Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-21
While we took every precaution from


cured him. For sale by DR.. Waters.
While we took every precaution from
the very beginning of the voyage, we
nevertheless depended in a measure OH
the facts above stated After awhile
the convicts appeared to steady down
and be desirous of making good records,
and the behavior of the guards was all
that could be asked for. For a month or
more I had kept close watch of the four
men previously alluded to, but nothing
had occurred to make me doubt their
loyalty. Haskell had been allowed to
saunter about as he pleased, and when
ever all extra guard was wanted he was
always on hand, but none Of his reports
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
Indiaman coming up from the south,
and two hours later she signaled that
the wished to speak u.s. The Hindu was
lying to when she came up. The gang
of convicts on deck was ordered below,
but we were flying the flag which told
every beholder what sort of a cargo we
carried. The Indiaman proved to be the
Black Prince, u regular liner homeward
bound, and she dropped a boat and sent
her mate aboard. His errand was to see
If we could give passage to the Cape to
man named Thomas, who had been
picked up at sea two days before while
drifting on raft. He said that Thomas
was an Englishman who had been
wrecked on a voyage to the Cape and
was very desirous Of continuing the run
In that direction. ~ne mate was in a
great hurry, as his ship had been de-
layed by head winds, and he did not go
into particulars. Captain Clark decided
that we would take Thomas, and
quarter of an hour later he was on board
and the respective crafts swinging their
yards to resume their voyage.
1t was midafternoon before we got
Thomas story, and it was one to deeply
interest us. Only a few days before our
sailing a ship called the Albatross had
taken out batch Of about 200 conylcts,
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 ftee>certain there would have
been no trouble with the prisoners but
for the uncalled for measures enforced
by the doctor. He overworked and un-
derfed them and fogged 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 fogged and half the females had
been punished in some other manner.
When the crew Of convict ship be-
trays open sympathy for the prisoners
because of the cruel treatment accorded
them, one must be satisfied that those
in authority exceed the limits. Even
the guards on the Albatross condemned
the tyrannical conduct of the doctor. AS
/ have told you, they were offenders
rather than criminals, and all had re-
ceived short sentences. They were sent
out more as colonists, and each one
would receive a ticket of leave after
serving for six months or year. 1t was
not until the doctor had repeatedly an
nounced that he would break the spirit
of every one in the gang or fog him to
death that the spirit Of mutiny cropped
out. The position of the ship was to tho
south of st. Helena when the climax
came. One of tho women convicts had
transgressed some rule, and the doctor
ordered that she receive dozen lashes.
While he was making preparations the
convicts rose as one man and had pos
session of the ship in five minutes.
1t was mutiny against the doctor and
three OF four Of his guards rather than
against the ship, and had the captain
kept faith with the mutineers it would
have been far better for all Oh board.
Two of the guards were killed in the
first attack. The doctor was made prls-
oner, and an hour later was hanged at
the yardarm. The convicts had no fur
ther grudges to satisfy, and simply ask
ed that they bo landed on the Hottentot
coast. This the captain agreed to, but
during the night put the ship about with
the intention Of making St. Helena and
giving the prisoners up to the autho1i-
ties. His deception was soon discovered,
the ship held off to the east, and next
day tho mutineers determined to rid
themselves Of every one in the ship who
would not join them and share the dan
gers of their future. The captain, mates
and 12 sailors refused to join, as also
did of the guards and the 4 passen-
gers, making 81 people in all. The 2
cooks and the captains steward had no
option, but were compelled to join.
Two boats were lowered, plenty of wa
ter and provisions put aboard, and the
captain and his people were treated with
the greatest consideration.
Thomas was in the mates boat. It's
course was shaped for st. Helena, but
gale came OH and blew them far to tho
south. After week Of battling with
tho elements il was decided to run for