The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-06
CAPTURED BY CONNECTS.
IRv NJ. Ouad.l

We had discharged our cargo at
Georgetown from the brig Albatross and
were ready to start on our return voy
age to Liverpool when the captain was
notified that ten French convicts from
the penal settlement of Cayenne had
escaped to sea in a yaWl
Three days later and 120 miles to the
south our lookout sighted the craft and
her convict crew. In quarter of an
hour the yawl lay off our port bow
within speaking distance. Only desper-
ate men could have attacked and over
powered the guard and escaped as they
did. There was neither a young nor
an old face among them. but all were
middle-aged men. Some were in full
uniform. while others had thrown away
their jackets. Their leader was a short.
stout man of such dark complexion that
be seemed to be Spaniard- As the
boat drew near he stood up in the stern
sheets and called out:
Hello. captain! Our ship went down
off here (pointing to the east) yesterday
afternoon"
Il know you!" shouted Captain Roth
say in reply. You are escaped convicts
from Cayenne. If you attempt to board
US, you will find us well prepared"
Yes, captain, you speak truly said
the leader after brief consultation
with his men. we are convictS from
Cayenne, but we are innocent men. We
do not wish to board you. We have
neither food nor drink. and we ask you,
IN the name of humanity. to supply u.s.
The captain consulted with me in re-
gard to it. They must come alongside
in order to receive supplies, and when
they had once hooked on who could say
what they might ATTEMPT? Besides
we had little or nothing to spare They
had been af1oat five or siS- days, and
none of their faces exhibited evidence of
suffering.
Il have nothing to spare, and warn
you 10 keep off" shouted the captain
in answer to the request
We had seen no arms among them
and had supposed them to be without
weapons of any sort. To our great sur
prise. five muskets. taken from the
guard when they escaped, were sud
denly lifted into view, while four oars
dropped into the water. and the yawl
made for our bows. There was fierce
yell from every convict. and those with
muskets opened fire. Captain Rothsay
was killed and the second mate wound
ed even before they had hooked on. We
scaided them with boiling water and
fought them with whatever we could
lay hold of, but within five minutes the
brig was captured We had a foremost
hand killed in the fight on deck, and
none of us escaped injury. AS an offset
we killed two of the convicts while they
were trying to board.
As chief officer I was asked about
our cargo and destination, and on the
other hand the leader informed me that
they were sorry to interrupt our voy-
age, but intended to use the brig to
make good their escape.
The first thing was to get rid of the
dead bodies They allowed US to sew
them in canvas before they went over
board, and then our wounded men were
made comfortable After the burial the
leader said to us:
We mean you no harm. We are des-
perate men and intend to make our es-
cape. After we have been landed in
some safe place you may sail away
with your brig. If you try to deceive
us, we will show. you no mercy"
l was further informed that I must
act as captain and navigate the brig,
and 1 was allowed to choose mate
from among my men. After that a
council was held among the eight of US
as to what place should be steered for.
1 brought them the charts from the
cabin and after a long debate it was
decided to run for the Amazon river
From the very first I had hoped that
we might retake the brig, but the con-
victs would only trust US so far The
watches were so divided by order of
Moran that our men were separated,
and two of the cOnvictS were kept I'M
der arms to act as sentries. Moran and
the second mate had quarters aft with
me, while all the others berthed for
ward. All of us were under constant
surveillance, though decently treated,
and no two of US were ever left alone
together. While none of them could take
the wheel. they kept constant watch
on the compass. They knew the course
was south by west. and if the brig
broke off a point they were quick to de-
tecu it.
The winds were light and variable and
it was a week after our capture before
drew in with the coast. Moran's or
ders were to avoid Para by entering the
north mouth. and when we were fairly in
the river he told their plans. I was
to take them in the brig up as far as the
mouth of the Xingu river, and they then
would pull up the stream in the yawl and
make for the diamond district. We were
not above 80 miles up the river when
obliged to come to anchor for
want of a breeze About the time anch-
Ored the deneanor of the convicts seemed
! to change for the worse. 1t appeared as