Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-21

toiled on shore md made his report.
In two hours o large boat was sent off
with fresh beef and vegetables sufficient
Tor three days supply for the ships COM
pany, and these were Immediately distrib-
uted among the men. A letter Of thanks
wa returned by tho commodore, stating
that his health was 80 Indifferent az to
prevent his coming on shore in person to
thank tho governor, and forwarding a
pretended list of tho Spaniards ON board,
in which he mentioned some officers and
people Of distinction, whom he imagined
might BIO connected with the family of the
governor, whose name and titles he had
received from the messenger sent on
board; for the Dutch knew full we'll the
majority OF the noble Spanish families
Indeed, alliances had continually taken
place between them previous to their as
sertion Of their independence. The COM
modore concluded his letter by expressing
q hopo that, in a day or two, he should be
able to pay his respects, and make ar
engagements for the landing of the sick, as
he was anxious to proceed on his voyage
Of discovery.
On tho third day, o fresh supply Of pro-
visions was Q on board, and SO soon as
they were received the commodore, in an
English uniform, went on shore and called
upon tho governor, gave a long detail Of
the sufferings of the people he had rescued,
and agreed that they should be sent on
ahore in two days, as they would by that
time be well enough to be moved. After
many compliments, he went on board, the
governor having stated his intention to
return his visit on the following day, II
ths weather were not too rough. Fortu-
natsly, the weather vas rough for the next
two days, and twas not until the third
that the governor made his appearance.
This was precisely what the commodore
wished.
There is no disease, perhaps, 80 dreadful
or 80 rapid in Its effects upon the human
frame, and at the same time SO instan.
taneously checked, as the scurvy, If the
remedy can be procured. A few days were
sufficient to restore those who were not
able to turn in their hammocks, to their
former yigor. In the course of the six
days nearly all the crew of the bort were
conyalescent, and able to go on deck, but
still they We're not cured. The commodore
waited for the arrival of the governor, re-
ceivcd him with all due honors, and then,
60 soon as he was in the cabin, told him
very politely that he and all his officers
with him were prisoners. That the vessel
was a Dutch man -of-war, and that 1t was
his own people, and not Spaniards, who
had been dying of the scuryy.
He consoled him, however, by pointing
out that he had thought 1t preferable to
obtain provisions by this ruse than to sac.
rifice lives on both sides by taking them
by force, and that his e~xcellency's captiv-
ity would endure no longer than until he
had received IN board q sufficient number
OF live bullccks and fresh vegetables to in
sure the recovery Of the ships company;
n in the meantime not the least insult
would be offered to him. whereupon the
Spanish governor first looked at the COM
modore, and then at the file of armed men
at the cabin door, and then to his distance
from the town; and then called to mind
the possibility Of his being taken out to
sea. Weighing all these points In his
mind, and the very moderate ransom de-
manded, for bullocks were not worth a
dollar apiece in that country. he resolved,
as he could not help himself, to comply
with the commodore's terms. He called
for pen and ink, and wrote an order to
sond on board Immediately all that was
demanded. Before unset the bullocks and
vegetables were brought off, and SO soon
as they were alongside, the commodore,
with many bows and many thanks, escort
ed the governor to the gangway, compli-
menting him with n salvo of great guns,
as he had done before on his arrival. The
people on shore thought that his excel
lency had paid a long visit, but as he did
not like to acknowledge that he had been
deceived, nothing was said about 1t, at
least in his hearing, although the facts
were soon we'll known. AS soon as the
boats were cleared, the commodore weigh
cd anchor and made sail, well satisfied
with having preserved his ships company;
and as the Falkland islands, in case of
parting company, had been named as the
rendezvous, he steered for them. In q
fortnight no arrived, and found that his
admiral was not yet there. His crew We're
now all recovered, and his fresh beef was
not yet expended, when he perceived the
admiral and the three other vessels in the
ofing.
1t appeared that so soon as the bort had
parted company, the admiral had imme.
diately acted upon tho advice that the
commodore had given him, and had run
for the coast. Not being so fortunate in a
ruse Us his second in command, he had
landed an armed force from the four ves-
sells, and had succeeded in obtaining sew.
eral head of cattle, at the expense of an
equal number of men killed and wound
cd. But at the same time they had col
lected q large quantity of vegetables of one
sort or another, which they had carried on
board and distributed with great success
to the sick, who were gradually recovering.
Immediately that tho admiral had an
chored, he made the signal for the COM
modore to repair on board, and taxed him
with disobedlence Of orders in having left
the fleet. The commodore did not deny
that he had SO done, but excused himself
upon the plea of necessity, Offering to lay
the whole matter before the court of direct
ors so oon as they returned; but the adj
miral. was vested with most extensive
powers, not only of the trial, but the con-
domination and punishment of any person
guilty of mutiny and INSTRUMENTATION in
his fleet. In reply, he told the commodore
that he was a prisoner, and to prove it,
be confined him in irons under the half
deck.
A signal was then made for all tho cap
tains; they went on board. and of course