rife and fired
upon the man as his bare feet touched