The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-03-22


what testimony the passengers might
give British court would surely inflict
severe punishment. There was really
no ringleader One was as guilty as the
other, and all might expect the same
punishment. AS this came to be talked
over the men decided not to wait to be
taken prisoners and carried home for
trial. If they would escape. even tenn
porarily, they must get rid of their pas
sengers How this should be done was
not settled without further talk. The
passengers did not wish to go knocking
about the ocean in craft without Off
GERS or navigator, and when it was sug-
gested that they take to the longboat
and make for the Azores, 300 miles
away, there was not much opposition.
Two of the single men knew something
about handling a boat, and the craft
they were to take was big enough to
hold twice their number. Nearly the
whole day had passed before this de-
cision was reached, and then it was
agreed that no move should be made be-
fore the next morning. No fault could
be found with the behavior of the men.
They did no work, as matter of course,
but were quiet and kept to their end of
the ship. Had we been overhauled on
that first day no resistance would have
been made, but as the hours slipped
away the men became more anxious to
avoid being taken.
During the night the longboat was
got over and fitted out. She was provid-
ed with sailors, water, food, lanterns,
bedding and whatever could be thought
of for the comfort and safety of her &C.
cupants. The weather was pleasant, the
season pacific. and there was every
chance that the boat would land at the
Azores all right She left us about 8
o'clock next morning, all the passengers
going willingly and seemingly to be in
good spirits, and all the men shook
hands with each and every one of the
crew. When she was mile away, sail
was made on the bark, and we headed
for the African coast. 1t had been set
tied among the men to run into the
Moorish coast and wreck the bark and
take their chances. was ordered to get
ready and go with the boat, but protest
ed SO vigorously that l was finally per-
mitted to remain, but the man with the
broken arm, who was still great suf-
ferer and useless as a sailor, was sent
off with the passengers.
For five days and nights after losing
sight of the boat we worked our way to
the east, but being short handed and
without officers the bark was kept I'M
der easy sail and her pace was slow. No
crew could have been more orderly or
agreed better. There was not even dis
pute, nor did any one suggest that the
cabins be looted of their stores and val
uables. The only idea advanced was to
reach the coast and get clear Of any pur-
suit. On the morning of the sixth day,
when the coast was almost in sight a
British man of-War which was coming
up from Cape Town sighted us and be-
gan signaling. No one aboard could
make out what she meant or answer
her, and as result her suspicious were
aroused and she made pursuit. We
packed on sail and stood for the coast
until her shot began to come aboard,
and then there was nothing to do but
surrender. Ten minutes after the
stranger was alongside our story was
known, and within half an hour all our
crew except me were in irons. AS to
the longboat, she was picked up next
day after she put off, and her people
carried back to England. We were tax
en- to London without stop On the
voyage mutineer named Hawkins
committed suicide, but all others were
safely landed in court The trial lasted
for days and days. The passengers, or a
part of them, were on hand to give evil
dence in favor of the crew, and there
was much public sympathy expressed,
but was the only one who escaped pun
ishment. Two men got imprisoned for
life and all the others received SEN
fences of from to Is years. As l was
only boy it was argued that could
have known nothing, and indeed all the
men testified that such was the case,
though some of the jurors thought that
my sticking to the ship was an act call
ing for some sort of punishment Hard
as was the punishment of the men. had
we reached the Moorish coast and got
ashore their fate would probably have
been worse, as each and every one
would have been sold into slavery for
life.