davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

| to make the nearest land, but neither he
nor any of his lieutenants knew the frs:
thlng aboui navigation. After five days
OF knocking about, during which time the
ship was at the mercy of any sQuall or
storm that should have crossed her path
another search was made for Mate Pro-
vost. He was finally found in an almost
exhausted condition in the hold near one
Of the water casks. The desperation Of
thirst had enabled him to crawl there, but
be had no strength to leave. 1t was for
tunate for him that he had never ILL
treated Plummer. Cartha and the others
at 81 hit of him were for completing the
butchery at once, but Piummer was in
command ard he knew the need there
was Tor Skilled navigator. On Provost s
promise 10 navigate The ship under orders
OF Plummer his wounds were dressed and
his life spared. But he was kept in irons
all the time and had no freedom whatever
In this condition he directed the sailing
Of the vessel 20 the nearest land, and on
January 4, 1858 that land was sighted.
Then began another chapter in the brief
history of this unparalleled crime.
Plummer, Cartha, Burns, Hall; William
Sampson of Buffalo, n. Y. Jacob Ricke
of New York. Charles Fl. Stanley of PEN
field, n. Y, Adam Camel OF Buffalo and
Joseph Brooks of Utica, n Y, and
William Herbert of Newark, n 1.-THE
men who made the attack on the ships
officers-threw overheard everything on
the ship that was in any way connected
with or suggestive of the whaling in
dustry. And when twenty miles off the
Australian shore these men left the ship
IN two boats, taking with them verything
serviceable that they could carry away.
They made a landing at "Ninety-mile
Point"
At once Mate Provost was liberated by
the remainder OF the crew, who had stood
neutral or secretly loyal from the first,
ana the Junior was taken to Sydney, New
South Wales. Here the tragedy was re-
ported TO the United States Consul, and
i'm mediately the English authorities took
action. The Australian patrol was mus
tered out in full force, and in less than
TWO months had run 10 earth all the
mutineers except Burns and Hall, who
have pever since been heard from.
Eight strong cells, made OF Australian
ircnwOod, were built in the steerage OF
the Jun Tor, four on each side, for the re-
ception of p MINER and his men as soon
as they were turned over TO the United
States Government. The cells were made
of heavy joists, cut in the form of an
equilateral triangle, with the apex point
ing inward. The joists were then heavily
studded with large headed nails, driven
! clear in, to prevent cutting away the tim
bers. Captain Alfred Gardner of Nam
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

| themselves in the wall of the cabin.
Captain Mellen sprang from his berth ex-
claiming "Oh. my God. what is this?'
He was answered by Plummer with an
oath aud the Information that Its me-
PIummer then seized the helpless man
by the hair of the head. pulled him out
into the cabin and buried his hatchet so
deeply in the captains skull that it could
not be extracted.
In The meantime the third mate had
been attacked by Cornelius Burns OF
Little Falls, n. Y. Smith was killed with
whaling spade, which was run clear
| through his body several times. 1t was
planned that no quarter should be given
the officers. but the ferocity with which
their lives were sacrificed stamped the
mutineers as inhuman monsters.
While Burns fonnd tiendish Joy in the
death agonies of Third Mate Smith,
Richard Cartha OF Albany, n. Y, struck
at Second Mate Lord, who was in mis-
berth. The whaling spade missed lts
mark and denied the berth boards. Cartha
aimed second blow, but Lord caught
the weapon and wrested it from him.
Then Cartha drew his pistol and err ptied
all its barrels into the brains of the second
mate, leaving him dead in his berth.
What carnival of blood for a Chrict-
mas morningl But the tale is not yet
told.
John G. Hall, New Bedford man,
male the attack on Mate Provost. Hall
thrust his gun muzzle into the mates
room and fired both barrels. Then he
fei from the dark room, fearing to be
] al in hot ha
was corpse. But Hall was bad shot
aud Mate Provost escaped with wound
in the right shoulder. The clothing of his
bed was set on fire by the discharge
of his gun and this communicated to the
wood work. Plummer and another of his
men looked into his room and Provost
begged of them to e1tinguish the fam IS
and not let him burn 10 death. They bru-
tally closed the door and went out, Ieav-
ing the mate TO the flames. Provost now
made a great effort and crawIed out of
the cabin in his nightclothes and hid him.
| self. After while Plumner ordered the
! fire put cut; then the maze was missed
| and a search instituted for him. He
could not be found. however, and the
mutineefs began the work of cleaning
decks. Captain Mellen's body was
weighted with a heavy chain and P UNI
mer himself cast it into The sea, yelling
loud enough for all hands to hear, ''Go
down to hell and tel, the devil l sent
| your
When all the bodies were consigned to
the deep the hends began to think Of the
ship. In the capacity as leader Plummel
/ undertook to navigate her.ibHis plan was
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

