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

COENlONS HLu CNOI lllIl dIlcT
leaving the cape Of Good Hope The
reason for this will be apparent if you
conAult your map. In running to the
south every craft was in the great high
way. Had the convicts got possession
OF Il ship there were no uninhabited
islands for a refuge. Had they landed
anywhere on the west coast of Africa,
TIE savage natives would have snapped
them up. The hour OF peril had come
when craft WAS approaching the Aus
tralian coast. Ii the convicts got pcsses-
SIGN, they could either land on the great
island on snil 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 n measure on
the facts above stated. After awhile
the convicts appeared to steady down
and be DESTROYS of making good records
and the behavior of the guards was all
that could be asked for. For month or
more had kept close watch CT the four
men previously alluded TO, but nothing
had occurred to make mo 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 repol Is
as to the conduct of guards or prisoners
was calculated to cause any particular
anxiety.
One morning, as we were holding
Our course with fair wind, we rose an
lndiaman coming up from the south,
and two hours later she signaled that
she wished. to speak us. The Hindu was
lying 10 when she came up. The gang
OF convicts on deck was ordered below,
but we were flying the flag which told
every beholdcr what sort Of cargo we
carried. The Indiaman proved TO &c the
Black Prince, a regular linor homeward
bound, and she dropped boat and sent
her mate aboard. His errand was TO see
II we could give passage 20 the Cape TO
man named Thomas, who had been
picked mp at sea two days before while
drifting on u raft. He said that Thomas
was an Englishman who had been
wrecked ON voyage to the Cape and
was very DESTROYS of continuing tho run
III that direction. The mate was in %
great hurry, as his ship had been tse-
layed by bead winds, and he did not go
QtGlUeU
that we would take Thomas, and q
quarter of an hour later he was on board
and the respective crafts swinging their
yards to resume their voyage
1t was midafterncon before we got
Thomas story, and it was one to deeply
interest Us. Only few days belize our
sailing ship called the Alhatross 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 as
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 out in search of adven-
ture. He felt certain there would have
been no trouble with the prisoners but
Tor the ancalled for measures enforced
by the doctor He overwofked and I'M
derted 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 logged and half the females had
been punished in some other manner.
When the crew Of convict ship be-
because Of the cruel treatment accorded
them, one must be satisfied that those
In authority exceed the limits. Even
che guards on the Albatross condemned
she tyrannical conduct Of the doctor. AS
have told you, they were offenders
rather than criminals, and all had re-
oeived short sentences. They were sent
out more as colonists, and each one
would receive ticket Of leave after
serving forsix months or "a year. IL was
not until the doctor had repeatedly an
nounced that be would break the spirit
OF every one iu the gang or fog him to
death that the spirit Of mutiny cropped
out. The position Of the ship was to the
south Of St. Helena when the climax
came. One Of the women convicts had
uans2ressod some rule. aud the doctor
ordered that she receive a dozen lashes.
While be was making preparations the
ooDYlots xose as one man and bad pos
session Of the ship in five minutes.
1t was mutiny against the doctor and
three oI four Of his guards rather than
against the ship, and had tho captain
kept faith with the mutineers il would
have been FAR better for al ON board
W - DIV WAaAtA1 ht-AH EAlltM jill the
first attack The doctor was made uris-
oners and an hour later was hanged at
the yardarm. Tho oonvicts had no fur.
ther grudgcs 70 satisfy, and simply ask
cd that they BE- landed on the Hottentot
coast. This the captain agreed to, but
during the night put the ship about with
the intention II making st. Helena aud
giving the prisoners up 80 the authori-
ties His deception was soon discovered
The ship held of to the east, and next
day the mutiBoers determined to rid
themselves II every ono iu the ship who
would not join them and share the dan
gers Of their future The captain. mates
aud ~ sailors rofused to Join, as also
oid Of the guards and the 4 passen-
gers, making ~ people in ali. Tho 2
cooks aud the captains steward had no
option, but were compelled 10 Join.
Two boats were lowered, plenty of wa.
tor and provisions put aboard. and the
captain and bis people were treated with
the greatest consideration.
Thomas was in the mates boat Ifs
courso was shaped for S. Helena. bot a
yale came on aud blew them far 10 the
south. After week Of battling with
che eicmcnta II was decided 10 run FOR