Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-09

and murder were the order Of the day.
Such was not the case, however. On
the contrary, good order and thorough
discipline were enforced. While all
were considered to be on IN equality
and all were served with the same food
the men had sense enough to realize
that any laxity was direct menace TO
all. II retaken, every male convict
would be hung and every female get
life Imprisonment. All the testimony
afterward secured went to show that
not one single pint Of rum was served
out, although there were 30 barrels OF
IL ON board. On making the coast the
Albatross was run into river and put
np il for distance Of ten miles. The
people then landed. removed everything
from the ship and burned her. The plan
was to journey fur inland and found
settlement, but discussions begot dis
sensions. and the crowd finally split up
into five OF six parties and went their
respective ways An English man-of.
var, after long search, recaptured five
men and three women. while four other
men and two women reached 81. Paul
do Loanda and gave themselves up. The
fate of the others Is not known TO this
lay.
Many Of the passengers heard the
tory told by Thomas. and most OF the
particulars somehow reached the con.
riots within two or three days. We
,ould not fail to perceive change in
their demeanor. and that change was
something TO increase our burden Of anx.
Iety. All convicts look upon themselves
u victims or martyrs No batch Of men
,ver sent out were receiving better treat
ment than ours Instead OF the doctor
being too severe, he was altogether too
lenient. The convicts made themselves
believe, however, that they were being
badly used. Three days after Thomas
came aboard they made formal pro-
test that they We're overworked. The
doctor, acting on the advice OF the cap.
tain, refused to take any action. As q
matter Of fact, the convicts were not
busy half the time Two days later they
made protest that their food was not
only bad, but insufficient in quantity.
The provisions furnished by the govern.
ment were wholesome, and no real fault
could b. found with the cooks
Ben johnson had acted as spokesman
in both instances. No other ships doc
tor would have allowed him to open his
mouth. On the second occasion Dr.. Hax-
ton. who had been coached by the cap
tain. made reply:
'T have seen fit to overlook this
breach Of discipline, hut don't try IL
again. The next protest you present will
bring you q round dozen Oh the bare
back. "
That seemed to end the matter The
captain, the doctor and others were in.
clined to regard il rs game OF bluff.
but il struck mo that the fellows gave
in altogether too quick. Ny position NJ
mate made it impossible for me TO play
the detective, but Haskell had the run
OF the ship and kept his eyes and ears
open. On the morning Of the fifth day
after Johnson had presented his second
protest came on deck at I O'Clock In
the morning. About an hour later.
when the watch had settled down into
the routine, Haskell came out Of the
cabin smoking u pipe and made excuse
that he was troubled with insomnia
He soon let me know that he wanted q
word with me in private. The bark was
driving along before steady breeze
aud needed little watching, and present.
ly we got out of earshot Of the helms
man. Then Haskell said:
"The three guards below will be re-
lieved mt @ O'Clock. At 2 o'clock four
Of them muster OH deck to receive the
first gang, leaving three below. The
four on deck will DO re-enforced by two
sailors, who will receive their muskets
from Hooper. F"
"Yes that is tho programme. an
swered, but having no suspicion OF what
was coming.
Every sailor aboard is all right a.
far as know. resumed Haskell. "You
have spare muskets aft. When Hooper
musters his guards on deck, you must
be ready to replace the four with sailors
and SEQ that their muskets are loaded.