''When Colonel Hayes fourisheI a pis-
tol and demanded their surrender one of
the guards fired on him. His companion
put spurs to his horse and escaped.
Colonel Hayes was killed by citizen
soldier boy, wearing citizens clothes, not
yet having drawn his uniform. I do not
Iemem Der his name, but he was mem Der
Of the First Reg iment of Missouri cavalry.
Zone man, Joseph Woods by name, now
living in Ray County, Missouri, who was
poorly mounted, abandoned his horse
when it failed him, and hid him self ia
clump of bushes by the roads de. He re-
manned hidden there until night and
heard Colonel Hayes men talking of his
death as they passed by oa their return
from chasing US.
when that soldier returned to camp
three days later we learned that it was
Colonel Hayes VINO had been killed at
New tonia.
"He was well known to many of our
command. at least four or five Of our NJ en-
having driven reight.wagons across the
plains for him in the fifties.
~ never knew the name of the man
who accompanied Colonel Hayes, ana
whom The Coafederates suspected of hav-
ing killed him, but he is surely innocent.
''At least none of B and E companies
have ever believed or thought otherwise
than that our picket guarl shot Colonel
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

placed the picket who shot and killed
Colonel Hayes of Westport. Mr.. scog-
gins, writing of it, says:
Colonel Hayes vas shot and killed
about 500 yards south of Major Richie 5
stone barn Dy our picket guard. | was a
non-com missioned officer on duty that
day and heard a shot, but not apprehend
ing anything unusual l rode leisurely out
and met the guard with what af erward
proved to be Colonel Hayes sword, belt
and pistol. When l met him he held out
Federal officers regulation infantry
sword, with the remark: I've killed a
captain Nothing more was said at the
time.
"On looking around 1 saw column OF
cavalry moving norihwesterly in the di-
rection of Neosho. Our small force OF
$50 men marched out on the road leading g
to n osho and formed. but were soon COM
PEELED to retreat, losing one man killed
and three taken prisoners.
Il afterward learned that Colonel Hayes
had detached himself from his mmand
and with one companion rode boldly up
to our pickets-two only at that point
and ordered them to surrender. The
guards, taking Colonel Hayes for an Off
Ger OF some other Federal command by
reason OF a Federal uniform he wore, al
lowed him 10 approach very near before
they became aware of their mistake.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

In lonely cabin on an ancient p acer
digging, near the once famous VuIture
mine, in Central Ar pna, not more than
month ago, there died d very old man
named Cyrus ". Plummer Had he lived
until Christmas day Of this year be would
nave rounded out the fortieth anniversary
OF the most terrible crimes known 10 the
whaling Industry in the Pac fic Ocean.
crimes in which one named Cyrus W.
Plummer was he chief il stigator and exc
cuuoner; the mutiny Of tie crew Of the
shIp Junior and the cruel bul lchery OF its
commanding officers.
Were Cyrus w. PIummer, who died &
few weeks ago in a hermitS ca bin at the
gold digcings, and Cyrus W. Piummer,
who on Christmas morning, 1857, in the
South Pacific, buried his seaman's hatcher
in the skull OF Captain a chibald Melen-
were lhese one and the same man?
There are many people who believe they
fere id nt.clI, and among them are some
I. 20 knew Cyrus ". Piummer, wanderer,
sh.Osp@ y, hermit, since his advent on
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

