Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-06

Had Mary delayed to call out for help,
the villain would have been upon US
BOTH Without an instant's delay and
realizing the situation in flash, she
sprang forward, seized the rifle and hred
upon the man as his bare feet touched
the deck, only eight feet from where l
sat- The report of the gun and his yell
of pain and rage were blended together,
and in minute the whole ship was
alarmed.
Johnson had been shot in the breast.
We went off for the surgeon, and wnen
he had made an examination he plainly
told the rufian that he had but a few
hours to live. The man had not uttered
word after being shot, but the looks
he had given Mary and I proved the
feeling Of murder in bis heart. At first
I had some hopes that he might make a
confession, but when be looked at me
with eyes cleaning like those OF a
wounded tigers I realized that it was
useless to address him. And yet all l
had hoped for came about, after all.
The desperate man died by inches.
As the hand of death clutched at his
throat the little good in him came to
the surface. An hour before he breatbed
his last he sent for Captain Clark and
Mary. He begged the girls forgiveness
for all that had passed, and then made
dying statement which completely
exonerated US both. 1t was taken down
in writing and duly witnessed, and,
though he wanted nothing to do with
me, and even spoke bitterly of me to
the last, felt that I could forgive him.
After making the confession he gave it
as his opinion that the mutineers wonld
surrender after learning of bis death,
but his hope was that they would die
fighting.
When morning came the body Of Ben
johnson was taken ashore for burial.
There was but scant ceremony in laying
him away to rest, and, when he had been
covered in, white flag was sent forward
and the mutineers informed Of his death
and commanded to surrender. They
answered with Shouts Of defiance. The
events Of that day caused much talk in
England and Australia when put into
print. Captain McComber gave orSers
to exterminate the gang to the last
man. All day long we marched back
and forth across the island, and all day
long two pieces Of artillery were busy
Smelling the mutineers out Of the densest
thiokets. Half an hour before sundown
the last man Of the gang was driven to
the open beach. He had been wounded,
but he carried a club in bis hand and
was still defiant. When he refused to
surrender, we would have fred upon
him, but he walked down to ledge Of
rocks, made his way out to the break
ing surf, and with shout Of contempt
for us he plunged in, to be seen no more.
If wave and tide brought his body to
the sands later on, we were not there to
find it. They had said they would die
to the last man, and they had kept their
word.
Need tell you that the Hindu, with
the help Of the men loaned MS BY the
generous Captain McComber, finally
reached her port of destination? There
was a legal investigation, of course, but
we came out of it all right and the
government was held to its contract.
While we were detained in Australia
for this investigation Mrs. Williams
passed away, leaving Mary an orphan
among strangers. That she did not suf-
fer for companionship and care you will
readily believe. When the Hindu was
ready to sail for home, she was one of
the 80 passengers, and despite her be-
reavement there were many pleasant
features about the voyage.
am an old man now, and my aged
wife bends over me as write these few
lines. / long ago gave up the sea at the
wish of her who has made my life hap
py, and told you in the beginning not
to expect too much from one whose ed
ucation was fecked by the froth of the
sea.
THE END.