Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-27

"WeU, captain, you kn0D thot I'm Ut
command nOaU."
swing at the end of a. rope detraoted
from their enthusiasm.
There was no change up to noon, ex'
cept that the breeze freshened little
For three hours after dinner the mutt
neers were 80 quiet that we became ap'
prehensive and prepared for a rush. 1t
was we'll that we did. may tell you
that, aside from Mrs. Roberts, Mary
Williams and Miss White, we had nc
assistance from the women. They were
frightened and nervous and could hard.
ly be induced to move about. But Tor
Hary's cool, calm manner we should
have had no help at all. She went ABOUT
cheering up the children and speaking
brave words to the women, and seeing
that there were only enough men of us
to fitly guard the cabin she proposed to
keep watch at the bulkhead. 1t was ar
ranged that the three spoken Of should
take turn and turn about at watching,
and it was we'll they had their ears
open. After dinner that day the fel-
lows rigged up abattering ram between
decks to burst open the bulkhead. 1t
was a heavy spar slung to the deck
beams, and with 10 or 30 men to give it
impetus the planks must have given
way before it.
It was Miss White who reported
what was going on, and I was sent to
investigate. I found that the spar was
covered by two loopholes. In one OF
these I arranged a double barreled
fowling piece, heavily charged with
swan shot, and when Mary had prac-
ticed with an empty gun until she un'
derstood the mechanism Of it musket
was loaded for her and she was placed
at the other loophole. Mrs. Roberts was
to discharge the fowling piece, and Miss
White was to have gun in reserve.
We were ready before the mutineers
were. 1t was nearly 4 o'clock when
without shout or signal or warning OF
any kind they came leaping over the
barricade, armed with the same weap-
ons as before. Ben johnson and others
Of the more desperate convicts took the
lead, and almost before we knew II
they were chopping and smashing at the
cabin. Some of the men carried small
bales and boxes. to heave on the sky
light, hone Of them knowing Of the iron
shield bolted underneath. The gang felt
how desperate it's situation was, and
though we began pouring in our fire at
once, it seemed as if all were pledged
to die rather than retreat. Those on
deck were also bargaining for time for
those below to get to work at the bulk
head, probably figuring that we were
not prepared in that direction. don't
like to tell you Of the results. None OF
the mutineers below may have been
killed, but SO many were peppered with
the shot that all ran away from the
spar, and it was only after messenger
came on deck to report the failure be-
low that q retreat was ordered. When
the fight was over, we counted l6 dead
men OH the decks, of whom II were
convicts and of whom York was one.
There were no wounded, and I tell yor
plainly we meant there should be none.
Not one of US in tho cabin had received
the slightest injury.
But if there was rejoicing over oul
victory something else occurred. to give
Us the greatest pleasure. During the
fight and consequent confusion Roberts
managed to escape from the cage where
he was confined and get on deck anC
leap overheard. AS we were shaking
hands and congratulating each Other
we heard his voice through the oper
windows and found him hanging to the
rudder. AS soon as he had been drawl
in he told US that Dr.. Haxton had beel
unable to escape with him because o'
the maltreatment he had received from
Ben Johnson. The wretched villain,
who owed more to the doctor than any
other convict, had demanded his life
and when outvoted OH that had strucl
him with AL iron bar and broken hi