tucket, who was tn en- in Australia, was
engaged to bring the vessel home. AS
there were now but six free sailors on
board, English sailors were shipped for
the return voyage. A guard OF six men
was placed over the mutineers, and
wa ch was kept night and day. OF course,
P.ummer made an attempt to escape and
recapture the ship, but it failed. and only
resulted in closer vigilance. He tried to
bribe one OF the guards.
News of the awful crime had long ago
reached New Bedford, and when the
Junior dropped anchor inside of PaImers
Island, near the Fairhaven shore, on the
evening OF August 90. 1858, and the next
day made berth at Fish Island, she was
the center OF attraction for hundreds of
curious ones. Her prisoners were tried in
the United States Circuit Court at Boston,
Judges Sprague and Clifford presiding. 1t
was the most celebrated trial of the Pc
riod. Only Stanley, Cartha, Herbert and
Plummer were tried for murder and mu-
tiny. the others being held on charges of
mutinous conduct
1t was said that PIummer was related
In some way to the late Charles Summer,
and that money anc influence would be
exerted IN his behalf sufficiently to save
him and his three companions from the
gallows. The latter part of this prophecy
proved true enough. Although but poor
seaman Plummer came TO trial with
brilliant array of legal talent to defend
him. His counsel were Benjamin T. But
ler, Richard II. Dana, Sydney Webster
and J. l.. Adams. The services OF Rufus
Choate were expected, but for some rea-
son were not secured. The testimony ad-
duced at the trial was substanti italy a
zorro bora:ion of the narrative already
given, there having been witnesses to
every detail OF the great crime. Plummer
was found guilty OF murder and the other
three of manslaughter. In March of the
succeeding year he was sentenced to
death, but a few months after he death
sentence was commuted to life imprison-
ment, and he went into the Cnarlestown
State Prison July s. 1859.
That Plummer had friends in high
places there could be no doubt, for on
July IS, 1874, acting Governor Talbot
signed pardon for him and his prison
doors were opened. Nothing authentic
has ever been heard of the man since, but
there are many of the older generation
who knew Cyrus w. Plummer, wanderer,
proSpector, hermit. that believe that the
old man who recently died in the lonely
cabin at the all but-deserted placer dig
gings was no other than the Cyrus w.
/ Pummer who so narrowly escaped the
/ gallows for the preparation of one of the
most cruel m urders ever committed in the
| southern seas. LUKE NORTH.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

finally culminated in his being drummed
in di grace out of the army. Porter de-
cIared his innocence to the end, but few.
if any, be ieved him, and as be rode away
with the bitter tauuts ano cnrses of his
mpanions in arms tingling in his ears
his heart turneI against them and all
mankind.
There was no place for The branded man
to hide his shame. He could not return
home with the disgrace upon him; he
could not turn his back upon the caHse he
deemed just. So he headed his horse for
the Kansas border and sought the cam D
Of the outlawed QuantreU. He could hide
his identity there. No one in that COM
pany OF free lances would pry inro his
past. So the man with dishonor thrust
upon him sought to hide it by taking
more of its kind.
How long he remained in company with
QuantreIl only himself can tell, but while
with that desperados band he courted a
girl in Ray County, Mo-, the daug ter of a
blacksmith. Parental objection stood in
the way of a peaceful marriage, but 81
Porter had met TOO many stern faces and
hard hearts in the worlds ways and turn
ings to be hou ed in his desire by a coun-
try blacksmith. One night, when the
smithy fires were out and the smith asleep,
he rode under the window of the girl S
room, took her on the horse behind his
saddle and rode away.
They were married, and then, as the one
horse was the sum of The mans wealth.
he lifted his wife to seat on The crupper
of the saddle again. turned the animals
head toward the Arkansas line and gall
loped into the night, the night big with
the thousand unseen and unknown dam
gers of that time.
1t was long ride for man from Ray
County, Mo-, 10 Arkansas, and a fearful
ride for a man without friend by the
wayside. But, for man and woman
mounted as they were TO undertake, it W as
daring thing even in those DAYS of dsr-
ing deeds.
Torun away from an enemy is one thing
but a shot from a clump of hazel or a
treetop, from an enemy unseen, is quite
another.
They went safely over the urged miles,
and made cir home in Arkansas until
the great wave OF war mount 10 its full
height and broke. Then lie were among
those from the broken South who sought
a home here by the Western sea. And
here in this land the man with the cloud
upon his life prospered. His two daugh-
ters were sent to Paris TO be educated, and
he was counted a prominent man when
he turned his face toward his native State
one day, thirty-three years after the me
he had been driv n in disgrace from the
Confederate ranks. He trusted that time
mad duIed the edge of his old COM
mander's resentment, and he longed TO
SEE him again ard clasp his hand with a
soldiers greetinc.
General Shelby was then United States
Marshal for the Western district oil Mis-.
souri,, a servant OF the Government, to aid
In preserving It's peace and enforcing its
laws on the very ground where he had so
ably and gallantly opposed it In the past
The soldier called on the commander at
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

