The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-13
Captured
BY CoDvicts


hour the yawl lay of our port bow
within speaking distance.
Hello, captain. Our ship went down
of here pointing TO the east yesterday
afternoon. We have neither food nor
drink, and we ask you. in the name Of
humanity. 10 supply u.s.
Il have nothing TO spare. and l warn
you To 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 cur 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 scalded them with boiling water
and fought them with whatever we
could lay hold of, but within five min
utes 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 con-
victs while they were trying to board.
AS chief officer | was asked about
our cargo and destination, and on the
other hand the leader informed me
that they were sorry to interrupt our
voyage. 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 10 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"
| | was further informed that ! must
act as captain and navigate the brig.
and / was allowed to choose a mate
from among my men. After that
council was held among the eight of US
rs to what place should be steered for.
brought them the charts from the
cabin. and after long debate it was
decided TO run for the Amazon river.
From the very first ! 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 convicis were kept un-
der arms to act as sentries. Moran
and the second mate had quarters aft
with me. while all the others berthed
forward. All of us were under sur
| veillnnce 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.
The winds were light and variable
and it was the sixth day after our cap
| ture before we drew in with the coast
Moran's orders were to avoid Para by
entering the north mouth, and when
we were fairly I'm the river he told me
their plans. | was to take them in the
brig up us 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 thirty miles up the river when
we were obliged TO come to anchor for
want of n breeze About the time we
anchored the demeanor of the convicts
seemed to change for the worse. 1t
appeared as If three or four of them
were anxious to pick a quarrel with
our men. That evening the second
mate found opportunity TO say to me:
Depend upon il. Mr.. Lenox, they
never meant to stand by their bargain.
| shouldn't be surprised If they were
planning to cut our throats and scuttle
the brig"
! strongly suspected them of some
evil intention. but nothing came of il
that night. Next morning we had
wind and tide in our favor, and at noon,
when we anchored again. we had made
twenty-five miles. Right away after
dinner the yawl was lowered and
Moran began TO outfit her. Whatever
/, they thought could be made useful was
placed in the boat. and they were rum
maging about the whole afternoon. Al
about u O'Clock Moran ordered all OF
: the old crew of the brig iuto the cabin
| Every man of us at once realized thai
| the climax was at hand. and. acting In
| concert, we made Il sudden and furious
attack. We got possession OF two oi
the muskets and were making n good
fight of il. though bound TO be beaten il
the end, when Brazilian gunboat
which was on her way up the river
sheered alongside of us and had crap
| pied on before some of us saw her
Her presence put an end TO the tight. o
course. We had two men wounded
while we had killed one convict anC
wounded n second.
Our captors were neatly trapped. bu
they no sooner realized ii than the,
claimed 10 be the real crew of the YES
sci and denounced us as convicts. The.
were so earnest and emphatic in thei
declarations that the commander of tn
sunboat was almost convinced. de
struycd their case. however. when
asked them for the captains name. ou
port Of hail. the names of the differen
ropes and sails. etc. They were irone'
and taken aboard the gunboat TO b
conveyed to Cayenne. while the bri
was towcd down - Para TO be pu
through the legal forms necessary 1
such cases. NJ. QUAD.