Hayes. Nothing could change their belief.
1.-Two of US at least who were on duty
that day saw enough to be satisfied that it
was not Colonel HAYES companion who
shot MN, and none other than our picket
guard"
Two years before his death General
Shelby was shown the proof of the mans
innocence.
Il am sorry that L wronged him." he
said. 'If l knew his address l would
write to him, but 1 only know that he
lives in California. Poor fellow! 1t has
been a iong, long time"
So, af .er thirty five years of waiting, ST
Porter can come out Of the shadow, and if
time mas worn awav the stain of the days
that he rode with Quantrell he Will find
| many hands outstretched 10 welcome him
as one of the few now remaining of the
most daring brigade that bore the South
ern colo ors; the brigade that carried the
flag they had built great hopes upon be-
yond the border of the land that was not
large enough for two flags, and buried it
with tears in the waters OF the Rio
Grande.
1t was only one little tragedy of the
great war, one mans sorrow and shame:
little tragedy in the light of the worlds
great business, which Time and Justice
have not found in their way to set Alright
till now. G. W. o.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

There was not much history made at
the battle of Newtonia, Mo-, on Septem Der
30, 1862. no more, in fact, than TO occupy
Inc or two of Trlnt in the Governme nj re-
ports, and that bit of print officially dry
and commonplace.
1t was such a small affair in the lives Of
the participants in those busy days that
the survivors of it can hardly tell one the
exact date now, and when asked about it
say: "Newtonia2 Last of August or
September, 1862"
But thirty-fve years have come and
gone since then, and years are so freghted
with forgetfuIness that memory grows a
stranger to the happiness OF the old days
while watching them train past.
There is a man living in California who
has not for often the date, however,
man to whom "Newtonia" is a name to
coniure up bitter memories and a count
of weary years weighted with unriehted
wrong. 1t was at Newtonia on Septem be-
30, 1862. that a shadow fell upon his life, a
shadow that has hung above him ali these
years, and time. whose calloused palm is
unkind to most OF u, to him has also been
unjust.
This is the story:
division of General Frederick SalE on 5
command, consisting of Com panies and
4. Missouri State militia, cavalry and part
OF the First Missouri Cavalry in al 180
men, was c. mped among the black OAKS
near the village of Newtonia, Missouri
CoIonel-afterward Brigadier-
J. O. Shelby, with a force OF 1000
men, was occupying the same territory
and had moved up near the Federal picker
line on the previous light and made camp.
Knowing Federal force 10 be IN the
neigh borhood Shelby ordered Colonel
, Hayes of Westport, whose command had
been merged into Shel'y's. to detail
Nparty and max. reconnaissance.
Colonel Hayes. being a man OF great
Spirit and undoubtedly holding the
Union forces in the highest contempt,
deemed one man a sufficiently strong
guard. The choice fell upon 81 Porter
young Missourian, one of the 1000 hard
riders of Shelby's famous brigade
1t chanced that day that Colonel Hay
was arrayed in the uniform OF Federal
officer which had been found among some
supplies captured the day before, and as
clothing of any kind was hard to get and
uniforms were almost unknown among
both men AID officers so early IN the CAM
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

paign and so far removed from the seat of
war, it was no uncommon thing for men
and officers to don the captured uniforms
OF their enemies His companion was
clothed in citizens garb.
Tae small scouting party had been gone
but few minutes Ther Porter galloped
wildly into camp ard reported that
Colonel Hayes had been killed.
"Killed2 Who killed him ?" questioned
the soldiers.
THE Feds" was the mans reply.
Rode up to picket an he shot him"
The news was carried to Colonel Shell by,
who at once discredited the mans story.
Sreaking of the incident many years
afterward, the General said:
Colonel Hayes was brave but cautious
man, and l did not believe that he had
been rash enough to advance within range
Of the Federal pickets. l concluded at
once that he and his companion had dis.
puted over something and the man had
shot him. He was hot-headed young
fellow, and it was no uncommon thing for
the men to chafe under and sometimes
openly rebel against the orders Of their
officers at the beginning of the war. The
men of my division were men of the
greatest courage and endurance. but used
TO Tree ard independent life, and they
found the rigorous discipline of army life
hard to bear at first. The mans story
seemed so i'm pro babIe that l ordered his
arrest"
The brigade then went out TO find the
enemy, and about three miles away came
upon a small force OF retreating FeGeral
cavalry whose fight was quickened by q
Jew shots taken at them at long range
The chase was given over, however, and
the men of Shelby's brigade returned to
camp.
On the way they found, about quarter
OF a mile from camp, the body of Colonel
Hayes with a bullet hole in the back.
That circumstance gave color to the sus-
picion of the men and officers that the
colonel had been shot by the soldier who
accompanied him, so the suspected man
was brought before a court-m artiaI to
answer.
lie protested his innocence, and as no
Iirect evidence to the contrary, at least
not sufficient to warrant his execution,
could be produced he was discharged
Colonel Hayes was popular with the
regiment, having many neighbors and
personal friends in II, and bitter feeling
arose against his supposed slayer, which
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

1t history, the fight at Darga Ridge,
When Dbyhe, and Dorset to bridge
appalled, like the maeSuoms swift
struggling
And Sikh, with his brother, the Of conquest resigns
sky overhead baziers heat,
alien land its hostile their feet
earth drank
hiSmen he'll
BitonS the fall
the stronghold
thousand bullets like blast death
a bright amidst
They back the simeon en-
They rally they ADVANCE the
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

his home in Kansas City.
HE introduced himself and extended
his hand" said General Shelby, in re-
counting the story. II remem bered him
well, ana l told h IN that time had not rec
onciled me to the past nor taught me to
give my hand in friendship TO a murderer.
He turned without word and went
away"
He went into the shadow again, the
shadow which he had striven to outlive,
only to find it deep above him after the
lapse of half the measure of human life.
And time has been unjust to him, for
he is innocent.
There is living proof that the story he
told of the death OF Colonel Hayes was
true.
]. l. Sccggins OF Lawson, Ray County,
Mo, was corporal of the guard on the Fed
eraI side, on duty Septem ber 80. 1862. He
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

AT THE DARGAI RIDGE.

'rereat,
For du's
andc HighIanders
soldiers
Then n a qufvs-Ad av;
tau the promise
tbre chale lgsd deea;
strains,
For heo's soul thing that mortal
You read, with lightning lip, the living WALL,
And of him. spent by the
And decree his with the Highland coming
For by hope Within dUasdo
The hsmen routed,
PRICE.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-08-05
Tin Plate and Shipping.

The tin plate manufsc .uring business
was MOI established in the United
States until Protection enabled our
people to establish plants and engage
in the business. Our policy MxRrotec-
ton made tin plate manufacturing
profitable to our own people In the
same way Protection would make 1t
profitable for our own people TO build,
w and navigate all Of the ships need
ed to carry our foreign commerce.
The tin plate industry isn't a circum-
stance to what shipbuilding and ship
owning could be made under Frotec-
ton.
The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-08-05
British Policy Embiemized.

Mr.. Editor: We are approaching Z
great crisis in the tariff question, as in
dictated by the growing demand for dis
eliminating duties on imports and IN
tonnage, and by the bill Of Senator Ell
kins. While / have always been will
ing to accept any step toward the res
toration of our merchant marine to its
position in the old days. l
have long believed that the
modus operandi employed by the foun-
ders of the present Union, and repre-
senting the best experience of the ma
ton, is the only sufficient modus By
which to restore III lost prestige Oh
the ocean-to recuperate our shipping,
navigation and commercial interests on
the blue sea. But 1t will bring back
and intensity the Old contest which
was at the foundation Of our revolu-
tionary struggle.
When Colonel Henry Laurens left
England in the year 1774 he had pre-
viously waited OF the Earl of Hills
borough, in order to converse with him
on American affairs. In the course of
conversation Colonel L.aurens said the
duty of three pence a pound on tea and
all the taxes were not worth the ex-
pense of a war. You mistake the
cause Of the controversy" said his
lordship. You spread too much Fan
vas upon the ocean. Do you think we
will let you go on with your naviga-
ton and your 5000 seamen?" The at
tempt to revive our prominence in the
carry ing trade OF the world will revive
that old Issue with England, for she
has a very abiding faith in the truth
of the ancient adage, "He who is mas
ter of the sea will soon be master Of
the land"
Before England will yield her abso-
lutte dominion OF the waves and sue
cumb to our mastery OF the ocean she
will exhaust every source Of resistance,
and she comprehends. with the highest
degree of intelligence. that the most
effectual way to Illustrate aggression
and encroachment is 10 repel them at
the very threshold Of their advance.
Our presidential campaign in 1900 will
therefore be permeated with her an
tagonisms. Remember it is only a few
years since a president of the United
States dismissed Lord Sackyille-West,
the British minister at Washington for
attempting to instruct American citi-
zens how to vote for Britain's benefit.
That audacious intrusion into our ma
tional politics emblemizes British pol
lev. David III. Mason.